The 2006 Gather.com Travel Writing Contest

Judged by Peter Frank, editor in chief of Concierge.com

Submission Deadline: April 17, 2006

The Gather.com 2006 Travel Writing Contest and is now accepting submissions from professionals, freelancers, aspiring writers, and any adventurers with a travel tale to tell. The winning story will be selected by Concierge.com's editor in chief, Peter Frank.

The Grand Prize Winner will set sail on a 7-night $7500 dream cruise for two from Priceline.com Cruises - starting in Barcelona, Spain and traveling the Iberian peninsula to its final destination of Lisbon, Portugal.

Enter today and share your story!

Contest Start: Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Submission Deadline: Monday, April 17, 2006
Winner Announced: Monday, May 1, 2006

Details:

Please submit an original, first person, previously unpublished, non-fiction travel story. Multiple entries are permitted per author.
Supporting photos (in jpeg format) are encouraged (but not required) to illustrate the story and increase the impact of the entry.
Entries cannot exceed 3,000 words.
Only U.S. residents are eligible.
Stories will be judged based on the following criteria:

- Quality of writing (including grammar and spelling)

- Ability to engage the reader

- Originality of the author's voice

- Inclusion of details of specific destinations visited

- Unique destination and/or travel circumstance

- The Gather Editorial Team will narrow the entry pool down to twenty (20) finalists.

The judge, Concierge.com editor in chief Peter Frank, will choose the Grand Prize Winner from the twenty finalists selected by the Gather Editorial Team.
The Winner will be announced in a press release and on Gather.com on Monday, May 1, 2006.

The Grand Prize:
The Grand Prize Winner of the Travel Writing Contest will embark on a 7-night sailing journey of a lifetime from Barcelona to Lisbon, courtesy of Priceline.com Cruises, aboard Windstar's Wind Spirit ship ($7500 approx. retail value)

Grand Prize Details include:

Cruise dates: Saturday, November 11, 2006 - Saturday, November 18, 2006
Prize includes airfare for two from New York's JFK airport
Prize includes oceanview stateroom for two
Cruise itinerary:

- Barcelona, Spain (departing city)

- Palma De Mallorca, Balearic Islands

- Ibiza, Balearic Islands

- Malaga, Spain

- Tangier, Morocco

- Portimao, Portugal

- Lisbon, Portugal

Grand Prize winning author will also receive the honor of having story shared (via email) with Concierge.com readers and featured on Gather.com homepage

Contest Calendar:

Wednesday, March 8, 2006: Contest launches
Monday, April 17, 2006, 11:59EST: Contest entries due
Tuesday April 18, 2006 - Friday April 21, 2006: Gather Editorial Team judges entries
Monday, April 24, 2006: 20 Finalists announced on Gather.com
Monday, April 24, 2006: 20 Finalists' articles sent to Peter Frank for Grand Prize Winner selection
Friday, April 28, 2006: Winner notified
Monday, May 1, 2006: Winner announced on Gather.com

For more information visit:
To register for the contest click: Enter the Travel Writing Contest
Click here for: How To Submit Your Contest Entry
For complete rules visit: Contest Rules
For latest contest news visit: Travelwriting.gather.com

Email any additional submission questions to: Travelwritingcontest@gatherinc.com

A special thanks to: