Terms & Conditions

The Resort at Isla Palenque’s "Island Intern" Official Promotion Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

By entering this Promotion you are giving the Sponsor the right to communicate with you by e-mail.
In subsequent e-mails you receive from the Sponsor as a result of entering this Promotion, you will have the option to elect not to receive further communication.

1) Promotion Description: Palenque Resorts, LLC (the “Sponsor”) is offering “The Resort at Isla Palenque Island Intern Contest” promotion (the “Promotion”) and will determine ten (10) finalists (“Finalists”) based on the judging criteria identified in these Official Rules and finally one (1) grand prize winner (“Grand Prize Winner”) based on the judging criteria identified in these Official Rules. The Sponsor’s intent is to determine one (1) Grand Prize winner adept at social networking communication with a proven passion for travel and adventure, to live and work on Isla Palenque as an independent contractor for a four week period, functioning as a high-profile blogger (the “Island Intern”). The Grand Prize Winner will travel to Panama, live on Isla Palenque, an island located in The Gulf of Chiriqui, and participate in adventure activities while interacting with local people and Sponsor employees.

There are four (4) phases to the Promotion.

• Phase 1 (“Contest Entry Period”) begins no later than 8:00 AM US Central Standard Time (“CST”) on February 20, 2012 and ends at 11:59 PM CST on March 31, 2012. During the Contest Entry Period eligible individuals will complete an on-line registration form and upload one (1) brief video (described more fully below) demonstrating their capabilities and passion for the Island Intern position and explaining why they are the best candidate.
• Phase 2 (“User Voting Period”) begins at 8:00 AM US Central Daylight Time (“CDT”) on April 2, 2012 and ends at 11:59 PM CDT on April 15, 2012. During the User Voting Period, site visitors can cast one (1) vote for an entrant’s video submission that they determine to be the best fit for the Island Intern position according to the judging criteria identified in these Official Rules. At the end of the User Voting Period, five (5) of the ten (10) Finalists will be determined based on the outcome of User Voting and five (5) of the Finalists will be determined by Sponsor’s Judging Panel according to the judging criteria set forth in these Official Rules.
• Phase 3 (“Finalist Interview Period”) begins at 8:00AM CDT on April 16, 2012 and ends at 11:59PM CDT on April 29, 2012 during which the ten (10) Finalists will fulfill a blogging assignment and extended application. In this phase, between April 16-29, 2012, all ten (10) Finalists will be invited to participate in a Skype interview with the Sponsor.
• Phase 4 (“Contest Submission”). At the conclusion of the Finalist Interview Period, Sponsor’s Judging Panel will consider each Finalist’s Submission and performance in the Finalist Interview Period (collectively, his/her/their “Contest Submission”) to determine and announce the Grand Prize winner on or about April 30, 2012, with the Grand Prize winner officially starting his/her/their Island Intern position in Panama at a date on or around June 1, 2012 as agreed upon by the Sponsor and the Island Intern.

By participating in the Promotion, each entrant unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which shall be final and binding in all respects.

2) Eligibility: Promotion is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada who are authorized to work in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia or Canada, 20 years of age or older holding a current passport valid for international travel through 2013. If you have been convicted of felony you are not eligible. Additionally, if selected, you must have the availability to participate in the entire Promotion schedule as described in these Official Rules, and if determined as the Grand Prize winner, be able to relocate to Isla Palenque, Panama to live and work full-time as an independent contractor for Sponsor for a 4 week period and to travel internationally during this time as required by the Sponsor. Employees, officers and representatives of Sponsor, its partners and promotion and each of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns employees, officers and directors (collectively “Promotion Entities”) and members of their immediate families and those living in the same household of each are ineligible. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. The Sponsor’s Judging Panel (defined below) is seeking individuals who have and/or seek exposure to International Travel, Adventure Sports, Camping, Natural pursuits, Sustainable Development, Architecture, Anthropology, Photography, Film, Biology, Creative Writing, Public Relations, Marketing/Web Marketing, Media Relations, Communications, Journalism, Writing, Digital Media, Internet Canvassing and/or Social Media. Of additional importance is working proficiency with WordPress, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, Twitter, Vimeo, Delicious, Basic HTML, Microsoft Office, other Digital Media Platforms and/or Photoshop and other relevant software.

