Secondary: Beverly Hurley, Kansas Travel Media Representative
913-451-9023; hurleypr@kcnet.com

For Immediate Release

THREE WINNERS SELECTED IN JULY
IN THE MONTHLY DRAWING FOR THE
KANSAS MEGA GIGANTIC GETAWAY GIVEAWAY

The Kansas Department of Commerce announced today the second round of winners in the Kansas Mega Gigantic Getaway Giveaway, the tourism promotion that rewards visitors who travel Kansas with monthly prizes and a variety of grand prizes.

Three lucky winners were selected by random drawing for the month of July and include:

Janet Monk of Gardner, Kan., traveled to Castle Rock near Quinter and submitted a photo of herself in front of the unique geological formations. Her prize is a getaway to Hutchinson, Kan., which includes one night at the Grand Prairie Hotel and one night at the Holiday Inn Express and meals at the Airport Steak House, Skaets Steak Shop, Red Lobster, and Fazoli's. Her prize package also includes admission to the Kansas Splashdown Water Park, the Kansas State Fair, the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, and Hutch-Fest. The Greater Hutchinson Convention & Visitors Bureau provided the prize package. Janet also visited sites in Salina and Colby during her trip.

April Luiz of Barling, Ark., traveled from her home in Arkansas to the Dalton Defenders Museum in Coffeyville, Kan. and took a photo of her daughters and mother in front of the museum. Her prize is a trip to Olathe, Kan., and includes two nights at the Comfort Suites and meals at Texas Roadhouse, Smokin' Joe's Bar-B-Q, The Machine Shed, and Honeybaked Ham Company. She also receives admission to the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site including stagecoach rides, passes to Advanced Laser Tag, Cosmic Mini-Golf, and Sadlers Indoor Racing. Also included in the prize package are coupon books to the Great Mall of the Great Plains. The Olathe Chamber of Commerce provided the prize package. While touring Kansas, April also visited Hutchinson and Wichita.

Tom Luginbill of San Luis Obispo, Calif., traveled from his home on the west coast to the University of Kansas in Lawrence, where he took a photo of his wife Vicki and a friend at Hoglund Ballpark. His prize is a Garmin eTrex Vista GPS unit. Tom took his photo while visiting Lawrence.

The Mega Gigantic Getaway Giveaway runs through October 31, 2005. To enter travelers must visit a Kansas attraction or event listed in the 2005 Kansas Getaway Guide or on www.TravelKS.com that is at least 100 miles from their home. Entries must be submitted online or postmarked by October 31 to be eligible. Anyone who wins a monthly prize is still eligible for the grand prizes. It is not a photography contest, but select photos will be featured on the Giveaway’s web site. Winners will be selected by random drawing.

A noticeable difference in this year’s contest is the many chances to win and the variety of prizes. Monthly prizes include a weekend passport good for lodging, meals, and admission to local festivals and attractions across the state.

The grand prizes include travel-related items such as camping gear from Coleman, a portable DVD player for the car, a digital camera, a 4-piece luggage set, a canoe, and a mountain bike just to name a few. Other prizes include a big family fun weekend at Great Wolf Lodge and the Kansas Speedway, as well as multiple day getaways along I-35 and to the Cattle Towns of Kansas.

The “As big as you think” grand prize, a 42-inch, high definition plasma TV, will be awarded in November.

For entry details and a complete list of prizes, visit www.TravelKS.com and click on “Getaway Giveaway.” To receive a FREE 2005 Kansas Getaway Guide visit www.TravelKS.com or call
1-800-2KANSAS ext. B-MG-0504.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The photos submitted by the three winners are available to the media. Contact Beverly Hurley at 913-451-9023 or hurleypr@kcnet.com for an electronic version.