Waterscape Resort - Ft Walton Beach, Fla.
Fort Walton Beach, FL (PRWEB) May 19, 2010
Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Speaking by phone from her hometown in Ocala, Fla., Chelsea's enthusiasm comes through loud and clear. The only two-time winner in the popular ResortQuest Vacation Treasure Hunt contest--once in the earlier ski version of the contest, once in the current beach version--Chelsea won a stay in a luxurious condo at Resort Plaza in Park City, Utah, in February and, more recently, a five-night stay at the Gulf-front Tidewater Resort in Panama City Beach, Fla.
With her proven success, it's no surprise that Chelsea has a tip or two for other contest participants. Thankfully, she's happy to share her insider tips with Treasure Hunt hopefuls, as ResortQuest will be giving away a new beach vacation stay every week throughout the summer season.
ResortQuest's Vacation Treasure Hunt is a fun online contest in which participants play to win a five-night stay in one of ResortQuest's luxurious beach vacation rental properties--a condo, vacation home or hotel suite in Hilton Head, Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island or Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Bethany Beach, Del.; Ocean City, Md.; Orange Beach, Gulf Shores or Fort Morgan, Ala.; or along the Florida Panhandle. A new contest starts each Tuesday at 2 p.m. EDT, with the promotion continuing weekly through September 28.
To participate in the contest, treasure hunters navigate through ResortQuest's beach-destination Web sites, solving clues and searching for a hidden treasure map icon. The treasure map reveals a toll-free number and promotion code needed to call and claim the prize.
The weekly Treasure Hunt clues often take the form of a crossword, with answers to the puzzle hinting at the location of the hidden Treasure Map on ResortQuest's Web site. "Really pay attention to the first two clues," recommends Chelsea, "or someone else will get there before you."
Kenneth, a participant who won a stay at Mariner's Watch Villa on Kiawah Island in South Carolina, says, "Be fast!" The week he won, Kenneth says he began by using the clues to point him in the right direction, and then realized, "I just had to visit everything quickly."
Another winner also knew he had to work quickly. But Robert, who won a vacation at The Pearl in Navarre Beach, Fla., employed more than just a rapid-click strategy. "Pop up Google to help solve the clues," he suggests. Chelsea admits to using online tools to help in her search as well, claiming that she performed a keyword search on ResortQuest's site for her Park City win, and then turned to the Sitemap the time she won the Panama City Beach prize.
"More and more people are getting into the Vacation Treasure Hunt each week," says Cheryl Spezia, vice president of marketing for ResortQuest. "It's a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase the beautiful vacation rentals we have all along the East Coast and the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast. And, our fans have a great time playing along."
Regardless of whether they relied more on technology or speed, all the Treasure Hunt winners had one primary quality in common: diligence. Before Robert won his vacation, he had made up his mind to participate in the contest all summer. Chelsea, whose dedication paid off twice, continues to play for fun each week, lending encouragement and advice to other players as a ResortQuest Fan on Facebook. As Jeanette--who scored a trip to Waterscape Resort in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.--put it, "Don't give up."
Then again, there's always a chance that someone will win without any preplanned strategy, such as Janice, who won a five-night stay at Sea Colony Resort in Delaware. When asked how she did it, she responds, "I think the puzzle was easier this week." She hesitates for just a second, then adds with a grin, "Or maybe I was just smarter."
To learn more about the contest rules and how to participate in ResortQuest's Vacation Treasure Hunt, visit http://www.VacationTreasureHunt.com.
For more information about ResortQuest, contact Cheryl Spezia at 850-362-4008 or toll-free at 800-862-4853.
Headquartered in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., ResortQuest is the largest marketer and management company of vacation condominiums and home rentals in the nation, with a portfolio of nearly 10,000 U.S. vacation rental properties. With partner affiliates in North America and Europe, ResortQuest offers more than 100,000 vacation rental options in over 140 destinations worldwide.
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