Know someone who never takes time off? They could be a winner in HVAB’s nationwide contest
Under its new name, the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau wants to reward “work martyrs” — people who never take a vacation —with a free trip to Centre County.
More than 2,000 respondents participated in a survey commissioned by the HVAB and conducted online by the Harris Poll which showed that 27% of employed Americans do not always use the paid vacation time their job offers. Last year, more than 768 million vacation days went unused, 236 million days were forfeited — amounting to $65.5 billion in lost benefits, reports the United States Travel Association.
“This is bad news across the board,” HVAB President and CEO Fritz Smith said in a release. “It’s bad news for businesses because studies show that time away makes employees more productive and effective, and most of all, it’s bad news for hardworking Americans, who need to take their PTO to recharge and reconnect with the people they love.”
The bureau launched the nationwide PTGo — Go Somewhere with your PTO — contest last month. The contest will be judged by travel expert and host of “The Jet Set” Bobby Laurie, who will select two winners with an all-expense-paid trip to Centre County. The winners will be revealed after the competition ends on March 15.
“If someone you love isn’t taking all their PTO — and our survey found that more than half of Americans know someone who doesn’t take all their paid vacation time — you can nominate them for a free, all-expense-paid trip to Happy Valley,” Smith said.
Participants may enter by submitting nominations along with photos and video submissions online at ptgocontest.com or on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #PTGoContest and tag the HVAB in the post.
Smith said he hopes the contest will encourage employees to use their vacation time to refresh and re-energize, adding that businesses as a whole will “experience an overall boost in productivity.”
The contest has already received more than 1,100 entrants, and the Carnegie Inn & Spa, Hilton Garden State College, the Hublersburg Inn, Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park, Boal Mansion and Columbus Chapel, Otto’s Pub and Brewery and Barrel 21 have contributed to the winners’ prize packages.
“I know that sometimes you just need that push from a friend to take the time away from work, that’s why I’m so happy to be tapped by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau as a judge for the PTGo contest,” Laurie said. “If you’ve been waiting for that nudge or know someone who needs it, this is a perfect opportunity to make it happen and plan a visit to Happy Valley.”
This story was originally published March 2, 2020 at 1:10 PM.
