Hotel Palomar San Diego Launches Interactive Mobile Scavenger Hunt

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Palomar San Diego, a Kimpton Hotel, kicks off a “Scavenger Hunt with Friends” for locals and hotel guests on Friday, January 20. Using the iPhone and Android mobile application “Scavenger Hunt with Friends,” Hotel Palomar will send guests and locals alike on a city-wide hunt, seeking everything from iconic cultural landmarks to famous eats, and hidden hot spots revered by native San Diegans.

This free mobile application allows participants to hunt on their own timeframe. Instead of physically collecting items, participants will upload photos of the found treasures— the creativity of the photos is the ultimate tie-breaker so imagination is encouraged. Guests and locals who haven’t yet swung open a 1,200 pound door or captured their best surf pose on camera now have the chance.

“Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants are always looking for fun and creative ways to engage our guests and locals, while utilizing new social media platforms and technology. We think this is a perfect way for participants to have fun and experience the nooks and crannies of San Diego, while having a chance of winning some great prizes. We see it as a creative take on our ‘Live Like a Local’ program, which provides guests with an authentic local San Diego experience,” said Mark Van Cooney, general manager of Hotel Palomar San Diego.

How to participate:

Download the free “Scavenger Hunt with Friends” application to your mobile device (application is available through iTunes and Android Market) starting today.
Open the application and create username and password.
Tap on the "Hotel Palomar San Diego" hunt listed at the top of the screen and join the hunt!
The scavenger hunt and 72-hour countdown officially kicks-off on January 20 at 8:00 p.m. when the list of clues will be revealed.
When an item is found, take a photo and upload it to the application.
To win, contestants must complete the hunt and upload photos to fit the clues; photo creativity and originality will serve as tiebreaker if necessary.
The contest and photo upload ends on January 23 at 8:00 p.m.
For additional details, please visit http://www.facebook.com/HotelPalomar.SanDiego and click on the ‘featured’ tab.

The prize for the winner includes a two-night stay for four guests in Palomar San Diego’s luxurious penthouse suite, dinner for four at Saltbox Dining and Drinking, four 60-minute spa treatments at Sè Spa, and an Apple iPad 2. Everyone who completes all 20 locations will get a special treat from Hotel Palomar the night of the awards ceremony on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. at the Hotel’s pool deck lounge, Summersalt lounge. News 8 feature reporter and San Diego’s own, Larry Himmel, will be on site to crown the Scavenger Hunt winners at the award ceremony. All participants and guests are welcome to attend the awards ceremony and enjoy light refreshments.

ABOUT HOTEL PALOMAR SAN DIEGO

Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar San Diego is a stylish, urban retreat in the heart of downtown San Diego’s cultural district. Ideally situated at 1047 Fifth Ave., a half block north of Broadway, for both business and leisure, Hotel Palomar San Diego offers fun and sophistication at the gateway to the historic Gaslamp quarter, providing guests a glimpse into San Diego’s past while embracing its present. Featuring a contemporary style, this sophisticated boutique hotel draws inspiration from the world of art, showcasing the art of design, the art of hospitality, the art of urban living and the art of wellness, while reflecting the unique style of each guest. The hotel also offers guests a myriad of luxurious and lifestyle-oriented touches, such as free Wi-Fi, a hosted evening wine hour, wellness and fitness options, personalized preferences through its Kimpton InTouch loyalty program, and even a companion goldfish upon request. www.hotelpalomar-sandiego.com.

ABOUT SCAVENGER HUNT WITH FRIENDS

Scavenger Hunt with Friends is a social networking-based game that allows users to create scavenger hunts by selecting a list of pre-determined items or creating their own customized list. As items are discovered, hunters document their progress by snapping photos of their finds through a mobile device’s built-in camera and uploading the image to the game. Scavenger Hunt with Friends is available on both iOS devices and Android devices. For more information, visit the Scavenger Hunt with Friends website http://www.scavengerhuntwithfriends.com and the tutorial video on how to play http://www.scavengerhuntwithfriends.com/howtoplay/). Scavenger Hunt with Friends was created by Asbury Mobile, LLC, a Philadelphia-based start-up company with a strong passion for creating interactive mobile applications.

ABOUT KIMPTON HOTELS & RESTAURANTS

San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, a collection of boutique hotels and chef-driven restaurants in the US, is an acknowledged industry pioneer and was the first to bring the boutique hotel concept to America. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2011, Bill Kimpton founded the company in 1981 and today it is well-known for making travelers feel welcomed and comfortable while away from home through intuitive and unscripted customer care, stylish ambience and having a certain playfulness in its approach to programs and amenities. Adjacent to the hotels are locally-loved, top-rated, destination Kimpton restaurants. Kimpton leads the hospitality industry in ecological practices through its innovative EarthCare program that spans all hotels and restaurants. Market Metrix, a recognized authority and leader in feedback solutions, consistently ranks Kimpton above other hotel companies in luxury and upper upscale segments for customer satisfaction. Privately held Kimpton operates 53 hotels and 53 restaurants in 23 cities. For more information visit www.KimptonHotels.com or call 1-800-KIMPTON.