Visit Iceland has a wonderful sense of humour, the kind that feels like a good friend who knows you so well. After having a laugh with you over Zuckerberg’s stilted meta commercial, it has got together again with agency, SS+K, to solve the problem of being always on – when you’re on holiday.
Their OutHorse Your Email service picks up on the current outsourcing trend. It invites you to outsource your OOH email response to Iceland’s famous horses so that you can switch off and enjoy Iceland’s treats. A recent global study by Visit Iceland found that two-fifths (41%) of people globally check their work emails between one and four times a day when on holiday, while one in 10 (14%) review them five-six times every day.
Using a large keyboard mat, Iceland’s OutHorse Your Email horses will answer your work mail with hoof-responses such as afhk;pytrwq369 as they walk across a keyboard, or JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ as they stand on it.
Due to the pandemic, over the last few years many workers have transitioned to remote working, finding that the lines between their work and personal lives have become blurred. The research by Visit Iceland revealed that three-fifths (59%) of people globally now feel as if their boss, colleagues and clients expect them to reply when on holiday, while less than half (44%) of workers actually feel rested after their trip. A further one in 10 (15%) have even cancelled or postponed their holiday plans altogether due to work. That’s why Iceland is outhorsing workers’ emails to its horses, asking them to trot out replies, so they don’t have to.
With much of the world ready to explore again after two years of restrictions, a third (33%) of people believe that since the pandemic taking a holiday has become even more important, while two-fifths (41%) admit they feel more prepared and ready to tackle work once they have properly relaxed. When asked about their ideal trip, almost half (44%) are interested in exploring different locations and two-fifths (43%) want to visit places that allow them time to have headspace.
Sigríður Dögg Guðmundsdóttir, head of Visit Iceland, stated, “When visitors travel to Iceland we want them to fully experience everything our nation has to offer, from breathtaking surroundings to endless landscapes and friendly faces. Our OutHorse Your Email service lets them do just that, taking away the pressure of feeling as if they have to be always on and instead allowing them to be present throughout their trip. With our world-first service we hope to encourage people to disconnect and take a well-deserved, uninterrupted break.”
Jelena Ohm, project manager of Horses of Iceland, added, “Our talented horses took naturally to the OutHorse Your Email service, tölting and galloping their way across the fields and creating a range of unique emails that will help holidaymakers enjoy their trip without any interruptions. From curiosity, intelligence and independence, our horses are special for many reasons, and so now we can add email responders too.”
Find out more at Iceland OutHorse Your Email, or on Facebook and Twitter.
