The amazing Hilton eforea spa giveaway

My almost – so very nearly – but just not quite first sponsored post and absolutely my first ever giveaway…

I may have mentioned before that the building I work in is owned by a major magazine publishing company. Because of this, there are often promotions of some sort going on.

Yesterday I was returning from lunch with my colleague Rebecca, when we were stopped by a couple of promotions girls.

They asked if we wanted to come in and find out what Hilton Hotels is up to and receive a free drink, canapé and goodie bag.

Oh well – I guess we had a couple of minutes spare!

So we go into this little room that is all decked out in Hilton stuff, and full of very warmly smiling women. The promotion was for the somewhat impressive looking ‘eforea’ range at Hilton Hotels, which looks exactly like the kind of spa experience that my wife hopes to have an affair with someone rich enough to take her to.

Very quickly it became clear there had been a minor clerical error. What the girls outside had failed to do was to consider that we might not actually work for a magazine. They didn’t actually ask.

You see, we were supposed to like their product. We were supposed to know about their product, and then we were supposed to promote it. It didn’t take them long to realise that we had no idea what they were talking about, but just fancied a free cocktail.

So Rebecca and I walked around desperately trying to keep a straight face as we were told about the holistic journey that we could be going on with Hilton. We listened as they told us about their eforea experience, and the specially created and superbly effective products and treatments used to transform the weary traveller into relaxed bliss.

I nodded knowingly as I was told about how Aboriginal Elders had helped develop the spiritual focus for one range of products.

As the lady in charge began to realise who we were, things began to speed up.

The talks got shorter.

The route to the door did too.

We were given our canapé and cocktail – very nice.

Then came the really funny bit.

I saw the back room guy bring out two goodie bags.

I saw the lady at the door pick both bags up.

Then I saw the lady in charge take them off her, put one down and say “Can we just give you one bag to share?”

Yes, with hindsight I should have tried to argue it out. Maybe I could have made big noises about being some hugely successful blogger, and that I’d give them more exposure than Marie Claire ever could – but no. I looked down, grabbed the bag and ran.

So we legged it to the lift and laughed. Then we split up the goods, and I quickly realised I’d have to write about it.

Which brings me to the exciting bit.

My first ever giveaway.

Here is how you play: You have already seen the photo I took of the stash of freebies yes? Looks good? – Right well read on…

Study this next photo. Here I am displaying the very masculine VITAMAN face moisturiser – with its lovely creamy texture and oh so manly smell.

This stuff is so potent that it sets to work on all your defects immediately – which I decided to test.

In order to be scientific, I applied the moisturiser to one half of my face only, and left the other half to fend for its self.

All you have to do is this:

1. Tell me which half (left or right as per your perspective) has been treated by the wonder cream.

Essentially, which half of my face can get work as a model?

2. Study the picture again and guess exactly how long it took the promotions lady to realise that I had no idea what male grooming was, but thought it might get me put in jail – and therefore began to lose interest. I’ll take the closest guess to the point where she stopped herself half way through a sentence about “eyes and lips in one easy to use bottle” and just sighed “anyway….”

Leave me a comment with your answer, ensuring I can access an email address.

Tweet a link for an extra guess and Facebook for another – you know the routine. I will put all the correctly answering names into a random selection process, commonly known as pointing at the screen with my eyes shut, and the lucky commenter gets the prize.

The Prize.

I discussed at length with my Wife which items from the stash should go as the prize, and Jo pointed out that Hilton never actually gave me permission to give these away, and so - as she very quickly hid absolutely everything into her lotions and potions cabinet - I realised that the only thing left to giveaway was the VITAMAN man cream.

And unfortunately I’ve already been using that.

So the winner of the first ever Glen’s Life Hilton Hotels eforea spa Journey giveaway will receive their very own personalised email from me saying “Hello _____, well done for winning. ” AND one free tweet AND one free Facebook ‘Like’ AND I’ll even give you a FREE mention right here on Glen’s Life, where 6 or 7 people who already read your blog are likely to see it.

Oh - and I’ll write a Friday Flash Fiction story all about you.

I can’t say fairer than that now can I?

Surely being the star of a Glen’s Life FF story is better than a free tube of posh baby oil?

P.S.. Just because you are the star of the story – it doesn’t necessarily mean you'll be the good guy, or mean that you’ll live to the end of it – just saying!

P.P.S. When I excitedly phoned my wife to tell her all about my experience, and the free stash of products she was in line to receive – do you know what the only thing she said was?

“Who the f**k’s Rebecca?”