3) How to Create Your Video Submission: The Sponsor is interested in seeing approximately two (2) minute, entirely original and entertaining videos in which entrants demonstrate their overall ability to communicate, relate and inspire, as well as personal presentation skills, video production aptitude and knowledge and enthusiasm of the travel and sustainability industries, (your “Video Submission”). Prepare your Video Submission clearly understanding, pending Sponsor review and approval of your Video Submission, it will be posted on a public website for public viewing for the duration of the Video Submission and User Voting Periods. Your Video Submission must comply with the following points:

• Your Video Submission must be prepared in English and you must personally appear and be the primary character in your Video Submission.
• If you chose to feature any person other than yourself in your Video Submission you must have his/her express permission and, if requested by the Sponsor, must provide written publicity/talent releases for any such person appearing in your Video Submission.
• Your Video Submission must be no longer than five (5) minutes in length.
• You should identify yourself by your first name only. Do not provide any other personally identifying information. If you include any other personally identifying information you are releasing the Promotion Entities from any and all liability associated with public disclosure of such information in your Video Submission.
• Do not include images of any object, location or building with brand names or logos, other than Sponsor’s brand name or logo.
• Your Video Submission must (a) be completely original, cannot be previously published or appear anywhere else and CANNOT contain any third party copyrighted material (including but not limited to music, photography or artwork) or otherwise infringe on the intellectual property or other rights of a third party; (b) must be suitable for general audiences (i.e., may not be obscene, indecent or objectionable, including but not limited to nudity, pornography, violent, illegal or profane depictions) and (c) must not depict a violation of any law or regulation or in any way violate any law or regulation.
• Your Video Submission must not depict the real estate industry or resort or travel industry, Sponsor, Sponsor’s competitors or the United States negatively.
• Your Video must be uploaded and appear on Youtube (www.Youtube.com)
• Your Video Submission must be titled “Isla Palenque Island Intern Contest 2012: FIRST NAME, Unique Title” and tagged “Isla Palenque”
• In Sponsor’s sole and discretionary opinion, Video Submissions which do not meet any of these requirements will be disqualified. Any Video Submissions, which do not meet standards and terms of use published by YouTube at www.YouTube.com will be disqualified and/or removed from the site.

4) How to Enter the Contest: Create your video submission and upload the video at www.Youtube.com using the title format “Isla Palenque Island Intern Contest 2012: First Name, Unique Title” and the video tag “Isla Palenque”. Visit www.amble.com/IslaPalenque/IslandIntern2012 during the Contest Entry Period and access the registration form (“Registration Form”). Complete the Registration Form with your first and last name, college, state, zip code, e-mail address, phone number, your education information, links to social media sites where you have a presence or website, your Video Submission url and answers to additional questions. Additionally you may be asked to respond to questions regarding your passport, ability to travel, criminal record and how you learned about the Promotion. You will be required to link to your Video Submission together with your Registration Form, so you must have your Video Submission ready at the time you submit the Registration Form. By submitting a Registration Form and making a Video Submission, you agree to the Official Rules of this Promotion and the rules and regulations and terms of use of YouTube. Additionally, you understand your Video Submission will be posted on the YouTube public website; additionally you are giving the Sponsor the right to post your Video Submission on its website and/or public websites where it maintains accounts and you are assigning usage rights to your Video Submission to the Sponsor. All Registration Forms and Video Submissions must be completed and submitted by 11:59 PM CDT on March 31, 2012. If Sponsor is duly notified that any element of an entrant's Video Submission infringes upon the rights of another person and/or receives a legally valid request (in Sponsor's sole discretion) remove or invalidate the affected Video Submission because of such infringement, such Video Submission may be removed and disqualified from the Promotion, as Sponsor may determine in its sole and absolute discretion. There is a limit of one (1) Contest Entry per person. All entries must include a Registration Form and a Video Submission.

5) User Voting to Determine Five (5) Finalists: During the User Voting Period, the public will be invited to visit www.amble.com/IslaPalenque/IslandIntern2012 and cast one (1) vote by selecting the entrant they deem to have the best Video Submission. There is a limit of one (1) vote per person per IP address during the entire User Voting Period. The entrants receiving the greatest number of votes according to the above judging criteria will be named as five (5) of the 10 Finalists pending his/her satisfactory completion of an Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability/Publicity Release (“Affidavit”). In the event of a tie or ties, the Sponsor will determine the Finalists for participation in the duration of the Promotion. In addition, the Sponsor retains, at its sole discretion, the right to disqualify any Video Submission for which it thinks voting results have been manipulated.

