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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Travelocity's Roaming Gnome heads to Hawaii


Advertiser staff

Who knew being a gnome was so exciting?

After leaving home June 26, Travelocity’s Roaming Gnome tossed aside his tight budget and today hopped a plane to the Aloha State to help promote the online travel company’s “Summer of Possibilities” sale.
The sale features hotel deals and vacation packages to global destinations, including those on the Roaming Gnome’s tour, with prices as much as half off from this time last year.
Hawaii beat Cancun and Jamaica to become the fifth leg of the traveling troll’s global jaunt, taking 46 percent of the votes with 56,470 votes total.

The Gnome's mode of travel lets fans and followers map out his summer tour, vote on destinations, and follow his journey online.

The Gnome plans to visit all the Islands through Aug. 5, his first stop is Honolulu. It’s rumored Diamond Head, Waimea Bay and Shrimp trucks are on the itinerary.

He’s looking for suggestions such as festivals, museums, sporting events and parks to visit; he likes to eat.

As with all celebrities, the Gnome’s “personal assistant” guides him throughout his adventures.

If you’re lucky enough to spot him — the pointed hat and natty suit are a bit of a giveaway — you can submit photos of your favorite travel moments with him for a photo contest.

Prizes include Roaming Gnome lunchboxes, t-shirts, and the chance to have your picture displayed as the Roaming Gnome’s profile image on Facebook.

TOUR DETAILS
Relying heavily on Facebook and Twitter networks, the Roaming Gnome’s fans and followers vote between rival summer destinations to decide where he travels next. These have included:
Chicago vs. New York City (Winner: Chicago)
Atlantic City vs. Las Vegas (Winner: Las Vegas)
Grand Canyon vs. Yellowstone (Winner: Grand Canyon)
Boston vs. Philadelphia vs. Washington, D.C. (Winner: Philadelphia)
Cancun vs. Hawaii vs. Jamaica (Voting started July 22 / ended July 28 at 6 p.m. EDT)

Final destination
Mission Beach (San Diego) vs. South Beach (Miami) vs. Venice Beach (Los Angeles) (Voting ends Aug. 5 at 12 p.m. EDT)

HOW TO VOTE
• Keep up with the gnome’s travels at www.facebook.com/travelocity; twitter.com/travelocity and twitter.com/roaminggnome, where the online travel agency announces when the next (and final) destinations are up for voting.

• Voting lasts six days and the winning city is revealed on the Wednesday of each week.

• You can vote on the Roaming Gnome’s adventure at www.votetravelocity.com.

• Immediately following each week’s contest, the Gnome travels to the winning city, visits friends and locals, poses for pictures and joins in the hottest summer happenings on offer.

Travelocity’s “Summer of Possibilities” promotion, www.travelocity.com/sale.