Hamilton Island’s Ultimate InstaMeet Goes Global 

Hamilton Island today opened up its Ultimate InstaMeet to Instagrammers from America, becoming the first international social media campaign of its kind.

Taking place on Hamilton Island from 23 – 25 November, the Ultimate InstaMeet will involve a group of Pilgramers, Instagrammers on a pilgrimage, capturing their experiences on the Island and sharing them with friends, fans and followers of their social media outlets including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and Tumblr.

The inspiration behind the campaign stemmed from a group of Pilgramers in America who coined the phrase. They spent their summer travelling from city to city across America, exploring and invoking community through Instagram, and are now bringing their love of Instagram and seeking beauty through photographs Down Under, to Hamilton Island.

Jody Johnston, Instagrammer and Pilgramers’ Host, said: ‘We are so excited about coming to Hamilton Island for our first international InstaMeet, and being able to extend the invitation to our America-based fans and followers was a natural progression. We have tens of thousands of fans between us, many of which have been asking us how they can get involved, and now they can.’

Joined by Australian Instagrammers, including competition winners and well known ambassadors, Hamilton Island’s Pilgramers will experience incredible and uniquely Australian activities, taking full advantage of the Island’s location at the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. They will visit world-famous Whitehaven Beach, Australia's most photographed beach, explore the Earth's largest coral reef ecosystem and surrounding coral cays, take a bird’s eye view of beautiful Heart Reef on a private scenic flight, enjoy sunset cocktails on One Tree Hill, cuddle a koala, walk up Hamilton Island’s Passage Peak to view incredible 360degree views of the surrounding Whitsunday Islands, and indulge in award-winning cuisine.

Sophie Baker, Hamilton Island’s Senior Communications Manager, said: ‘The response we’ve had so far from Australian Instagrammers has been brilliant, and we can’t wait to see the response we get from America, the home of Instagram. The great thing about Instagram is that it appeals to adults of all ages, much like Hamilton Island which offers something for everyone.’

In Australia, anyone over the age of 18 with an Instagram account can enter to win one of four holidays to join the Ultimate InstaMeet by following the below steps before 4 November:
1. Follow @hamiltonisland on Instagram
2. Post just one 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.

More details including T&Cs can be found on the Hamilton Island Facebook page, www.facebook.com/hamiltonisland and view their YouTube video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW6RJ74zRG4&feature=player_detailpage  
 
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Notes to editors:
For Americans, there is one holiday to Hamilton Island to win. Entrants must be aged 18 or over, have a valid passport, be available to travel from 19-28 November, and need to follow the below steps before 8 November:
1. Follow @hamiltonisland on Instagram
2. Post just one photo on Instagram of their idea of paradise with the hashtag #hamiltonisland_Pilgramers_USAcontest
3. Like Hamilton Island on Facebook to get regular updates of the competition.

Find USA T&Cs here: http://on.fb.me/S6wfaK

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

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.

Pilgramers American contest: http://www.youtube.com/watchv=WW6RJ74zRG4&feature=player_detailpage  

Pilgramers Australian contest: 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  

Media contacts and image library: www.hamiltonisland.com.au/media-centre/
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

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hamiltonisland
Instagram: Connect with us: @hamiltonisland, Mention us: #hamiltonisland
Twitter: @hamiltonisland