Contact: Michele Peters
651-296-0308
Michele.peters@state.mn.us

Grand Prize of Toyota Prius Hybrid lease to be awarded in July

ST. PAUL, MN (June 4, 2008) Kelly Collins, a 40 year-old wife and mother from Apple Valley, MN has been awarded an Arctic Cat 700 H1 ATV as part of the Explore Minnesota Tourism "Seasons of Fun Giveaway."

Explore Minnesota Tourism and its partners are giving away hybrid vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, mountain bikes, admission tickets, gift cards and vacation getaways during the Seasons of Fun promotion. The first featured season, the "Summer of Fun," will run through June 30, 2008.

Explore Minnesota Tourism is partnering with Arctic Cat, Luther Auto Group, Erik’s Bike Shop, Golf Galaxy and a variety of well-known tourism industry attractions and destinations to award prizes weekly. To see a complete list of prizes, go to exploreminnesota.com/giveaway.asp.

Other announced winners include:

  • Mark Swiderski, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania won four ValleyFair tickets
  • Shelly Jacobs, New Hope, Minnesota won a $500 Golf Galaxy gift card
  • Lynn Van Valin, Ames, Iowa won a $500 Mall of America gift card
  • Linda Rockhold, Corydon, Iowa won a Specialized Hardrock XC Mountain bike and accessories

The "Summer of Fun" grand prize winner will receive a two-year lease of a 2008 Toyota Prius, courtesy of Luther Auto Group. The drawing will be held July 2, 2008. To see a complete list of prizes, go to exploreminnesota.com/giveaway.asp.

To enter, go to exploreminnesota.com/giveaway.asp, or stop by any participating Luther Auto Group or Golf Galaxy store. Compete rules can be also be found at exploreminnesota.com/giveaway.asp.

The entire Seasons of Fun promotion will also include fall and winter. The fall promotion is scheduled for August and September with a grand prize of a Ford Escape Hybrid. The winter promotion will be held January and February 2009.

About Explore Minnesota Tourism
As the state’s tourism office, Explore Minnesota Tourism pursues an entrepreneurial approach, leveraging the state’s tourism investment with increased involvement by the private sector. A council of representatives from the state’s tourism industry strongly connects Explore Minnesota Tourism with tourism businesses and organizations.

Tourism is a $10.2 billion industry in Minnesota, a key sector of the state’s economy. The leisure and hospitality industry, a major provider of tourism services, employs more than 244,000 Minnesotans. More information can be found at www.exploreminnesota.com.

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