The Global Scavenger Hunt is a pretty well-known travel contest: 25 groups of two compete to complete certain tasks all over the world (think Amazing Race) with an aspect of cultural immersion thrown in. One previous participant, Steve Belkin, thought the premise was great - but felt somewhat dissatisfied by the actual travel package experience. A lifelong entrepreneur, Belkin took that dissatisfaction and used it to create a new team travel competition, Competitours. He sat down to talk with Luxury Travel about Competitours.
Interview
Luxury Travel: Competitours has a slogan, "Competitours will transform you from a mere tourist into a 'reality travel game' contestant on your vacation to Europe." What does this mean?
Steve Belkin: A vacation in Europe is a luxury for most Americans. Competitours ensures that a trip to Europe will make for some great memories. It's 14-day, 5-country travel game with 16 pairs of travelers competing to earn points. But these points aren't gained by strength or speed, but by originality and creativity. For example, after tasting a small batch beer at a microbrewery in Amsterdam, contestants may be asked to create a short commercial extolling its values. The teams don't have to do every point-earning task, and gain points even by, say, simply drinking the beer in the first place. Bu the more the teams do - and the more creatively they do them - the more points are accrued.
LT: You competed in the Global Scavenger Hunt. What was it that you didn't like about it?
SB: It's not that I didn't like it; I did. But the competition was fast-paced, and highly structured. I felt that seeing the world and really experiencing other cultures would have to involve more free choice in terms of activities. Also, the Global Scavenger Hunt is very expensive. Competitours is much more affordable. The Global Scavenger Hunt really is global; contestants spend a lot of time on airplanes throughout the contest. Competitours is focused on Europe, so that a lot less time is spent traveling between destinations, and more time is spent enjoying those surprise European cities.
LT: Tell me more about the pricing, please.
SB: It's under three thousand dollars per person [2009 travel contest price is $2,950]. This includes airfare from JFK to and from surprise European cities, 14 nights double occupancy at the inns and hotels, a Eurail Pass, and of course, the best part - eligibility to win the grand prize. there are also Express and Budget versions of the game, which are cost less, have more teams, and are for 10 or 8 days.
LT: 14 days in Europe sounds like a real luxury, all right. What's suggested to pack?
SB: Participants in Competitours should bring a rolling carry-on size suitcase. Definitely pack light, since the teams are moving every day! It goes without saying that passports are needed, as well as the daily customized itinerary. This gets downloaded every day, with challenge options revealed and point earning strategies suggested. A European enabled cell phone is mandatory in case of emergency. Also, because of the nature of the game aspect, a portable video camera with a USB is needed, This serves to document and upload the experiences the Competitours teams are doing, since each experience or activity is worth a certain number of points. By uploading their video confirmation of activities done, contestants don't have constantly regroup as a whole. Travel is enjoyed different ways by different people, and this way everyone can have their own experiences.
Summary
Steve Belkin is right; highlights of travel are indeed subjective. Allowing the teams on Competitours to have free time, with informal meeting places each evening, makes for a more enjoyable experience during European travel. It's not quite a vacation, of course, but it's much more relaxed and individualized than are similar travel competitions. All the teams will have terrific, interesting European experiences. The daily series of fun, interactive challenges gets the teams to really get to know the interesting and quirky side of the European destinations, as well as the more standard highlights. Competitours is a wonderful concept.
Jennifer W. Miner - Jennifer has years of travel writing experience, spoken at several national conferences, and more. See Jendeavor.com for more details.
