NPP/Expedia Official Contest Rules
Official Contest Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. VALID IN THE 50 UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY. ENTRY IN THIS CONTEST CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES.
The Best Travel Tip Competition (the “Contest”) is designed to encourage National Purchasing Partners members (NPP) business travelers (“Entrant(s)” or “You”) to use their creativity to create their own tip and tricks to making business travel cost and time efficient. Judges will choose the winning entries, and prizes will be awarded in accordance with these Official Rules (the “Rules”).
1. BINDING AGREEMENT: In order to enter the Contest, you must agree to the Rules. Therefore, please read these Rules prior to entry to ensure you understand and agree. You agree that submission of an entry in the Contest constitutes agreement to these Rules. You may not submit an entry to the Contest and are not eligible to receive the prizes described in these Rules unless you agree to these Rules. These Rules form a binding legal agreement between you and Expedia with respect to the Contest.
2. ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible to enter the Contest, an Entrant must: (a) be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. legal resident (i.e. must be able to show proof of legal permanent residence, for example, a “green card”); (b) be a NPP member in good standing; (c) have registered an Expedia account through NPP and; (d) must own and maintain a personal or business MasterCard card in good standing. Contest is void in Puerto Rico, U.S. territories and possessions, outside of the U.S., and where prohibited by law. Employees, interns, contractors, and official office-holders of Expedia, MasterCard, NPP, and its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, employees, advertising and promotion agencies, representatives, and agents (“Contest Entities”), and members of the Contest Entities’ and their immediate families (parents, siblings, children, spouses, and life partners of each, regardless of where they live) and members of the households (whether related or not) of such employees, officers and directors are ineligible to participate in this Contest.
3. SPONSOR: The Contest is sponsored by Expedia Inc. (“Expedia” or “Sponsor”), a Washington corporation with principal place of business 333 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004.
4. CONTEST PERIOD: The Contest begins on Wednesday, November 13 at 9am Pacific Time (PT) Zone in the United States and continues on through Wednesday, November 20 at 11:59pm Pacific Time (PT) Zone (“Contest Period”). All dates are subject to change.
5. HOW TO ENTER: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. To enter the Contest, visit the Contest website located at https://viewfinder.expedia.com/features/win-a-shopping-experience-in-new-york-city (“Contest Site”) during the Contest Period and follow the instructions that appear on the site (“Entry Form”) for: (a) submitting a Best Travel Tip that reflects Entrant’s creativity to create their own tip and tricks to making business travel cost and time efficient. (“Travel Tip”); (b) completing all information requested on the site before submitting; and (c) submitting a supporting statement of fifty (50) words or less and a title for Entrant’s Best Travel Tip that is based upon the Contest theme. The Best Travel Tip and supporting statement must meet the “Best Travel Tip Requirements,” described below.
LIMIT ONE (1) ENTRY PER ENTRANT. Subsequent entries will be disqualified. To be considered for the Contest, entries must be: (i) complete (as determined by Expedia); (ii) received by Wednesday, November 20 at 11:59pm Pacific Time (PT); and (iii) in English. Machine or computer-generated mass entries will be disqualified. Any submission not meeting the aforementioned criteria will be disqualified. Expedia accepts no responsibility for submissions lost, delayed, damaged, defaced, or mislaid, howsoever caused. All entries will be deemed made by the Entrant submitted at the time of entry.
6. BEST TRAVEL TIP REQUIREMENTS. The Best Travel Tip must meet the following criteria (“Best Travel Tip Requirements”):
(a) They must not be derogatory, offensive, threatening, defamatory, disparaging, libelous or contain any content that is inappropriate, indecent, sexual, profane, tortuous, slanderous, discriminatory in any way, or that promotes hatred or harm against any group or person, or otherwise does not comply with the theme and spirit of the Contest.
(b) They must not contain content, material or any element that is unlawful, or otherwise in violation of or contrary to all applicable federal, state, or local laws and regulation including the laws or regulations in any state where the Best Travel Tip are created.
