11

Feb

Thanks to everyone for the input on how I should manage the giveaway of a Hilton “Be My Guest” free night certificate (valid “for one night of complimentary lodging [room and tax only] at any participating Hilton Hotel in the United States.”

Most folks didn’t like “enter as many times as you want.” I enjoyed watching my comment count go up when I gave away the travel power strips and allowed unlimited entries. But this time we’re going to try something new.

Some commenters suggested that entering require some kind of value-added on readers’ part, leaving a tip for the community of readers.

Others suggested that entry require some statement about how the winner would use the certificate, at some level getting at how much a winner deserves the certificate.

Either of those would require subjectivity on my part (in judging) and (perceived) unfairness. Not really what I’m after.

There were also suggestions that would have required technological implementation that’s no doubt easy for people familiar with how to do it, but that would have entailed an investment (even if only of time) on my part exceeding the value of the certificate to be given away.

Finally, I did like the suggestions about entry requiring some sort of donation to Haitian relief! But the easiest methods for this held the potential to run afoul of various statutes and at a minimum wasn’t worth the potential exposure on my end. Whatever the winner wishes to do with the night, and however charitable my readers wish to be, I leave that to y’all.

So I’m going to simply take the suggestion that everyone is welcome to enter the contest once. If you would like to win the free night, leave a comment in the official entry thread that I will post in a moment. You need to register to leave comments, and in order to win need to use a valid email address so that I can contact you if you win.

While no doubt there are ways to circumvent the one entry per person rule, and some of those approaches might slip by my watchful eye, I’m going to ask eveyrone to simply honor my request. One entry per person, just leave a comment in the official entry thread post that you’d like the night.

Then after the conclusion of the contest — which will be noon Eastern time on Friday, February 19 — I will use a random number generator to come up with the winning comment in the official entry post. And as long as that entry appears to be a unique entry (not duplicated by an additional entry), I’ll contact the person and let them know they’ve won and that they can give me their address so I can send them the certificate.

This is a giveaway, and the spirit is a generous one, I don’t want a lot of rules here. I ‘reserve the right’ to interpret the rules however makes the most sense to me, to determine if and when a winner is indeed eligible, and at what point a winner has abandoned their prize by not replying to my email that they’ve won. Those and all other interpretations are at my sole discreiton, I don’t want complaints or to be sued because I want to give away a free hotel night. Thank you for understanding!

And thanks in this, of course, go to Hilton Hotels and to BoardingArea.com which made the giveaway to y’all possible!

80 Comments

  1. Harvey Mechanic said,

    Thank you, I hope to win

  2. Irene said,

    I’ve followed your site for years. Thanks for the giveaway! *Fingers crossed*

  3. Rohit said,

    Hope to win. More importantly, thanks for keeping an active blog and helping us all save.

  4. Jonathan said,

    Thanks Gary! :)

  5. Timothy said,

    Thanks Gary!

    First time writer, long time reader here.

  6. robert b said,

    great blog. great contest! thanks

  7. outoftown said,

    Saw this on the contest forum of FT. Thanks Gary!

  8. Mehdi M. said,

    Thanks for the generosity!

  9. Fei said,

    Thank you!! I came from Flyertalk and love it.

  10. Darlene Ashley said,

    Thanks for running this contest and for explaining all the parameters you debated in setting it up. I loved the George Clooney movie, and I liked Hilton tagging on to it with its contest.

  11. hobo13 said,

    Count me in.

  12. Steve Chilton said,

    Thanks. I need the stay.

  13. Steve Chilton said,

    Thanks, I need the stay.

  14. Niels said,

    Love the blog, the first one I read every day, thanks for that! This is just icing, but very nice!
    (long time reader)

  15. Richard Simard said,

    Thanks Gary for this promotion/contest–I wish the best to everyone–who wouldn’t feel priveledged to receive this terrific gift. You’ve helped in the past and I thank you so very much for that. Should I be fortunate enough to win this stay–I’d bring the mrs for a weekend in Boston–thank you for your generosity no matter who wins.

  16. Kayvan Sotoodeh said,

    Hi Gary,

    Me! Me! Me!

    Thanks :-)

  17. Terry said,

    It would most likely get used in CA. Thanks

  18. martin said,

    Thanks Gary, I read your blog everyday.

  19. BenSpinSpace said,

    Yes! Been following you for about a year now. Thanks for having this contest… I hope I win!

  20. Doug said,

    I made the right move when I switched to Hilton!

  21. Allan Magee said,

    FYI.

  22. Richard Z said,

    Great blog and great contest! Thanks!

  23. LAXNRT said,

    Learned a lot from your blog and Lucky’s. Haven’t stayed in a Hilton for a while so this would be nice.

  24. JOHN HAND said,

    Thanks for your generosity!

