Expedia "Safari" (2014) 1:00 (USA)

How many safari stuffed animals does it take for you to take a safari with your daughter? I don't know, because the camera cleverly never shows the entire windowsill during this cute spot. But seeing as how it costs more than 80,000 points to book this safari, I'm guessing Dad is either like George Clooney in Up in The Air or they are condensing the number of years it would take to accumulate that many points.

The spot is okay, the story telling is fine, it's what we've come to expect from Expedia, the Human Booking Website. But what bothers me more is how much b.s. this spot is pedaling. It's this kind of spot that makes people hate advertising. Because it is bullshit.

For instance: Expedia has devalued their rewards points system no fewer than three times. And in each case they've announced it after the fact. It used to be you'd get one point for every two dollars spent on an airline. Now it's one point for every five dollars spent. For hotels it's two points for every dollar. If you use your credit card though it's two points per dollar. Confused? Of course you are. Put it this way: business travelers aren't spending more than a night or two in a hotel which is generally a lot cheaper than the price of a flight. Meaning-- Expedia is now encouraging you to use the site as Expedia wants you to use it, and with what payment option, too.

While it may have been an okay program when it started, at this point in time, Expedia points are worth less at redemption than their competitors, according to CNN.

Sickly sweet spot aside, how much will you really trust a company that restructures their rewards program so much? Remember kids-- whenever someone tells you they are doing something good for you, it benefits them a lot more.

And one last thing, too. Not to knock the storytelling too much, but I'm 100% certain in the real world, the daughter would appreciate her father traveling less and being with her a lot more.

Client Credits
Client: Expedia
Sr Director, Brand Marketing: Vic Walia

Agency: 180LA
Chief Creative Officer: William Gelner
Creative Director: Dave Horton
Creative Director: Matthew Woodhams-Roberts
Copywriter: Ben Bliss
Art Director: Marcus Brown
Head of Production: Natasha Wellesley
Senior Producer: Dave Stephenson
Head of Account Management: Chad Bettor
Associate Account Director: Brooke Stites
Account Manager: Mackenzie Walen

Production
Production Co.: Skunk
Director: Brent Harris
DP: Max Goldman
Managing Partner/EP: Matt Factor
Executive Producer: Shelly Townsend

Production Service Company: Egg Films
Producer: Jon Ronbeck
Shoot Location: South Africa
Shoot dates: August 10, 11, 15, 16

Editorial
Editorial Company: Melvin
Editor: Dave Groseglose
Producer: Brian Scharwath

Completion/Special Effects
Online/VFX/Transfer Facility: The Mill LA
Colorist: Adam Scott
2D Lead Artist: Robin McGloin
2D Artists: John Price, Nicholas Tayler, Patrick Munoz
Senior Exec Producer: Sue Troyan
Executive Producer: Enca Kaul
Producer: Kiana Bicoy
Telecine Producer: Natalie Westerfield
Telecine Production Coordinator: Diane Valera
Production Coordinator: Jillian Lynes

Recording /Mix
Recording Studio: Juice
Mixer: Bob Gremore
Asst Mixer: Robert Gomez
Producer: Natalie Pranevsky
Music
Original Music by human