(c) They must not contain any content, material or element that displays any third party advertising, slogan, logo, trademark or otherwise indicates a sponsorship or endorsement by a third party, commercial entity or that is not within the spirit of the Contest, as determined by Sponsor, in its sole discretion.
(d) They must be original, unpublished works that does not contain, incorporate or otherwise use any content, material or element that is owned by a third party or entity.
(e) They cannot contain any content, element, or material that violates a third party’s publicity, privacy or intellectual property rights.
(f) The Best Travel Tip is not the subject of any actual or threatened litigation or claim.
(g) The Entrant does not include any disparaging remarks relating to the Sponsor or a third party.
During the Contest Period, the Sponsor, its agents and/or the Judges (defined below) will be evaluating the Best Travel Tip and supporting statements to ensure that they meet the Best Travel Tip Requirements. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any Entrant who submits a Best Travel Tip and supporting statement that does not meet the Best Travel Tip Requirements. Incomplete entries or entries not complying with these Rules are subject to disqualification.
7. JUDGING: Each Best Travel Tip will be evaluated and scored based on the following “Criteria”: (i) creativity and originality – considering the representation of the Contest theme “Best Travel Tip…”, as well as the unique and novel approach to the Best Travel Tip; (ii) communication of the Contest theme in the writing – how well the Entrant explains “My Best Travel Tip…”; (iii) cost and time effectiveness of the Best Travel Tip submitted for consideration.
Expedia has partnered with third-party administrator Octagon (“Octagon”) to help manage travel fulfillment for the prize winners. Octagon is an independent, third-party services organization retained by MasterCard to assist with the fulfillment of the prizing. At times during the Contest, an Octagon representative may contact an Entrant for customer service purposes. By entering, all participants agree to receive phone calls and emails from Octagon.
Tie-breaker: In the event of a tie at any level of judging, the judges will reevaluate the tied Best Travel Tip according to the Criteria until the tie is broken. The tied Best Travel Tip will be put up for a re-vote amongst the judges at the respective level until the tie is broken.
Decisions of the judges are final and binding. In the event there are not enough eligible entries, not all prizes will be awarded. If a potential winner is unable for whatever reason to accept his or her prize, then Expedia reserves the right to award the prize to another entrant.
Notification of Finalists and Winners: Becoming a winner is subject to validation and verification of eligibility and compliance with all the terms and conditions set forth in these Rules. If a potential winner or winner is disqualified for any reason, the Best Travel Tip that received the next highest total score will be chosen as the potential winner. The potential winner(s) will be selected and notified by telephone and/or email, at Sponsor’s discretion. If a potential winner does not respond to the notification attempt within two (2) days from the first notification attempt, then such potential winner may be disqualified and an alternate potential winner will be selected from among all eligible entries received based on the judging Criteria described herein. With respect to notification by telephone, such notification will be deemed given when the potential winner or potential winner’s parent or guardian engages in a live conversation with Sponsor or when a message is left on the potential winner’s voicemail service or answering machine by the Sponsor, whichever occurs first. Except where prohibited by law, each potential state winner may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability and Publicity Release and provide any additional information that may be required by Sponsor. If required, potential finalists/winners must return all such required documents via fax (or as otherwise instructed) within forty-eight (48) hours and via U.S. Mail within seven (7) days following attempted notification or such potential winner will be deemed to have forfeited the prize and another potential winner may be selected based on the judging Criteria described herein. All notification requirements, as well as other requirements within these Rules, will be strictly enforced. Determinations of Judges are final and binding.