6) Judging to Determine Up to Five (5) Finalists: All Contest Entries will be judged by the Sponsor. All Video Submission will be judged according to the following equally weighed judging criteria: (a) best video application that showcases strong personality, passion for adventure, sustainability and travel, media presence, communication and blogging skills expressed in the Video Submission, clear purpose as to how to make benefit of the Island Intern Grand Prize ; (b) relevant exposure to travel, experience and skill sets; (c) best represents the Sponsor brand; and (d) blogger potential. The decisions of the Sponsor in all matters relating to this Promotion are final and binding. In Sponsor’s sole determination if an inadequate number of Video Submissions or Video Submissions of inadequate quality are received, it reserves the right NOT to determine any Finalists or to determine any number of Finalists fewer than ten (10). Judging will be completed on or about April 15, 2012 and the ten (10) potential finalists will be notified by phone and e-mail on or about April 16, 2012 and provided with an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Liability/Publicity Release (“Affidavit”) which must be completed and returned within four (4) calendar days of Sponsor’s first provision of the Affidavit. Each potential finalist will also be required to send a copy of his/her passport, driver’s license, birth certificate or other appropriate documentation (acceptable to Sponsor) as proof of age and residency as well as providing any additional materials as requested by the Sponsor to validate employment and/or education experience. Failure to return the Affidavit according to the deadline or non-compliance with any of these requirements, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, will result in disqualification.

7) Finalist Requirements for the Finalist Interview Period: Each Finalist will be given a theme on which to produce blog content on April 16, 2012. The content must be no longer than five (5) minute in length for video, 3000 words if written, and/or 20 photographs. The applicant must submit their blog post no later than 5:00 PM CDT, April 29, 2012, to be displayed on Sponsors blog.

Blog content must be suitable for general audiences (i.e., may not be obscene, indecent or objectionable, including but not limited to nudity, pornography, violent, illegal or profane depictions) and must not depict a violation of any law or regulation or in any way violate any law or regulation.

Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to disqualify any blog or blog entry that is inappropriate for any reason, including without limitation, for depicting or mentioning sex, violence, drugs, alcohol and/or inappropriate language.

8) Final Requirements for In-Person Interview Period and Grand Prize Winner Determination: Each individual confirmed as a Finalist will be invited to participate in the Interview Period. During the Interview Period, Finalists will participate in a Skype video interview with the Sponsor. At the conclusion of the In-Person Interview Period, the Sponsor will determine the Grand Prize Winner (“Grand Prize Winner”) based on the accumulated performance associated with his/her overall Contest Submission according to the Judging Criteria contained in these Official Rules. The decisions of the Sponsor in all matters related to the determination of the Grand Prize Winner are final and binding. The potential Grand Prize winner will be contacted on or about April 30, 2012 (“First Notification”) and will be required to submit to a background check to be completed within two (2) business days of First Notification. Potential Grand Prize winner will be provided with an Independent Contractor Contract (“Contract”), which must be completed and returned no later than seven (7) calendar days from First Notification. If in Sponsor’s sole determination the results of any portion of the credit and background checks are deemed unsatisfactory and/or the Grand Prize winner fails to agree to the Contract as provided, fails to return it in the specified period of time or does not comply with any requirements, the potential Grand Prize winner will be disqualified and at Sponsor’s sole discretion, an alternate winner with the next highest score may be named. If any Finalist or Grand Prize Winner cannot be contacted within two (2) business days of first notification attempt, if any prize or prize notification or other notification is returned as undeliverable, if any Grand Prize rejects his/her prize or in the event of noncompliance with these Official Rules, such prize will be forfeited and may be awarded to the Finalist with the next highest score. Upon prize forfeiture, no compensation will be given.

9) The Island Intern Prize (“Grand Prize”): The Grand Prize Winner will work as an Independent Contractor and will receive the following during the Contract Period:

• Stipend – Grand Prize winner will be paid a total stipend of USD$2,500.00 for the duration of the Contract. Stipend will be paid in two payments: a first payment of USD $500.00 will be made within 30 days of the announcement of the Grand Prize Winner, and a second and final payment of $2000.00 will be made within 30 days of the completion of the Island Intern’s time in Panama.
• Room and Board – All accommodation, meals and experiences selected by the sponsor will be provided for the Grand Prize winner. Accommodation selection is at the sole discretion of Sponsor.
• Equipment access - Grand Prize winner will have access to Sponsor owned equipment including a computer, a digital video and/or still camera.
• Travel expenses - Expenses for travel approved by the Sponsor to include airfare, lodging, ground transportation, meals and entertainment which will be paid by the Sponsor in accordance with Sponsor’s policies.
• Miscellaneous expenses – Mobile phone and various wireless accounts associated with performance will be paid by the Sponsor, at Sponsor’s sole discretion.

