April 21, 2010

What Makes the World Smile? Orlando Wants to Know 

Destination That "Makes You Smile" Launches World Smile Search and 67 Orlando Vacations Giveaway 

ORLANDO, Fla. — One of the world's premier tourism destinations has decided to prove the axiom, "smile and the whole world smiles with you."  The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (Orlando CVB)  has launched a global search for 67 smiling people who will win a vacation to a special world smile event on October 1.  Sixty-seven is the number of days determined to experience the more than 100 attractions Orlando offers.

Winners from around the world will be selected based on written or video submissions sharing how Orlando makes them smile.  Whether it's a memory of a past experience or a dream of one yet to come, no Orlando smile story is too big or small.  From braving the fastest roller coaster or hitting a hole in one to volunteering to help others, celebrating a 50th anniversary or dreaming of hugging a favorite character, all smile stories are welcome.

Orlando Smile Ambassadors Kyle Post and Stacey Doornbos, best friends from New York City who won last fall's worldwide search to spend 67 days of smiles in Orlando enjoying all that the destination offers, will lead this new search for the 67 people.  

Kyle and Stacey officially kick-off Orlando's World Smile Search in New York City on Friday, April 23.  They will visit cities throughout North America, the UK and Europe through    Sept. 6 to encourage smile story submissions.  

"I love watching people smile when they talk about Orlando – whether they have ever been here or not. Orlando smiles are created by unique and distinctive experiences that cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world," said Gary Sain, president and CEO of the Orlando CVB.  "Smiling faces inspired the theme of our worldwide marketing campaign, 'Orlando Makes Me Smile.' We thought it would be fun for people to share what it is about the destination that personally brings that smile to their face and then bring people from around the world together to share an authentic Orlando smile experience."

Along the way, the Smile Ambassadors also seek to raise $16,750 for the non-profit organization Smile Train, the amount needed to provide 67 smile surgeries for children with cleft lips and cleft palates.

"We are thrilled to be part of such a fun and worthwhile campaign," said DeLois Greenwood, Vice President, Smile Train.  "We are so grateful to the Orlando CVB for supporting Smile Train.  So many people take for granted the simple act of smiling – something the children that we help are unable to do. For only $250 and in less than 45 minutes, Smile Train truly gives children a second chance at life."

Smile story entries may be submitted now through September 6, 2010 at VisitOrlando.com/smile.  In addition to the official rules and prize details, the site also features the submitted smile stories, Kyle and Stacey's smile search activities and links to make a donation to Smile Train. 

Fans of Orlando's World Smile Search can follow real time updates on Twitter at Twitter.com/SmileSearch or on Facebook at Facebook.com/VisitOrlando.  

About Smile Train
Smile Train is the world's leading cleft charity with thousands of partners and programs in 76 of the world's poorest countries.  Its mission is to help the millions of children in developing countries who are suffering with unrepaired clefts.  Smile Train provides free cleft surgery to children from poor families and gives children not just a new smile, but a new life.  Now in its tenth year, Smile Train has helped over 580,000 children.