Say Cheese: Orlando wants smiles...gay or straight...for a 67 day adventure

June 11, 10:53 PMDC Gay Travel ExaminerTroy Petenbrink

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One of the world's premier tourism destinations (and home of Mickey Mouse) has decided to test the axiom, "smile and the whole world smiles with you."  The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (Orlando CVB) has launched the first worldwide search for an adventurous pair with great smiles.

The pair can be gay or straight, friends or lovers...it doesn't matter, the opportunity is open to any two lucky people. 

Their assignment -- to experience every attraction in Orlando over the course of 67 consecutive days, the amount of time determined it would take to do the more than 100 attractions offered in the renowned land of theme parks and alligators, and share their daily adventures with a global audience via social media outlets and media interviews.  The Orlando CVB has created the project in conjunction with its new global marketing campaign, "Orlando Makes Me Smile." 

"There are clearly a lot of frowns throughout the world because of the economic downturn," said Danielle Courtenay, Orlando CVB Chief Marketing Officer.  "We want an engaging pair of people who you can't help but smile along with as you follow their Orlando tale of some of the best vacation experiences in the world.  You don't have to have a perfect smile to apply – just a 'smiling' personality and outlook on life." 

 "We have also decided to search for a pair because a big part of what makes you smile in Orlando is sharing the experience and creating memories with someone special," Courtenay explained.

The pair will live in a two-bedroom condo in Downtown Orlando, compliments of the Orlando Downtown Development Board (DDB) and Historic Creations Design Development, design/developer of Star Tower Condominium.  For their 67 day assignment, they will also be given cell phones, digital video and still cameras, a Dollar Rent A Car and $25,000US to cover living expenses back home.  The attraction experiences will include everything from rollercoaster riding to hang gliding, swimming with dolphins, spa-ing, golfing, gator wrestling, museum exploring, theatre-going, dining and more.

The "67 Days of Smiles" will begin this year in late August and end in early November. Potential candidates will be notified in July and the final selected pair will be notified in late July.  Both people in the pair must be over 21 and pairs can be any combination of friends, family, or co-workers.  All pairs are required to complete a personal profile; submit 500 words in English regarding why their smiles should be chosen; and upload a 60 second or less video in English of both applicants along with photos of both applicants at VisitOrlando.com/67DaysofSmiles by June 30, 2009.

For more information and to apply, go to VisitOrlando.com/67DaysofSmiles. For real time updates follow Orlando on Twitter at Twitter.com/VisitOrlando or become a fan of 67 Days of Smiles on Facebook.

According to Community Marketing Inc., a marketing and research firm that specializes in gay tourism, Orlando is one of the top 20 US destinations for LGBT lesuire travelers.