Toyoko Inn’s GENKI Badge campaign serves as a masterclass in integrated marketing, successfully selling over 130k pins by blending customer incentives with employee engagement. The hotel chain utilized gamification to transform routine business stays into a collectible experience, featuring 52 unique regional designs that guests can only purchase on-site.

This external marketing strategy builds brand loyalty and differentiation in a competitive market by encouraging travelers to visit various locations to complete their collections. Simultaneously, the initiative functions as internal marketing because staff members helped design the badges and use them as conversation starters, fostering a sense of pride and improving the customer experience. The synergy between these two approaches creates a reinforcing loop where enthusiastic service validates the brand’s promise, leading to increased social media buzz and repeat visits.

The success of the program demonstrates that a product is most effective when it aligns outward brand identity with internal staff motivation.