hospitality

Crowne Plaza Launches 'Marry Me 11.11.11' Giveaway

Wedding-Rings

InterContinental Hotels Group's Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts is celebrating 11/11/11 -- considered to be a lucky day by some -- with a contest that will award 11 couples with 11 dream weddings.

VH1 star and master matchmaker Steve Ward will preside over the ceremony at New York's Crowne Plaza Times Square.

The hotel brand is asking altar-bound couples across the U.S. to write about why they are lucky in love at Facebook.com/crowneplaza. Couples are invited to share entries with friends and ask them to vote, to increase their chances of winning. Those who are selected as having the most dedicated relationship and intriguing love story will win the contest.

Ward kicked off the giveaway today, Aug. 23. by appearing on 28 morning news and drive-time radio programs across the country. In addition to Facebook advertising, contestants are encouraged to post their entry on social media channels to spread the word and increase their chances of winning.

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In addition to the contest, all couples are eligible to get up to $1,250 back when they book the "Honeymoon on Us" promotion at any one of almost 200 Crowne Plaza hotels across the U.S. and Canada by the end of this year.

Crowne Plaza has conducted giveaways in the past, but this is the first with a wedding focus, says Steve Ekdahl, director, leisure travel, U.S. sales and marketing, IHG.

"The purpose of this campaign is to promote Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts as ideal venues for weddings," Ekdahl tells Marketing Daily. "It truly is a great fit and what better way to celebrate than whisking away 11 lucky couples to New York City for a wedding of a lifetime."

The 11 winning couples will be flown to New York City for three days of wedding festivities, including a pre-wedding day tour of New York City with a visit to the Empire State Building's observation deck.

Couples will walk down the aisle at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (to add another 11 to the 11/11/11 theme) and will be greeted by VH1 "Tough Love" matchmaker Steve Ward, who will preside over the ceremony. Ordained to marry, he will officially conduct the non-denominational ceremony for all 11 couples.

The post-wedding reception will feature Atlanta's celebrity DJ, Mike B of B2 Entertainment. Each couple will also receive a personalized wedding video from WedIt as well as digital photos from their special day. The prize package also includes roundtrip airfare to New York City for the couple, upscale accommodations for the winning couples and 10 of their friends and family and a rehearsal cocktail party.

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