Yesterday I participated in a DoubleTree by Hilton Google+ Hangout live event from TBEX Dublin to discuss the YouTube DTOUR channel and the Travel Blog Exchange Europe 2013 conference. The coolest aspect of the event was seeing the faces of six people on my computer screen videoconferencing from Dublin.
DoubleTree by Hilton DTour
In May 2013 DoubleTree launched a DTour YouTube channel and a contest for bloggers to win a free trip to different regions of the world.
To celebrate the launch of DTour, DoubleTree by Hilton is conducting a year-long DTour of a Lifetime competition, a search for six people ready for the adventures of a lifetime. They will serve as brand ambassadors, traveling around the world, experiencing DoubleTree by Hilton hospitality, meeting locals and curating their own travel tips and stories for DTour. Each “DTourist” will embark on a two-week to two-month adventure to one of the six continents where DoubleTree by Hilton properties are located – and their “assignment” is to capture and share the highlights of their journey on the DTour website via blog entries, photos, videos and social media posts.
Here were the requirements to enter the DTour of a Lifetime contest.
To enter DTour of a Lifetime, contest entrants can visit www.doubletree.com/dtour and share an audition tape describing a nearby landmark, unique culture or not-to-be-missed travel spot while on vacation or in their hometown. Video submissions must be at least 30 seconds to three minutes in length, and have a description that is no more than 300 words. Twenty-four finalists will be selected by a panel of judges – with the six winners selected by consumer voting on the website.
Each winner will be awarded one of the following travel experiences, featuring stays in several iconic DoubleTree by Hilton properties, including:
- A journey across North America, featuring sunny beaches and big city fun.
- An exciting trek among the cities and cathedrals of Europe.
- An adventure that spans the length of Africa and the Middle East, including South Africa, Seychelles, Tanzania and Dubai.
- An adventure across Australia – a continent that DoubleTree by Hilton is entering this year.
- An excursion through Asia, featuring visits to China, India, Thailand and Malaysia.
- A visit the tropical beaches and rain forests of Central and South America.
Six winners were chosen from video submissions last May.
Meet the DTourists
Destination: Europe, September-October in 2013
Not afraid to get lost on a daily basis, spontaneity and a great sense of direction has led Jenn around the world. Keeping her wits about her, Jenn has navigated through cities Learn More
Virginia Stuart-Taylor, London, UK
Destination: North America, October in 2013
Born to travel with the spirit of a true adventurer, Virginia would hop from country to country for the rest of her life if she could – from the looks of her travel resume, you’d think that’s exactly Learn More
Jenny Lowthrop, Derbyshire, UK
Destination: Africa & Middle East, November-December in 2013
For Jenny, there is nowhere too typical, too outrageous, too hot or too cold to travel to. From a tranquil walk around the Taj Mahal to a nine-month trek across Asia to a hectic but Learn More
Destination: Australia, January-February in 2014
Native to Arlington, VA, Loren has gone wherever the wind has taken him, through 41 U.S. states and territories and beyond. He prefers to let his instincts guide him through cities, where the details determine themselves. Learn More
Destination: Asia, March-April in 2014
Socially-connected could be the best way to describe MJ as she always makes a point to learn local cultures, languages and societal ways on her travels. Through her blog, Chicagonista.com, and Twitter handle, @MJTam Learn More
Megan Claire Donoghue, Fort Myers, FL
Destination: Central & South America, May-June in 2014
A true traveler among travelers, Megan has journeyed to over 30 countries. Far from being characterized as a tourist, Megan is an expert assimilator Learn More
Google+ Hangout chat
Jenn Winter is in Dublin for TBEX Europe 2013 and shared her European Vacation adventures so far from DoubleTree stays in Spain, Turkey and Amsterdam with activities like a hot air balloon ride and eating herring like a local in Amsterdam.
She demonstrated how to upload video and photo content to the DoubleTree DTour website.
I checked it out and added my video for Monterey to the DTour channel.
One of the things I enjoy about TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange conference) and the NMX (New Media Expo, formerly known as BlogWorld) is the in-service like exposure and training bloggers receive on new ways to create interactions between people through social media technology.