8. PRIZES: Prize package does not include airfare:
Prize Dates: December 12th – 15th
- 3 night luxury hotel accommodations for 2 guests
- Welcome Reception
- 4 hour private shopping experience in NYC with personal shopper and private transportation
- $2,000 USD prepaid card to spend during shopping experience
- Transportation to/from airport to hotel (airfare not included)
- Dinner at a Trendy NYC restaurant
- Guided tour of NYC
- VIP seats to a JALC performance
- Meet & Greet with a Jazz artist
- Transportation to/from all events
- Onsite concierge to assist with all requests
- VIP Gift Bag
- Breakfast each morning
Hotel accommodations and transport will be arranged at MasterCard’s discretion – certain blackout dates and travel restrictions may apply. Winners are responsible for transport from his or her home to the destination and any other incidentals or expenses. Once trip dates have been booked, no change, extension or substitution of trip dates is permitted, except at Sponsor’s sole discretion. No extension or change of trip dates permitted. Sponsor will not replace any lost or stolen tickets, travel vouchers, certificates or similar items once they are in winner’s possession, or in the possession of winner’s guest. Winner and guest must possess valid ID and are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary and required travel documents (passport, etc.) in order to travel. Sponsor, its affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, advertising and promotion agencies, and Octagon (“Contest Entities”) shall not be responsible for any cancellations, delays, diversions or substitution or any act or omissions whatsoever by the air carriers, hotels or other transportation companies or any other persons providing any of these services and accommodations to passengers including any results thereof such as changes in services or accommodations necessitated by same. Contest Entities shall not be liable for any loss or damage to baggage.
Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize, in whole or in part, of equal or greater monetary value if a prize cannot be awarded, in whole or in part, as described for any reason. Value is subject to market conditions, which can fluctuate and any difference between actual market value and actual retail value will not be awarded. The prize(s) may be subject to restrictions and/or licenses and may require additional hardware, software, service, or maintenance to use. The winner shall bear all responsibility for use of the prize(s) in compliance with any conditions imposed by such manufacturer(s), and any additional costs associated with its use, service, or maintenance. Sponsor has not made and is not responsible in any manner for any warranties, representations, or guarantees, express or implied, in fact or law, relating to the prize(s), regarding the use, value or enjoyment of the prize(s), including, without limitation, its quality, mechanical condition, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose, with the exception of any standard manufacturer’s warranty that may apply to the prize or any components thereto.
9. TAXES: AWARDS OF PRIZES TO POTENTIAL WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO THE EXPRESS REQUIREMENT THAT THEY SUBMIT TO EXPEDIA ALL DOCUMENTATION REQUESTED BY EXPEDIA TO PERMIT IT TO COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL TAX REPORTING ALL PRIZES WILL BE NET OF ANY TAXES EXPEDIA IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO WITHHOLD. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ALL TAXES IMPOSED ON PRIZES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNERS. In order to receive a prize, potential winners must submit tax documentation requested by Expedia or otherwise required by applicable law, to Expedia or a representative for Expedia or the relevant tax authority, all as determined by applicable law. If a potential winner fails to provide such documentation or comply with such laws, the prize may be forfeited and Expedia may, in its sole discretion, select an alternate potential winner.
10. GENERAL CONDITIONS: All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Expedia reserves the right to disqualify any Entrant from the Contest if, in Expedia’s sole discretion, it reasonably believes that the Entrant has attempted to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, deception, or other unfair playing practices or annoys, abuses, threatens or harasses any other entrants, Expedia, or the Judges.
11. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS: As between Expedia and the Entrant, the Entrant retains ownership of all intellectual and industrial property rights (including moral rights) in and to the Best Travel Tip (excluding Expedia’s rights in the Expedia logo/trademark). As a condition of entry, Entrant grants Expedia a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, transferable, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, adapt, modify, publish, distribute, publicly perform, create a derivative work from, and publicly display the Best Travel Tip for any purpose, including display on the Expedia website, without any attribution or compensation to Entrant. Entries will not be returned.
12. PRIVACY: Entrants agree that personal data submitted with an entry, including name, mailing address, phone number, and email address may be collected, processed, stored and otherwise used by Sponsor and its affiliates for the purposes of conducting and administering the Contest. By entering the Contest, Entrants agree to the transmission, processing, disclosing and storage of this personal data by Sponsor and its affiliates. All personal information that is collected from the Entrant is subject to Expedia’s Privacy Policy, located at: http://www.expedia.com/p/info-other/privacy-policy.htm. If an Entrant does not provide the data required at entry, that Entrant’s entry may be ineligible.
13. PUBLICITY. By entering the Contest, Entrants agree to participate in any media or promotional activity resulting from the Contest as reasonably requested by Expedia at Expedia’s expense and agree and consent to use of their name and/or likeness by Expedia. Expedia will contact Entrants in advance of any Expedia-sponsored media request for interviews.
