May 29, 2009

First Ever Search for "The World's Greatest Smiles" Launched by Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau  

Lucky Pair to Experience All of Orlando's More Than 100 Spectacular Attractions

Downtown Development Board to Partner on Project to Showcase Downtown Orlando 

(ORLANDO, Fla.) — One of the world's premier tourism destinations has decided to test the axiom, "smile and the whole world smiles with you."  The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (Orlando/Orange County CVB) has launched the first worldwide search for an adventurous pair with great smiles.

Their assignment -- to experience every attraction in Orlando over the course of 67 consecutive days, the amount of time determined it would take to do the more than 100 attractions offered in the renowned land of theme parks and alligators, and share their daily adventures with a global audience via social media outlets and media interviews.  The attraction experiences will include everything from rollercoaster riding to hang gliding, swimming with dolphins, spa-ing, golfing, shopping, gator wrestling, museum exploring, theatre-going and more.  The Orlando/Orange County CVB has created the project in conjunction with its new global marketing campaign, "Orlando Makes Me Smile."

"There are clearly a lot of frowns throughout the world because of the economic downturn," said Danielle Courtenay, Orlando/Orange County CVB Chief Marketing Officer.  "We want an engaging pair of people who you can't help but smile along with as you follow their Orlando tale of some of the best vacation experiences in the world.  You don't have to have a perfect smile to apply – just a 'smiling' personality and outlook on life."  

"We have also decided to search for a pair because a big part of what makes you smile in Orlando is sharing the experience and creating memories with someone special," Courtenay explained.

The Orlando/Orange County CVB is also partnering with the Orlando Downtown Development Board (DDB) to further showcase Downtown Orlando as a destination. 

The pair will live in a condo in Downtown Orlando, compliments of the DDB and Historic Creations Design Development, design/developer of Star Tower Condominium, with furnishings provided by Workscapes, a Downtown based design firm.  The Downtown lifestyle experiences presented through the DDB will encompass living in an urban environment, shopping in hip boutiques, and attending sporting events, a farmer's market, festivals, performing arts shows, dining establishments and more. 

"The DDB is elated about this opportunity to further showcase the vibrancy, vitality and sheer extent of the Downtown Orlando experience.  From live theatre to rock-n-roll, history, culture and much more – living in Downtown Orlando is contagious, perhaps addictive and will certainly add another dimension to the 'World's Greatest Smile' search," said Thomas Chatmon, Executive Director for the DDB.

For the 67 day assignment, the pair will also be given cell phones, digital video and still cameras, along with a Dollar Rent A Car and $25,000 U.S. to cover their living expenses back home. 

Both people in the pair must be over 21 and pairs can be any combination of friends, family, and co-workers – mother/daughter, father/son, brothers, sisters, friends, significant others, even boss/employee.  All pairs are required to complete a personal profile; submit 500 words in English regarding why their smiles should be chosen; and upload a 60 second or less video in English of both applicants along with photos of both applicants at VisitOrlando.com/67DaysofSmiles by June 30, 2009.

Potential candidates will be notified in July and the final selected pair will be notified in late August.  The "67 Days of Smiles" will begin this year in late August and end in early November.

The successful pair will not only have electric smiles, but will be great storytellers who enjoy all different kinds of experiences. 

"In addition to giving the whole world something to smile about, we want this pair to show the world the breadth and depth of experiences offered in Orlando," explained Courtenay.  "We are known the world over for our first-class theme parks and we'd like to expand this to be known as the only destination in the world that offers every type of vacation experience that doesn't involve snow.  And give us time, we may eventually figure out the snow component." 

For more information and to apply, go to VisitOrlando.com/67DaysofSmiles.