Hotel chain pulls Tulsa ad

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- The world's largest hotel chain has yanked a television ad after complaints it made Tulsa look like an undesirable business destination. <br><br>Best Western International Inc.

Tuesday, February 29th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- The world's largest hotel chain has yanked a television ad after complaints it made Tulsa look like an undesirable business destination.

Best Western International Inc. announced Monday that it would be retooling two advertisements, one naming Tulsa as the destination for a dreaded business trip and a Canadian version naming the city of Calgary. "The community's good will we were losing in Tulsa was not worth it," said Carolyn Hicks, spokeswoman for the Phoenix-based chain.

The commercial debuted Feb. 14 and was aired during a nationally televised University of Tulsa men's basketball game. The ad showed a string of fictional office employees trying to avoid a business trip to Tulsa by pawning it off on lower-ranking co-workers. A copy boy is forced to make the trip. The words, "Because someone's got to go," flashed on the screen.

Hicks said the company was working with its ad agency to remove references to any city. Tulsa and Calgary were picked in part because of their concentration of Best Western outlets, she said.

Mayor Susan Savage and Tulsa Chamber of Commerce officials complained to the company. "We're very pleased that Best Western has responded to our complaints," chamber spokesman Michael Hightower said.

The ad generated far less concern in Calgary. Ted Mieszkalski, chief executive of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, said he had not heard of any reaction there. "In fact, we haven't had any members come forward," he said.