The total estimated value of the Grand Prize (“Grand Prize”) is $25,000. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. Items which are NOT included and for which the Grand Prize winner is solely responsible include, but are not limited to, the following:

• All applicable state and federal taxes on income and amenities received under the Contract. Grand Prize winner understands he/she will receive a Form 1099 in any applicable year in which such income was received and is solely responsible for reporting and paying all associated state and federal income taxes.
• Insurance of any kind including but not limited to health, life, injury, personal property, theft, and automobile insurance.
• Participation of any kind in events, venues, trips and travel not required and/or approved by the Sponsor.

10) Responsibilities of the Grand Prize Winner: In exchange for the above prize/compensation, the Grand Prize Winner agrees to and is responsible for the following:

• Post daily to a blog established by Sponsor, writing about Grand Prize Winner’s experiences related to Isla Palenque, travel, sustainability and/or adventure. Also required to respond to Q&A from consumers on the blog. The content cannot contain any negative or inappropriate depiction of Sponsor, Isla Palenque, Panama, Sponsor’s competitors, or any product sold at Sponsor and is subject to editing and/or removal by the Sponsor at any time.
• Attend various local events as directed by Sponsor.
• Maintain a social networking presence describing his/her Island Intern Blogger Experiences on Facebook and Twitter.
• Travel as requested by Sponsor.
• Execute a contract, which will require, among other things, compliance with various requirements and responsibilities.
• Embrace Sponsor brand attributes (authentic, adventurous, open minded, thirst for knowledge, naturalist, environmentalist).
• Grand Prize winner may not perform blogging, communications, or public relations services or engage in any commercial activity with any third party during the term of the Island Intern position or the term of the Contract.

11) Right to Terminate Winner-Sponsor Relationship: Sponsor reserves the right to terminate its relationship with the Grand Prize winner, including any unpaid expenses/prize items to the date of termination as a result of certain events including, but not limited to:

1. Grand Prize winner fails to satisfactorily perform the responsibilities defined in these Official Rules and/or the specific responsibilities as outlined in the Contract.
2. Use of any illegal substance.
3. Conviction of a criminal act.
4. Fraud, misfeasance or malfeasance of any kind.
5. Breach of accommodation arrangements.
6. Disorderly behavior.
7. Any act or statement, which in Sponsor’s sole opinion, reflects negatively on the Sponsor and/or any of its affiliates.

Grand Prize winner has the right to terminate its relationship and forfeit any unpaid expenses/prize items to the date of termination in the event of the following:

1. Family illness or loss requiring his/her presence/attention.
2. Personal injury or illness.

12) General: All federal, state, local, and other taxes on prizes are the sole responsibility of the applicable winner(s). There are no prize substitutions or options available. No prize recipient shall be permitted to replace his/her designated prize with another prize or item, transfer any prize or redeem his/her prize or any portion of the prize for cash. All entrants agree to comply fully with each provision in these Official Rules. Any person attempting to defraud or in any way tamper with this Promotion and any person who does not comply with these Official Rules, will be ineligible for any prize(s) and may be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. If, during either the Contest Entry Period, User Voting Period or Blogger Audition Periods, for reasons beyond the Sponsor’s control (including, but not limited to, tampering or computer virus infection), the Promotion is not capable of running as originally planned, the Sponsor, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to cancel or modify the Promotion, without liability and to the extent feasible, will determine Finalists and a Grand Prize Winner among Contest Submissions received prior to cancellation or modification. Contest Submissions, which are incomplete, inaccurate, irregular, or otherwise not in compliance with these Official Rules, are void. No automated entry devices and/or programs permitted. All entries, including Video Submissions, become the sole and exclusive property of Sponsor and receipt of entries will not be acknowledged or returned. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, illegible, stolen, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, postage-due, misdirected, technically corrupted or garbled entries, which will be disqualified, or for problems of any kind whether mechanical, human or electronic. Only fully completed Contest Submissions are eligible. Proof of submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor.

