Four-Generation Family Is First Ever from U.S. to Spend the Night in Eiffel Tower
Paris, France (PRWEB) July 05, 2016 -- A family of six, spanning four generations, made history as the first Americans to spend the night in the Eiffel Tower last night.
Scott Kuhne, a computer executive from Phoenix, Arizona, shared the night in the Eiffel Tower with his 77-year-old mother, his two daughters, son-in-law, and his 14-year-old granddaughter as a result of winning a global contest by HomeAway®, the world leader in vacation rentals, in which entrants were asked “What would you do if the HomeAway Eiffel Tower Apartment was all yours for a night?”
"My family’s love of Paris started in 1953 when my grandmother brought my mom here when she was 13,” said Scott Kuhne from Phoenix, the winner. "None of us would have ever dreamed that six decades later, my grandmother’s child, grandchild, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild would not only be together in the city we all love, but actually get to spend the night inside of the Eiffel Tower."
On July 4, the family settled into the two-bedroom apartment on the first level of the Eiffel Tower. After taking in the views, they started a series of surprise experiences including hair and makeup styling, an elegant private dinner featuring traditional French dishes, and entertainment from a French comedian who humorously tutored the family in how to become Parisian.
Once the family had the apartment all to themselves, they played foosball, watched a DVD on the giant TV screen, and spent most of their time marveling at the views of Paris lights from the Eiffel Tower. Breakfast the next morning came from La Pâtisserie des Rêves, the bakery led by legendary French chef Philippe Conticini. The #EiffelTowerAllYours experience ended with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Eiffel Tower, during which the family explored parts of the Tower the public doesn’t get to see.
"I can’t imagine how HomeAway did this," said Kuhne. "I knew the Eiffel Tower would be amazing, and it surpassed all expectations, but having my whole family together from three different states when it happens so rarely is the best part."
“Hosting four generations who all adore the City of Lights is a true testament to the grand allure of Paris," said Mariano Dima, HomeAway’s chief marketing officer. "We hope the Kuhnes made meaningful, lasting memories in the most iconic landmark in the world, as that’s exactly what HomeAway is all about, helping friends and families create unforgettable experiences of a lifetime.”
Kuhne is one of four winners around the world and the only one from the United States. A family from France and one from the U.K. spent the night in the Eiffel Tower last week. A Japanese family of triplets will be the final guests to arrive on July 8 to commemorate the marriage of one of the sisters, complete with a bridal photo shoot and special celebration.
Each winner of the all-expense-paid trip was invited to bring up to five guests, and all will spend three additional nights at a luxurious HomeAway vacation rental in the heart of Paris.
On top of the #EiffelTowerAllYours sleepovers, HomeAway has been hosting thousands to enjoy the Eiffel Tower and the apartment, including:
- 500 free tickets per day for tourists to visit the space and go to the top of the Tower without waiting in lines
- Opportunities to watch live broadcasts of the soccer championship matches
Those interested can visit the HomeAway booth at the EURO 2016 Fan Zone on the Champs de Mars just in front of the Eiffel Tower or go to https://www.homeaway.com/info/eiffel-tower.
Photos, video, and interviews with the families during the overnight stays in the HomeAway Eiffel Tower Apartment can be found at https://www.homeaway.com/info/media-center.
Jordan Hoefar, HomeAway, Inc., http://www.homeaway.com/, +1 512-505-1857, [email protected]
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