Official Rules
Amtrak Vacations 2009 Sweepstakes, presented in association with Amtrak.
ELIGIBILITY
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. This sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the United States (excluding residents of Puerto Rico) who are at least 18 years old at the time of entry. Entries are limited to individuals only; commercial enterprises and business entities are not eligible. Employees or contract employees of sponsors, National Geographic Society and National Railroad Passenger Corporation ("Amtrak") (the "Sponsors"), their affiliates, subsidiaries, agents, and parents and their immediate families or persons living in the same household of such individuals, are ineligible. SWEEPSTAKES IS VOID IN PUERTO RICO AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
SCHEDULE
The sweepstakes begins at midnight Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on August 11, 2009, and ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 31, 2009. All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT October 31, 2009.
HOW TO ENTER
There is a limit of one (1) entry per person.
To enter, go to www.amtraksweeps.com, enter all required fields, and click submit. You must complete all required data on the entry form in order for the sweepstakes entry to be valid.
All entries become the property of Sponsors. They will not be returned or acknowledged. Sponsors are not responsible for any computer-related, online, or technical malfunctions that may occur. Entries are void if they are in whole or in part incomplete, irregular, altered, counterfeit, produced in error, or obtained through fraud or theft. By entering you agree to be bound by these Official Rules. Entries will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.
Any potential winner may be requested to provide Sponsors with proof that he or she is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address associated with the winning entry.
PRIZE
One (1) grand prize winner will be selected ("Winner"). The Grand Prize consists of an Amtrak Vacations Glacier National Park Package* for Winner and one guest for 9 days/8 nights. The Grand Prize includes the following for Winner and guest: Six nights' hotel accommodations (one (1) in Chicago, three (3) in Glacier Park, and two (2) in Seattle) based on double occupancy; One way on Amtrak or an airline (at Sponsors' election) from a city near the Winner's home town to Chicago; One way on Amtrak or an airline (at Sponsors' election) from Seattle to a city near the Winner's home town; One way on Amtrak from Chicago to Glacier National Park and from Glacier National Park to Seattle in Sleeping car accommodations; Two dinners (Chicago & Seattle); Four Tours (one (1) in Chicago, two (2) in Glacier National Park, and one (1) in Seattle); Meals in the Dining car onboard Amtrak while in sleeping car accommodations; and an Amtrak Vacations Travel Portfolio.
Prize and travel must be completed by September 10, 2010. The Amtrak Vacations Glacier National Park Package is valid for two adults, traveling together, double occupancy. Winner and guest must travel together on the same itinerary. All taxes, meals, transfers, upgrades and other expenses not specifically stated as part of the Grand Prize are not included, and are the sole responsibility of the winner. Substitutions and upgrades are not permitted. Tickets are non-refundable, non-reroutable and non-endorsable. Amtrak Sleeping Car Accommodations are for one room for two adults. Hotel accommodations are for one room, double occupancy at a property selected by Amtrak Vacations. Sightseeing tours include tours offered by Amtrak Vacations, subject to availability. Travel is subject to availability and certain blackout dates may apply. Travel in conjunction with this award is not permitted during Amtrak's peak blackout periods: 24-25NOV09; 28-30NOV09; 17-23DEC09; 26-30DEC09; 03-04JAN10; 12FEB10 and 15FEB10; 02APR10, and 04-05APR10. Reservations must be confirmed thirty (30) days in advance of travel date. Space is limited and subject to availability. Once reservations are ticketed, no changes are permitted. Prize cannot be bartered, transferred, or sold; it has no cash value. Prize must be used in its entirety. Other restrictions may apply. Reservations for travel, tours and hotel stay will be made through Sponsors.
Approximate Retail Value of the Grand Prize ("ARV") is $5,972.00. The ARV may vary based on the winner's home town and date of travel. Any difference between actual retail value and ARV will not be awarded. No prize transfer, assignment or substitution by Winner is permitted. In the event offered prize is unavailable, Sponsors reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. Should the winner selected not be able to accept the prize, Sponsors reserve the right to award the prize to another winner using random selection from among the remaining eligible entries.
A detailed description of the trip is available at: www.amtraksweeps.com
*Glacier Park package is for passengers arriving and departing at East Glacier Station. Tours depend upon weather conditions. Glacier Park is a seasonal destination and is closed for the winter months. Passengers arriving into Whitefish from the West may require an additional day of car rental.
