This travel contest is about bringing American workers to our neighbor to the north – Canada! And its name ties into taking a snow day, perhaps something adults haven’t taken in quite some time.
The tourism board, Destination Canada, has partnered with Air Canada to offer a national “SnOOOw Day” giveaway, encouraging burnt-out Americans to ditch work, unplug and find respite in Canada’s winter wonderland.
From now through December 20, 2024, you can enter to win one of 50 pairs (50) of two economy, round-trip flights from anywhere in the United States to anywhere in Canada for travel between January 2025 and March 2026. Winners will be notified in January 2025.
Enter to win via the website, www.snowdaycanada.com. The website also features an “Out of Office” (OOO) message generator, to help craft an envy-inducing auto-reply message that lets their coworkers know they’re off enjoying an epic snow day in Canada.
The “SnOOOw Day” giveaway is open to residents of the United States ages 21+. The winners will be selected from a random draw. Good luck!
Swimply is seeking a Chief Pools Officer. Photos courtesy of Swimply.
It’s already Memorial Day Weekend 2024. Where has the time gone?
As the official start of summer rolls in, one activity is heading to be pool. It can be the one at your hotel or in your community or at one’s home!
Speaking of pools, I received a PR pitch involving Swimply, a rental space platform that launched in 2021. When it first came out, Swimply was described as an AirBnb for pools in that pools were its first offering. Now it includes others such as courts for tennis, pickleball or basketball and even homes.
For summer 2024, Swimply is offering a contest where the company is conducting a nationwide search for a Chief Pools Officer. If you enjoy swimming, social media and sunbathing on a Tuesday afternoon, this seasonal position is a high dive into your dream career: traveling to and reviewing pools in all 50 states, and getting paid $100,000 to do it.
Swimply’s first-ever Chief Pools Officer will test out pools across the U.S.
According to a media release, Swimply’s first-ever CPO will cannonball into as many Swimply pools as possible from July to September. The role includes a splashy compensation package worth up to $100,000, which includes a $50,000 base payment to cover efforts, travel expenses, floaties, and roadtrip snacks, and up to $50,000 in performance bonuses based on content engagement and the number of pools visited throughout the term.
Swimply’s Chief Pools Officer will have a tough job to do!
As sent in the PR pitch, job responsibilities include:
Document the experience. Produce engaging social media content, including Instagram Reels, TikToks, and YouTube vlogs, that showcase the journey of becoming the preeminent expert on the best pools across America, in real time.
Share the Swimply love. As a Swimply evangelist, represent the company in media interviews and at events, spreading the word about the fun and convenience of booking through Swimply.
Curate expert guides. Be swimmingly successful in promoting the best spots to cool down this summer through “Best of” lists and guides that highlight the most eclectic, quirky, and epic pools across the country.
Host pool parties. While on the road, host pop-up pool parties in cities across the country.
Have fun. Most important is to enjoy the best of what Swimply has to offer, and share the fun and adventure with its community.
Submissions are open now through June 15, 2024. For more details on the role and how to apply, visit this weblink.
Are you going to enter or at least spend time by the pool this summer? Post a comment below.
Recently, for an assignment, I compiled a list on what travelers should be thankful for, and it got me thinking more about the subject. And with Thanksgiving right around the corner, I wanted to take some time to reflect on what as a traveler I feel most grateful about.
Here are my five examples.
Ride sharing services. I was skeptical of using Uber for a long while, and didn’t sign up for it until this summer. Mainly it was because while I’m in New York City, my transportation options are plenty. In other places, it’s a different story. Two assignments this year took me to cities where spotting a cab was a challenge or not even possible. Plus what I like about Uber is that I can see who’s coming to pick me up (I’ve had drivers pulling over, claiming to be my ride, when they weren’t) and get an estimated rate.
Free or discounted museum admission. I love visiting museums – even planning time for them in my trips – but after a while their price of admission can eat through my budget. So I appreciate museums and other public attractions that don’t cost a thing to see, or even have pay as you wish options. There are also ones that offer free days or evenings to state residents (like ones in Chicago such as the Field Museum) or extend these offerings to everyone (my favorite is NYC’s Museum of Modern Art’s free Friday nights.)
Third-party search engines. Flying can get expensive, but we’re got some outside options. Thanks to sites like Google Flights, Travelocity, Orbitz, and Expedia, we can search for rates on flights and most likely get a price break on costs. For example, this summer, I used one site for booking my return flight from Stockholm back to New York and got a good deal ($598). At the airport, I discovered that I was able to check in my two bags at no additional charge. (I didn’t know they were included in the fare). What a good surprise. Also consider sites like Secret Flying, which publish flight deals and error fares (computer glitches resulting in our price favor).
Hospitality workers. Flight attendants, housekeeping, and front desk clerks have probably encountered just about every type of traveler out there – good and bad. But they keep us going. I’ve made it a habit to not just say thanks but to show it. I always acknowledge good customer service, via Twitter or in person. At hotels, I always make sure to tip too, leaving a few bills on my nightstand. People I know who work in hospitality tell me that this simple gesture can make a staffer’s day, so let’s show all these hardworking people some love.
More voices in travel communities. As a travel writer, nothing makes me happier to see more content being published by experts in various niches. From women travelers, to accessible travelers and budget travelers, to even baby boomers and LGBT, these sources are showing that travel is not restrictive. Our styles vary, and these writers, bloggers and vloggers get it and are giving solid advice on making our dreams of seeing the world happen.
She Is Going Places 