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

Minnesota invites you to get creative about giving advice - and win prizes

Your video could even end up in Minnesota tourism commercials!

Looking for a creative outlet during your summer travels? Explore Minnesota Tourism is inviting those familiar with Minnesota to create lists of their favorite places to see and things to do in Minnesota. Efforts could be rewarded with one of three dream getaways - or seeing your video run as part of TV commercials.

Explore Minnesota’s “My Favorite Minnesota^™” campaign is a unique way to collect travel advice from those who know best - travelers. The key aspect of this campaign is the Web site at www.exploreminnesota.com/myfavoriteminnesota. Here consumers can create and view lists of great things to do and places to go in Minnesota.

“We are very hopeful that tempting would-be videographers with seeing their videos as part of commercials will generate some unique views of the state,” said John Edman, Explore Minnesota Tourism Director. “Users have already posted some pretty incredible lists, but we’re especially excited to get video!”

So far, the list that has received the most attention is from a festival junkie who is participating in what might be one of Minnesota’s most exotic tourist offerings - mashed potato wrestling, which looks to be an amusing variation on mud wrestling. Other unique offerings include a college student who focused on her feet at various vacation spots around the state, and a group of bait shop owners espousing everything from favorite places to fish to what kind of bait to use.

The video possibilities are endless! For more information on the contest, or to get started, see www.exploreminnesota.com/myfavoriteminnesota. Hurry - contest ends August 31, 2007.

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 billion industry in Minnesota, a key sector of the state’s economy. The leisure and hospitality industry, a major provider of tourism services, employs over 240,000 Minnesotans. More information can be found at www.exploreminnesota.com.

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