The Explore Mekong Giveaway is a public-private partnership between the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) and FreePlayo.com. A memorandum of understanding was signed today.

MTCO Executive Director Mason Florence said: "We are very excited by the potential of this project. It ticks all the right boxes: it's in the spirit of public-private partnership and in line with the MTCO's objectives to promote the Mekong region's vast array of responsible, sustainable, and community-based tourism credentials, and in turn to help spread the benefits of tourism more widely."

Targeting travellers, the Giveaway project will be focused on an open and interactive online loyalty programme dedicated to responsible, sustainable and community-based tourism in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. The website will offer simple interactive games based on sponsors' content. It will be free for people to register as members; only a first name and a valid email address are required. As they return to accumulate the points needed to claim travel prizes, members will become intimately familiar with sponsors' brands, promotions and products. Many will become loyal advocates of responsible tourism and Giveaway sponsors.

The Explore Mekong Giveaway will donate two thirds of its sponsorship opportunities to eligible social enterprises identified by the MTCO. Initially four tourism SMEs from each Mekong-region country (24 in total) will enjoy the benefits of sponsorship for free. Larger travel and tourism organisations, such as airlines, hotel chains and multi-destination tour operators, will be offered the unique opportunity to participate as one of only 12 Premium Sponsors.

All sponsors of the project will enjoy prominent and interactive branding, promotions scheduling, product showcases (via Rewards), a dedicated sponsor profile page and value-added social media advocacy. Sponsors will benefit from the familiarity created by repeat exposure of their brands, promotions, and products as members return to the site to accumulate points needed to claim Rewards.

To support the overheads of the Giveaway, the MTCO and FreePlayo will seek funding from donor agencies that support responsible, sustainable and community-based tourism.

MTCO's private-sector partner FreePlayo.com is investing in the project's development as well as waiving FreePlayo customisation and licence fees. When the project is launched, sponsorship revenue exceeding operational costs will be divided equally between MTCO and FreePlayo.

FreePlayo co-founder and Managing Director David Gillbanks said: "I'm thrilled! We're very proud to be involved in this project. All stakeholders will benefit from the Explore Mekong Giveaway: lucky travelers, responsible tourism suppliers, premium sponsors, donor agencies, destinations and communities, the MTCO and FreePlayo. This is very much in line with FreePlayo's mission statement, which is to ensure 'everyone's a winner'!"

For further information, please contact the MTCO: media@mekongtourism.org

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About the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) is an intergovernmental body uniting the national tourism organizations (NTOs) of the six-nation Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). It is tasked with fostering the sustainable development and promotion of travel within the region, and marketing the GMS as a single destination under the Mekong Tourism brand. Visit www.MekongTourism.org.

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO)
5th Floor, Office of Tourism Development,
Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Rd.,
National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2612 4150-1, +66 2612 4153
Fax: +66 2612 4152
Email: mason@mekongtourism.org

About FreePlayo
Internet start-up FreePlayo has created an open and interactive B2C (business to consumer) loyalty program in which users interact with brands and promotions to accumulate points to exchange for Rewards (sponsored prizes). FreePlayo offers exciting partnership opportunities, including geographical franchises and a white label product for organizations that wish to build loyalty among customers and other stakeholders. FreePlayo's mission is to ensure everyone's a winner.

FreePlayo is managed by David Gillbanks and Stephen Yong.

FreePlayo Managing Director David Gillbanks has lived in Southeast Asia since 1997. In Singapore, he worked in marketing communications and as a magazine editor before co-founding a publishing house. In 2003, David joined the communications team at PATA headquarters in Bangkok until 2008, when Nathan Associates recruited him to oversee communications, knowledge management and website strategy for a USAID-funded Asean economic development project.

FreePlayo Business Development Director Stephen Yong rose through the ranks of the hospitality industry in his native Singapore before moving to Thailand in 1995. As Associate Publisher, Stephen raised the profile and influence of the Travel Trade Report until 2001 when PATA engaged him as membership development director. Stephen became the first Executive Director of the MTCO in 2006 and then represented ResNet and FastBooking in the Asia Pacific region. He joined FreePlayo as a shareholder and director in 2012.

Explore Mekong Giveaway Public Relations Partner
Ken Scott
ScottAsia Communications
Email: kens@scottasia.net
Mobile: (+66) 91 806 0484

Explore Mekong Giveaway Trade Media Partner
Travel Trade Report