  25. Eric said,

    Great blog – read it all the time. Thanks!

  26. Neal Rogers said,

    Count me in.

  27. Patrick Rodgers said,

    Thanks man!

  28. Kalboz said,

    I am interested in this offer … thank you.

  29. Moreau said,

    Great idea! and thank you

  30. Christobal said,

    Thanks – this is cool!

    Hilton is my favorite hotel chain.

    Hope I win.

    Cheers,
    Christian

  31. flyingfish said,

    I’d like two please :0)

    -Fish

  32. Sue Rubenstein said,

    Great job. Keep the info coming

  33. Matti said,

    Good luck to everyone.

    Hope to win!

  34. Harold May said,

    I would LOVE to enter for a chance to win a “Be My Guest” Hilton certificate. Thank you so much for the opportunity and Thank You for View From The Wing!!! I love it!!

  35. sander said,

    A tip: on short trips, choose an aisle seat. And preferably in the front of the plane, this way you will can get out of the plane a lot quicker (to get your connecting light for example).
    On long trips, choose a window seat. This way you will not be waken up when the person next to you needs to go to the barhroom.
    Cheers, Sander

  36. Long Cui said,

    Great offer! Good luck to all.

  37. Paul said,

    Thanks for the great blog and giveaway!

  38. Nicole said,

    Thanks Gary, love your site…extremely helpful to a ff novice

  39. Margarita Girl said,

    Will I get a stay credit for the free night? ;)

  40. Mie said,

    What fun to find an opportunity for a free night at Hilton Hotels

  41. Raj said,

    Thanks for the column– I really enjoy it.

  42. William Neff said,

    Thanks for the info Gary!

  43. Steve Muelken said,

    Here’s to a free room!

  44. Judy Edmunds said,

    Thanks for the chance! :)

  45. michele silver said,

    thanks for the chance

  46. Taylor Kirkpatrick said,

    Wow – thanks for the chance. I do love this promotion. Where to go? Need to go somewhere warm – too much snow this winter.

  47. Debbie Kirkpatrick said,

    Count me in on this contest. I love flyertalk and a view from the wing

  48. taylor kirkpatrick said,

    Great opportunity for beach trip

  49. mike said,

    Thank you.

  50. Laura said,

    Will this be the lucky number! :-) Thanks for your generosity!

  51. Donna Stevens said,

    Great idea! This is very generous.
    Keep up the great blogging!

  52. James said,

    Thanks for the chance, and best of luck!

  53. Michelle said,

    Very nice of you to do. Thank you!

  54. Lisa said,

    I’ve never stayed at a Hilton…..Thank you

  55. nathaniel said,

    Gary – great content here, thanks for sharing.

  56. Terry said,

    Great contest – Thanks!!

  57. jmd001 said,

    … and I didn’t even have to tell a FF story, like I did for Lucky’s contest!

  58. Norm said,

    thanks for chance!!

  59. Lhomer said,

    Happy Valentines and gung hay fat choy! Its a lucky day and you are great for sharing with us!

  60. Pauline said,

    Love the blog. Hope to win! Happy Valentines Day to all!

  61. LJMoore said,

    This is a very kind and considerate contest – great marketing ploy – thanks!

  62. Jeff said,

    Thanks! Always good to find a new blog to check out!

  63. Lindsay said,

    Would love to win. Happy V-day!

  64. Carl said,

    Thank you for the chance!

  65. Jeff Cormier said,

    Thanks for the possible night of fun!

  66. Mrs. Black said,

    This is a real treat and very generous of you. I’m already a huge fan of your blog and appreciate everything you share. Thanks!

  67. NBJohn said,

    I’d like to see more tutorials on what is available at Flyer Talk. I’m sure there are more resources than I’m locating.

  68. Sara said,

    I rarely go away with my husband. I would love to win. Thank you Garry

  69. JKahn said,

    Thanks. I’ve had some very good Hilton stays and this would be a great bonus.

  70. Rick Albiero said,

    Great contest! Love your hotels. Probably due to the economy you’ve become a great price-point destination.

  71. Rosa said,

    hope the random number generator picks me =)

  72. James said,

    pick me

  73. Sharmistha Choudhury said,

    Nothing delights me more than a free night!

  74. JeffK said,

    Thanks! Great opportunity you’re offering.

  75. Boraxo said,

    Appreciate all the time and effort that you put into FT and your blog.

  76. Billy B said,

    This is a great promotion, thanks for the opportunity!

  77. Amy K said,

    Thanks for a great blog and a generous offer. :)

  78. Clare Neuman said,

    Have been using my hhonors AMEX a lot. It’s a good way to rachet up the points. Thanks for your blog. I am new to it.

  79. john t said,

    Thanks for the gesture and cool blog. “put me in coach”

  80. bill said,

    Thanks for the opportunity.

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