To commemorate 50 years of Hawaii statehood, Marriott Resorts Hawaii is running an online sweepstakes offering social media buffs two ways to win free trips to Hawaii. Called Tweet Yourself to Hawaii, the contest encourages clients to take part using Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
The campaign is the result of a collaborative effort between Marriott, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, Hawaiian Airlines and Hertz.
Participants submitting a Twitter handle, Facebook connection or email address are eligible to win one of 25 all-expenses-paid trips for two to a designated Marriott resort on Kauai, Oahu, Maui or Hawaii’s Big Island.
Clients can also submit videos describing why they love Hawaii. The winner receives a Hawaii tweetup (meet-up for Twitterers) for 12 people, including roundtrip air travel and seven nights in Hawaii.
“Social media is an incredibly powerful communications tool,” said Marriott International vice president Ed Hubennette. “We believe that people will care enough about these fabulous free trips to Hawaii to share the news with their friends through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, message boards, websites and blogs, and that the campaign will take on a life of its own and reach tens of thousands of people.”
HVCB is promoting the campaign at its Los Angeles city blitz in September.
“With social networks building at incredible speeds, this campaign has the potential to spread very quickly,” said HVCB president John Monahan.
Hubenette noted that the technical challenge of the contest was to have a seamless interaction between a general sweepstakes and the authentic feel of a social media platform.
“We wanted users to enjoy a smooth interface with all the accessibility that social media grants, along with an enjoyable campaign that everyone would benefit from being a part of,” said Hubennette.
Winners of the 25 free trips will be randomly selected between Aug. 28 and Oct. 21, 2009.
For the YouTube video contest, entries must be submitted by Dec. 20. The winner will be chosen by public vote in January 2010.
People can enter both contests by visiting www.marriotthawaiitweets.com.
