Marlton, NJ Resident Spills “Blunderful” Story to Win Grand Prize in Embassy Suites Hotels “My Business Travel Blunder” Contest
MCLEAN, Va.-(Business Wire)-September 29, 2009 - Business travel can be incredibly stressful. You’re away from home, getting up early to catch your flight, eating on the run and burning the midnight oil to finish your presentation. The smallest of slip-ups can make for a miserable experience, like someone revealing that, well…you’re not wearing any pants! This is all too familiar a situation for Jerome Robbins of Marlton, New Jersey. He recently took home the grand prize for his winning entry, “Pantless from New Jersey,” in Embassy Suites Hotels’ “My Business Travel Blunder” essay contest, which aimed to make up for one unlucky business traveler’s past mishap by giving away a Hawaiian vacation.
Robbins’ story beat out over 500 “blunderful” business travel sagas – everything from drunken mishaps resulting in pink slips, to mispronunciations of clients’ names, to embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions – and earned himself airfare for four and a complimentary five-night stay at the beautiful Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk. The contest ran August 11 through September 8 and required each entrant to tell his or her unfortunate tale in 300 words or less. Following the contest, a panel of Embassy Suites judges selected one winning story and four runners-up based on the following key criteria: humor, uniqueness of the blunder and, finally, the extent to which the entry fit the business travel theme.
“We recognize that business travel is hard work and that one slight miscalculation can ruin your trip,” says John Lee, VP of Brand Marketing for Embassy Suites Hotels. “At Embassy Suites, we offer guests amenities that can help increase the odds for business travel success, from our complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast to kick-start your morning to our complimentary nightly Manager’s Reception* where guests can unwind after a long day. We wanted to show our appreciation to business travelers for all they go through by rewarding the person with the most ‘blunderful’ experience with the exact antithesis – a relaxing Hawaiian vacation courtesy of Embassy Suites.”
Consumers entered the contest at BusinessBalance.com, a website where road warriors can find information and resources to help them achieve balance on the road. Here, business travelers can find tips and tools about how to best survive their business trips and avoid future blunders.
The grand-prize winning story can be found at www.businessbalance.com/blundercontest.
The Winning Business Travel Blunder:
| “I live in New Jersey. Before I retired, my job required me to take several trips annually to our customer at a naval base in Virginia. The trips were formal in nature, always necessitating a suit and tie. Since the trip there was almost four hours, in the hot summer months I would leave very early, drive comfortably in shorts and a tee shirt, and bring my suit on a hanger. |
| When arriving at my hotel, I would shower, change to my suit, have breakfast and then leave for my meeting. Following my usual procedure on an August trip, I reached for my suit and discovered my pants had fallen off the hanger and were back in New Jersey. This was a calamitous situation for me, as I was required to make a presentation at the meeting. |
| Department stores were not open at this hour to secure a pair of long pants, so I decided to try save the moment by going to the meeting in my shorts, bringing with me the remnants of my suit. I planned to go to the meeting room before anyone else arrived, put on my tie and suit jacket, scrunch up to the wooden table, stay seated throughout the entire meeting (hopefully a short one!) and leave the room after everyone else had left. |
| As the participants arrived, no one had discovered my bare legs. As the meeting was about to begin, a secretary entered the room and happened to look directly under the table. Not seeing my shorts, she screamed, ‘He’s not wearing any pants!’ Everyone looked and a legend was born.” |
| Jerome Robbins |
| Marlton, New Jersey |
*Service of alcohol subject to state and local laws. Must be of legal drinking age.
About Embassy Suites Hotels
Founded in 1984, Embassy Suites Hotels defines the upscale, all-suite segment and today has 201 hotels, with an additional 51 in the pipeline. With spacious two-room suites, engaging team members and an inviting atrium environment, guests are allowed to put their feet up and feel right at home. To learn more, visit www.embassysuites.com.
About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 90 years, Hilton Worldwide has been offering business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Our brands are comprised of more than 3,300 hotels in 77 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®.
For more information about the company, please visit www.hiltonworldwide.com.
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