christian sternal

creative director | copywriter

It was a fresh concept at the time. A whole brand that, instead of trying to be all things to all people, was specifically designed to cater to self-sufficient travelers who demand high-quality comfort, but don’t want or need to be doted on. In other words, mostly business travelers who want a clean, modern, unfussy Hilton-class hotel with everything they need —and nothing they don’t. 

It was a fresh concept at the time. A whole brand that, instead of trying to be all things to all people, was specifically designed to cater to self-sufficient travelers who demand high-quality comfort, but don’t want or need to be doted on. In other words, mostly business travelers who want a clean, modern, unfussy Hilton-class hotel with everything they need —and nothing they don’t. 

The New Brand's New Launch Campaign

A little hyperbole was just what this brand needed to separate it from the other Hilton Family brands and the rest of the field. 

Everything. Right where you need it.®

The HGI tagline ended up being my first ® registered trademark. Not just ™, ®. I know…very exciting.

Clio Awards
Shortlist | Finalist
“HGI Campaign”
2002

Clio Awards
Shortlist | Finalist
“Business Center”
2002

ADDYs, D15
Silver + Silver + Silver + Silver
“Business Center,” “Convenience Center,” “Microwave,” “Fridge”
2002

ADDYs, OC
Silver + Silver + Silver + Silver
“Business Center,” “Convenience Center,” “Microwave,” “Fridge”
2002

When Life Gives You Legal,
Make Legal Ads.

“Make a full-page ad for our sweepstakes,” they said. 

“Sure,” we said. 

Then we discovered that national sweepstakes promotions are an enormous pain to advertise—because of Florida. At the time, if an ad for a “sweepstakes” was going to run in Florida, or it had the potential to be read by Floridians—such as in an in-flight magazine—Florida law required that ALL the official rules and legal MUST be included along with it. Fine. Except the unabridged legal that Hilton’s lawyers sent us was more than a page long. It literally took up more space than we had for the full-page ad.

In a fit of frustration and on the verge of preforming ritual harakiri with my pen, I had an idea. I went through the legal copy word by word and removed or tightened anything that I could. Then we went back and forth with the lawyers to get them to approve it and agree on the smallest legible font size possible.

Today, this is still one of my favorite ads. 

Jim Wyile, the designer who created the brand logo, hid a little design Easter egg in plain sight. Each of the flower petals is a stylized “G” and “i.” for Garden Inn. Didn’t notice? Most don’t. Now you know. And you’ll never be able to unsee it.

ECD scott montgomery  |  CD eric spiegler, dee mcquaide  |  CW christian sternal  |  AD  brent thomas  |  ACCOUNT DIRECTOR debbie zimmerman  |  ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR  sue redington  |  ACCOUNT PLANNERS michelle purcell, lyle swart  |  ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE milly jo waters alfidi  |  PRODUCTION MGR tracy mccarthy  [PRODUCTION]  PHOTOGRAPHER michael mclaughlin