This was a really interesting promotion to watch unfold. It’s certainly a great thing for Travelocity in that, as you noted, they got lots and lots of locals and local tourism groups behind the contest. However, I noticed that it was also definitely a good deal for the local tourism groups because it really gave their evangelists something to rally behind.

The other item was something I was a bit disappointed in at first, but made more sense as I checked back. This was the fact that you couldn’t see what the ’score’ was until you voted, again, and again. While I wish they would have put in a total votes counter, it did created re-engagement each time I went back to vote – and I probably came back 15 or 20 times over the course of the contest.

My take is that this is a successful and engaging contest for Travelocity, but one that I don’t see as being readily transferable to another industry or even brand.