Travel agencies capitalise on viral Coldplay kiss-cam incident with social media posts

Travel agencies have reported positive feedback from customers after putting their own spin on social media posts about the viral Coldplay kiss-cam incident.

The internet has been awash with humorous ‘memes’ after a company’s married chief executive was caught on camera with his arms around a woman believed to be the firm’s HR chief at a concert in Massachusetts earlier this month.

The pair looked horrified and ducked out of the way, prompting the band’s frontman Chris Martin to tell the rest of the audience: “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”

Since then, Sunlounger Travel, Beverley Travel and The Travel Village have been among the travel brands that have used the kiss-cam drama as a marketing opportunity on social media.

Alongside a picture of the Coldplay couple, Sunlounger Travel posted a message to customers on Facebook which read: “Looking for a quick getaway? Maybe a cheeky romantic break? Sunlounger has you covered.”

Beverley Travel, which also posted a picture of the couple, wrote: “Need to disappear faster than a Coldplay cam couple? We’ve all made mistakes. Some forget to pack sunscreen, some book the wrong car park. Others get caught snogging their HR manager in front of 60,000 people and the entire internet.

“Whatever your reason to disappear for a while, we’ve got the perfect escape. No cameras. No questions. Just a cocktail and a clean conscience (optional). DM us. We’ll never tell.”

Blackpool-based The Travel Village mocked up its own version of the kiss-cam image, substituting two of its agents for the Coldplay fans. The caption read: “When you’re caught booking online AGAIN.”

The Facebook post added: “Don’t cheat on Carolyn, your travel agent knows best! #StayLoyal.”

Jenny Higgins, head of marketing at The Travel Village, said the idea had come from a marketing team meeting.

“We try to hop on as many trends as we can,” she said, adding that clients were fans of the latest effort.

“Customers loved it. It definitely drove interest and drove that reminder that we’re here and we’re experts.”

Sunlounger Travel co-director Iain Kirkbright drew on his digital marketing background to come up with the agency’s own take on the Coldplay drama.

Asked if he had any advice to other agencies interested in capitalising on similar online trends in the future, he said: “If you can, get on it early – and if you don’t think it will upset too many people, then do it.”

He added: “If you think the positives outweigh the negatives, it’s worth it.”

Beverley Travel co-director Kelly Cheesman said the agency’s post had been its most successful of the week.

She added: “I normally try to play it safe, but I saw a lot of big brands doing it [posting Coldplay memes], so I tried to put a travel spin on it.”