'Coca-Cola Fun Island' winners taken for a ride!

Promotion: The 'Coca-Cola Fun Island' promotion culminated in a trip to Meedhupparu Island Resort late last month. This year the Fun Island trip was preceded with an additional night at Brown's Beach Hotel, Negombo, where the winners congregated for the trip to the Fun Island and a two-day stay at the resort.

The entire experience began on September 19, when this year's winners came together at Brown's Beach Hotel for Fun Island Convention. Each winner was given their Fun Island T-shirts and caps on arrival, followed by a briefing session during which each winner received all their completed travel documents inclusive of the Embarkation and Disembarkation cards, passports and luggage tags.

The briefing was followed by a Fun Island banquet, which set the mood for the upcoming experience.

On arrival at the airport the following morning, two special counters were opened for the one-hundred winners who received their boarding passes and got baggage clearance.

Upon arriving at Male airport all the winners were treated to their first Maldivian experience, which was a speed boat ride through the various atolls to this year's Fun Island - Meedhupparu Island Resort.

Upon arrival, Maldivian dancers and a refreshing welcome drink greeted each winner. A fun day by the beach followed where many activities such as Volleyball, Water Polo and Tug 'O War took place.

The night-time brought the Fun Island beach party, which went on the theme of 'Fire'. The beach party took on the atmosphere of a barbecue with a mouth watering menu and exciting party games.

Many winners generated various entertainment acts themselves, while Coke Fun Island brand Ambassador Suraj Mapa took on the role as overall MC.

The second day brought with it more fun and games with some old favourites such as treasure hunts and breaking pyramids. The final lunch was followed by a farewell cake cutting ceremony and the signing of the Fun Island flag which was ceremoniously taken down.

The uniqueness of this promotion was that it brought together Sri Lankans from all walks of life. Shumrose Zuleiman the mother of one of the youngest winners, six-year-old Z. T. M. Arzath commented that 'We won with just one entry.

We feel so lucky to have got the chance to visit this beautiful country and I think Coca-Cola has held a very organised promotion and as Grand Prize winners we felt very well taken care of." Deputy Country Marketing Manager of Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Dusty Alahakoon stated, "We kept our promise by taking 100 lucky consumers to the fun island.

We are happy that our winning consumers enjoyed an experience of a lifetime at the Coke Fun Island. Coke will always bring novel excitement to our consumers in years to come."

The Coca-Cola Fun Island promotion that was begun in 2005 has gone beyond just a consumer promotion.

Unlike a simple consumer promotion which either offers high-value prizes to a few winners or moderate value prizes to more winners, the Coca-Cola Fun Island promotion offered as its grand prize an entire experience to 100 winners.