The Best Travel Tip may also be used for press and media purposes and Entrant agrees to waive any rights and not assert any intellectual property rights that Entrant has or may have in the Best Travel Tip. Expedia reserves the right to publish the name and likeness of the Entrants, and the Winners on the Contest Site or through other media for publicity purposes.
14. WARRANTY AND INDEMNITY: Entrants warrant that their Best Travel Tip are their own original work and, as such, they are the sole and exclusive owner and rights holder of the submitted Best Travel Tip and that they have the right to submit the Best Travel Tip in the Contest and grant all required licenses. Each Entrant agrees not to submit any Best Travel Tip that: (a) infringes any third party proprietary rights, intellectual property rights, industrial property rights, personal or moral rights or any other rights, including without limitation, copyright, trademark, trade names, industrial designs, patent, trade secret, privacy, publicity or confidentiality obligations; or (b) otherwise violates applicable state, federal, or local law.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Entrant indemnifies and agrees to keep indemnified Sponsor at all times from and against any liability, claims, demands, losses, damages, costs and expenses resulting from any act, default or omission of the Entrant and/or a breach of any warranty set forth herein. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Entrant agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Sponsor from and against any and all claims, actions, suits or proceedings, as well as any and all losses, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising out of or accruing from: (i) any Best Travel Tip or other material uploaded or otherwise provided by Entrant that infringes any copyright, trademark, trade secret, trade dress, patent or other intellectual property right of any person or defames any person or violates their rights of publicity or privacy; (ii) any misrepresentation made by Entrant in connection with the Contest; (iii) any non-compliance by Entrant with these Rules; (iv) claims brought by persons or entities other than the parties to these Rules arising from or related to Entrant’s involvement with the Contest; (v) acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in any Contest-related activity or participation in the Contest; (vi) any malfunction or other problem with the Contest Site in relation to the entry and participation in the Contest by Entrant; (vii) any error in the collection, processing, or retention of entry or voting information in relation to the entry and participation in the Contest by Entrant and in the voting process by consumers; or (viii) any typographical or other error in the printing, offering or announcement of any prize or winners in relation to the entry and participation in the Contest by Entrant.
15. ELIMINATION. Any false information provided within the context of the Contest by Entrant concerning identity, mailing address, telephone number, email address, ownership of right or non-compliance with these Rules or the like may result in the immediate elimination of the entrant from the Contest.
16. INTERNET AND DISCLAIMER. Expedia is not responsible for any malfunction of the entire Contest Site or any late, lost, damaged, misdirected, incomplete, illegible, undeliverable, or destroyed Best Travel Tip or votes due to system errors, failed, incomplete or garbled computer or other telecommunication transmission malfunctions, hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, typographical or system/human errors and failures, technical malfunction(s) of any telephone network or lines, cable connections, satellite transmissions, servers or providers, or computer equipment, traffic congestion on the Internet or at the Contest Site, or any combination thereof, including other telecommunication, cable, digital or satellite malfunctions which may limit Entrant’s/consumer’s ability to participate/vote respectively. Expedia is not responsible for the policies, actions, or inactions of others, which might prevent Entrant from entering, participating, and/or claiming a prize in this Contest. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Rules will not constitute a waiver of that or any other provision. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify Entrants who violate the rules or interfere with this Contest in any manner. If an Entrant is disqualified, Sponsor reserves the right to terminate that Entrant’s eligibility to participate in the Contest.
17. RIGHT TO CANCEL, MODIFY OR DISQUALIFY. If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Contest, Expedia reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. Expedia further reserves the right to disqualify any Entrant who tampers with the submission process or any other part of the Contest or Contest Site. Any attempt by an Entrant to deliberately damage any web site, including the Contest Site, or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Expedia reserves the right to seek damages from any such Entrant to the fullest extent of the applicable law.
18. NOT AN OFFER OR CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT: Under no circumstances shall the submission of a Best Travel Tip into the Contest, the awarding of a prize, or anything in these Rules be construed as an offer