SELECTION OF THE WINNER
Random selection of Winner will occur on or about November 5, 2009 from among all eligible entries received. Drawing will be conducted at National Geographic Society, 1145 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-4688. Winner will be notified by e-mail or U.S. mail on or about November 7, 2009. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.
REDEMPTION AND VERIFICATION
To redeem prize, Winner must respond within ten (10) days of prize notification. Response may be by e-mail to Rossana Stella at rstella@ngs.org. Winner and guest will be required to execute and return (1) an affidavit of eligibility and liability release; and (2) a personal publicity release allowing use of his or her name, voice and likeness for promotional purposes, where legal. All forms must be signed and returned within the time frame set forth by Sponsors or the prize will be deemed forfeited and a substitute winner will be selected.
All prize claims are subject to verification and compliance with the Official Rules.
RIGHT TO CANCEL OR SUSPEND SWEEPSTAKES
If for any reason the sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned, due to infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsors that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this sweepstakes, the Sponsors reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the sweepstakes.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Sponsors assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, or delay in operation or transmission; communications line failure; unauthorized access to sweepstakes entries; or alteration of entries. Sponsors are not responsible for any problems with or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, or failure of any e-mail to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participants' or any other persons' computers related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this sweepstakes.
CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY PERSON TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE SWEEPSTAKES IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
The Grand Prize trip may not be combined with any other offer. Regulations and conditions may apply. Winner will be responsible for all necessary travel authorizations and for any travel insurance. By accepting the Grand Prize, Winner represents that he/she understands that travel, whether in developed or remote areas and whether by plane, automobile, boat, raft, or other conveyance, or by foot, on land or water, and in the air, contains some inherent element of risk of accident, illness, injury, loss or death, which may be caused by negligence, forces of nature, wild animals or other agencies, known or unknown. Winner and travel companion must represent that they recognize that such risks may be present at any time before, during and after the trip.
CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
By participating, participants agree to release, discharge, and hold harmless Sponsors and their respective partners, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, advertising agencies, agents and their employees, officers, directors, and representatives from any liability, claims, losses, and damages arising out of their participation in the sweepstakes or any sweepstakes-related activities and the acceptance, use, misuse, or possession of any prize received in this sweepstakes. Participants also agree (a) to be bound by these official rules; and (b) that the decisions of Sponsors are final on all matters relating to the sweepstakes.
All federal, state and local taxes, fees and surcharges on prize are the sole responsibility of the Winner.
WINNERS LIST
For the name of Winner after November 7, 2009, send a separate self-addressed, stamped envelope to National Geographic Society, Amtrak Vacations 2009 Sweepstakes Winners, Attention: Rossana Stella, 711 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022 (Residents of Vermont need not include return postage).
NOTICE TO INDIVIDUALS: REMOVAL FROM MAILING LIST: Any individual (or other duly authorized person) may elect to exclude the name and address of that individual from all lists used by Sponsor to mail skill contests or sweepstakes. To elect to have an individual's name excluded from all such lists, submit a removal request in writing to: National Geographic Society, Amtrak Vacations 2009 Sweepstakes Winners, Attention: Rossana Stella, 711 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022.This notification system may be used to prohibit mailing of all skill contests or sweepstakes by Sponsor to such individual.
SHORT FORM RULES
To obtain Official Rules, go to www.amtraksweeps.com. PURCHASE IS NOT NECESSARY AND WON'T INCREASE CHANCES OF WINNING. Open to U.S. residents (excluding Puerto Rico) 18 years or older. Employees of Sponsors National Geographic Society and Amtrak ("Sponsors") and related companies (and their families and households) are ineligible. Sweepstakes ends 11:59 p.m. EDT October 31, 2009. To enter, go to www.amtraksweeps.com, enter all required fields, and click submit. You must complete all required data on the entry form in order for the sweepstakes entry to be valid. One Grand Prize: Amtrak Vacations Glacier National Park Package for Winner and one guest for 9 days/8 nights (ARV: $5,972.00). Conditions and restrictions apply.
VOID IN PUERTO RICO AND WHERE PROHIBITED.