Hamilton Island Launches the Ultimate InstaMeet 

Hamilton Island has launched a uniquely Australian Instagram campaign designed to tap into the power of social media, visual inspiration and advocacy.

Pilgramers Descend on Hamilton Island - The Ultimate InstaMeet has been created to increase the Island’s social media presence and showcase it as Australia’s premier holiday destination, by utilising the power and influence of sharing experiences through social media.

The Ultimate InstaMeet will involve a group of Pilgramers, Instagrammers on a Pilgrimage, visiting Hamilton Island from 23-25 November to see, taste and experience everything on and around the Island that makes it incredible. The Hamilton Island Pilgramers will capture their experiences and post them on Instagram and other social media outlets such as You Tube, and Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+ sharing the InstaMeet in real-time with their networks of friends and followers.

Sophie Baker, Hamilton Island’s Senior Communications Manager, said: ‘We’re very excited about promoting the Island through Instagram, one of the best ‘moment’ sharing platforms in social media. In today’s society, people take much of their inspiration and ideas for holidays from friends, family and followers, so hosting our own Ultimate InstaMeet is the perfect way to generate incredible visual social media content.’

The group of Hamilton Island Pilgramers will be made up of passionate Instagrammers from around the country who will be personally invited by Hamilton Island to take part. Included in this group will be some well-known personalities, Australian Instagramers, competition winners and the original Pilgramers from America.

The original Pilgramers, university students who first coined the phrase ‘Pilgramers’, spent their summer travelling from city to city across America exploring and invoking community through Instagram and creating documentary webisodes along the way. Their social media campaign caught the attention of Instagram HQ, including its CEO and co-founder Kevin Systrom, so much so that they asked them to visit its headquarters in San Francisco to be interviewed and featured on the Instagram blog for the first ever Instagram #OnTheCouch video series.

Ms Baker continued: ‘The Pilgramers’ philosophy of seeking beauty through photographs and building a community with other Instagrammers is exactly what Hamilton Island aims to do through this campaign. As the inspiration behind our Ultimate InstaMeet, we’re thrilled that Jody, Ryan and Thomas are able to come to Hamilton Island and take part in our Ultimate InstaMeet.’

In the Pilgramers latest webisode, they’ve included a special call out to Australians to let them know that they’ll be heading to paradise, Hamilton Island:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=rg-VcTBJ5vQ  

Ryan Carl, Pilgramer and Director of the webisodes, said: ‘This is all about bringing Instagramers together in real life to share our love for photography and exploring together. We couldn't be more excited to do just that on Australia's beautiful Hamilton Island.’

To become a Hamilton Island Pilgramer and win one of four weekends away for the Ultimate InstaMeet from 23-25 November, simply:

1. Follow @hamiltonisland on Instagram
2. Post a photo on Instagram of your idea of paradise with the hashtag #hamiltonisland_Pilgramers_contest
3. Like Hamilton Island on Facebook to get regular updates of the competition.

Entries close Wednesday 31 October, and more details can be found on the Hamilton Island Facebook page, www.facebook.com/hamiltonisland.  

- ENDS -

Notes to editors:
Important Links:
Pilgramers Visit Hamilton Island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=rg-VcTBJ5vQ
Instagram #OnTheCouch video series: http://blog.instagram.com/post/27694225820/pilgramers
‘Stuff Instagramers Say’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYLXFNKGP-I&feature  
Hamilton Island Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hamiltonisland#!/notes/hamilton-island/take-part-in-hamilton-islands-ultimate-instameet/10151090733377843

Hamilton Island is located off the Queensland coast of Australia, within the Whitsunday Islands at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Here visitors can experience everything that is great about Australia – natural landscapes, calm turquoise waters, secluded beaches, beautiful weather, fascinating coral reefs, diverse flora and fauna. Hamilton Island offers a wide range of accommodation options, not to mention over 60 activities and all within a short direct flight from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Cairns. There are also great connections from other Australian cities. www.hamiltonisland.com.au  www.facebook.com/hamiltonisland
 
Media contacts and image library:
Sophie Baker, Senior Communications Manager
e: sbaker@hamiltonisland.com.au t: +61 (0)427 109 503

Michelle Crowshaw, Trade Communications Manager
e: mcrowshaw@hamiltonisland.com.au t: +61 (0)417 065 173

www.hamiltonisland.com.au/media-centre/