Product placement: Paid multi-level campaign

Hilton Hotels was a prominent sponsor and participant in Mad Men publicity events in season three, ranging from the 2009 version of 'New York's Gone MAD' to a 'Live Like a Mad Men' sweepstakes offering a trip to New York City and various Mad Men memorabilia.

As part of its paid involvement, Hilton suggested the depiction of founder Conrad Hilton as a character on the show. Mad Men worked with historian Mark Young at the Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management at the University of Houston for insight into Conrad Hilton's life.

Young is pleased with how the tycoon appeared on the show. At the very least, Hilton's paid partnership produced one of the show's more memorable recurring characters.



NEXT: Utz

