During the holiday season, many Belgians drive to varied family destinations. To raise awareness among these drivers to be careful on the road and to reduce speed in the sometimes difficult winter conditions, the association Parents of Road Victims placed several rooms of children who fell victim to road accidents symbolically on Booking.com as part of an overall campaign created by agency Happiness Brussels, an affiliate FCB shop.
Philippe Fass, creative director at Happiness Brussels, said, “When parents lose a child in a road accident, they often leave their bedroom the way it was the day their child left for the last time. It is one of the most tangible memories parents can have. The unchanged nature of the room means they can still fell the presence of their child. Now that many people will be traveling on holiday, we are putting some of these rooms on Booking.com as a symbolic act to make the link between traveling, booking rooms, and driving carefully.”
In this public service short, we are introduced to the family of Stan whose life was cut short by a car accident in 2019. Stan’s room has been left empty ever since. The parents talk about the room of their deceased son, what it means to them–and then we see it listed on Booking.com as an empty room that’s “not for rent after all.” On the listing, though, people can click on a link to learn more about Stan’s story.
The film was directed and edited by Bart Callaerts of Happiness Brussels.
