SEARCH NEWS:

 

Harrah's Customers Set For $1 Million Desert Treasure Hunt

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Nov. 10, 2001 –Harrah's Entertainment Corp. is sending 20 of its customers from around the country to the Nevada desert this morning, and one of them is slated to find a treasure chest worth $1 million.

The casino company brought contest winners from 18 of its Harrah's properties, the Showboat in Atlantic City and the Rio to Las Vegas this weekend for the climax of $3 million Harrah's Treasure Hunt contest.

"This contest brings to life what we're all about," said Rich Mirman, Harrah's senior vice president. "We're about promotions, winning, entertainment and fun."

The 20 finalists were each allowed to bring a guest on an all-expense-paid trip to the Rio, with each of the competitors guaranteed to win at least $2,500.

The finalists, their guests and 20 guides are slated to leave the Rio at about 8:30 a.m. They'll be driven about 40 miles north of Las Vegas to a base camp.

Each contestant will draw a map, and then the 20 teams including the finalists, guests and guides will head out into the desert in search of their individual treasure chest.

For 19 of the finalists, their search is set to culminate when they find a treasure chest bearing a scroll. The scroll will disclose their prizes, ranging from $2,500 to $25,000, which they'll receive at an award ceremony later in the day.

The grand prize winner's treasure chest will be worth $1 million.

The finalists obtained entries in the Treasure Hunt contest by using their Total Rewards slot club cards or by obtaining free entries, and one finalist was chosen at each participating Harrah's Entertainment property.

The Treasure Hunt is scheduled to be telecast nationally Nov. 23 on ShopNBC, a cable television shopping channel.

Harrah's Entertainment marketing executives came up with the concept during a brainstorming session, Mirman said.

"One of us asked, 'What if we buried a million dollars in the desert and called it a treasure hunt,' " he explained. "We knew it was a good idea. There's not a lot of rocket science involved."

< Gaming News