Sponsor is not responsible for technical, hardware, software, telephone or other communications malfunctions, errors or failures of any kind, including without limitation with respect to any third party website or service such as YouTube or WordPress, lost or unavailable network connections, web site, Internet, or ISP availability, unauthorized human intervention, traffic congestion, incomplete or inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause) or failed, incomplete, garbled, jumbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit one’s ability to enter the Promotion, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Promotion or downloading any materials in this Promotion. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, extend or suspend this Promotion should (in its sole discretion) virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud or other causes beyond its control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Promotion. In such case, Sponsor may select the winners from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds, in its sole discretion, to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Promotion or web site. Sponsor may prohibit an entrant from participating in the Promotion or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Promotion by cheating, hacking, deception, or other unfair playing practices (including the use of automated quick entry programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrants or Sponsor representatives.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE PROMOTION MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND, SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

13) Right to Use Your Work and Information About You: By making a Contest Submission, you: (a) represent and warrant that your Contest Submission is wholly original and is your sole and exclusive creation owned exclusively by you, not previously published, and does not incorporate or include anything that is owned by any third party or would require the consent of any third party and your Contest Submission does not violate any copyright, trademark, publicity right, privacy right or any other right of any third party; (b) agree that upon entry into the Promotion, you agree that your Video Submission shall legally be considered a "work made for hire," with all rights therein, including, without limitation, the exclusive copyright, transferred to and being the sole property of the Sponsor; (d) agree that upon selection as the Grand Prize Winner, in the event your Video Submission is considered not to be a "work made for hire," you irrevocably assign to the Sponsor all right, title, and interest in and to your Video Submission (including, without limitation, the copyright therein) in any and all media whether now known or hereafter devised, in perpetuity, anywhere in the world, with the right to make any and all uses thereof, including, without limitation, for purposes of advertising or trade; and (f) agree that by submitting an entry, you grant to the Sponsor, the right to sell and otherwise distribute your Video Submission on any of its websites or in any of its advertising and/or products without any compensation. The rights granted under this paragraph shall extend to the Sponsor, its parent and affiliated companies with respect to all entries and all other submitted materials related to the Promotion, including those submitted by non-winners and winners.

By making a Contest Submission, you grant to the Sponsor, its parent and affiliated companies the right, except where prohibited by law, to use your name, likeness, picture, address (city and state), voice, biographical information, Video Submission in your Contest Submission and written or oral statements, for advertising and promotional purposes in promoting or publicizing the Sponsor, its products or services, without notice or compensation, unless required by law. You shall have no right of approval, no claim to compensation, and no claim (including, without limitation, claims based on invasion of privacy, defamation, or right of publicity) arising out of any use, blurring, alteration, or use in composite form of your name, picture, likeness, address (city and state), e-mail address, biographical information, or entry. The rights granted under this paragraph shall extend to the Sponsor, its parent, and affiliated companies with respect to all entrants in the Promotion, including non-winners and winners. Sponsor, however, does not have any obligation to use the winning or non-winning Contest Submissions for any purpose.

14) Release of Liability and Issues of Law: By participating in this Promotion you release and hold harmless the Promotions Entities from any and all liability for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever, including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death which may occur in connection with, preparation for, travel to, or participation in the Promotion, or possession, acceptance or use or misuse of prizes, including any and all portions of the Grand Prize, or participation in any Promotion-related activity and for any claims based on publicity rights, defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, trademark infringement or any other intellectual property-related cause of action. Entrants also agree that Promotion Entities are not responsible or liable for any injury or damage to an entrant's or third person's computer related to or resulting from the Promotion, the Entries and/or its prizes. The Sponsor reserves the right to modify or cancel the Promotion in the event that any portion of any website used to administer any aspect of the Promotion becomes technically corrupted.

All Federal, state and local laws and regulations are applicable. THE ILLINOIS COURTS (STATE AND FEDERAL) SHALL HAVE SOLE JURISDICTION OF ANY CONTROVERSIES REGARDING THE CONTEST AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS SHALL GOVERN THE PROMOTION. EACH ENTRANT WAIVES ANY AND ALL OBJECTIONS TO JURISDICTION AND VENUE IN THOSE COURTS AND HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. The Promotion is void where restricted, taxed or prohibited by law.

15) Information about the Finalists and the Grand Prize Winner and Winners List: Information about the ten (10) Finalists and the Grand Prize Winner will be available at www.amble.com/IslaPalenque/IslandIntern2012 as it becomes available during the Promotion and per the Promotion schedule as defined in Section (1) of these Official Rules.

16) Use of Data: Sponsor will be collecting personal data about entrants online, in accordance with its privacy policy. Please review the Sponsor’s privacy policy www.amble.com/IslaPalenque/IslandIntern2012. By participating in the Promotion, entrants hereby agree to Sponsor’s collection and usage of their personal information and acknowledge that they have read and accepted Sponsor’s privacy policy.

17) Sponsor:
Palenque Resorts, LLC
1767 W. Wilson Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640