Application for the Medical Blog Contest (“Competition”) is open to each individual blogger (“Participant” or collectively “Participants”) at www.medblogcontest.com (“Website”). A “Participant” is defined as an individual blogger who has accepted experience in writing tourism, medical or medical tourism related blog/s in English language and/or bloggers’ local language. The 12 selected Participants must experience pre-selected medical and health attractions and other sightseeing activities in their randomly selected destination (Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai or Ko Samui) over the course of four consecutive days and three more in Bangkok. Each Participant will share his daily experience with a global audience via blog site by posting blog posts, photos, videos and travel stories (in English language and/or his/her own local language) with social media tools , media outlets and media interviews. The Competition will be organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (“TAT”) and/or any other co-organizers officially appointed by the TAT for this Competition, if any (collectively “Organizer”); and sponsored by sponsors of the TAT and/or Organizer for this Competition (“Sponsor”). The Competition process will operate as follows:

3.1 Finalists Selection
Submissions will be judged by representatives of the TAT and/or Organizer and the media (“Judging Committee”) to select up to twelve (12) Finalists. Submissions will be judged equally on the following four criteria:
•   Blogging experience and accomplishments (based on your submitted blog URL which will be verified by the Judging Committee)

•   Knowledge about Medical, Tourism or/and Thailand
•   Innovative ideas for promoting a Medical tourism blog
•   Enthusiasm

3.2 Best Blog Content Winner Selection
For the Best Blog Content selection, the Judging Committee will select the appropriate winner using the following criteria:
•   Quality of the  content
•    In-depth knowledge
•    Persuasion
•    Clarity and Readability
•    Accuracy

6.1 The email notifications that will be sent to Finalists will include information containing day-by-day itineraries and their official blog URL under www.MedBlogContest.com which will be provided along with their user names and passwords. Moreover, a list of medical websites, social media and social networking websites, from which the Finalists will have to create their own user accounts, will also be provided to Finalists to promote their personal MedBlogContest’s blog on each and every one of them. These are provided for the Finalists to prepare for the competition before coming to Thailand.

6.2 Each Finalist will be required to stay at Sponsor’s hotels located within Bangkok and their randomly assigned destination for the duration of the Fam trip (“Assignment”).

6.3 The Fam trip will last seven (7) consecutive days and six (6) nights (including travel time to the destination). The itinerary is scheduled to commence on or around November 21, 2010 and end on or around November 27, 2010. This may, however, be rescheduled by the TAT and/or Organizer.

6.4 During the Assignment, the itinerary, which must be followed for each of the seven (7) consecutive days ("Itinerary"), will have been planned and designed by the TAT and/or Organizer.

6.5 Every transfer will be provided by TAT and/or Organizer for the duration of the Competition.

6.6 Travel insurance and local medical service will be provided during the entire Competition period in case of any emergency or accident.

6.7 A local liaison officer will be provided to each destination’s Finalists (Phuket, Chiang Mai, Ko Samui, Pattaya) except for Bangkok, where 2 liaison officers will be assigned for different routes (one liaison officer per route); the duties of the local liaison officer include but are not strictly limited to:   
•    Acting as personal assistant for Finalist by continuously remaining with Finalist throughout his/her daily Itinerary and being available for contact by telephone, 24 hours a day, for assistance, emergency, regarding sickness, itinerary, or route.
•    Acting as coordinator between ( helping to contact and if necessary act as translator and intermediator for) the Finalists and any official parties, such as local TAT officers, governmental officers, police, employees of any hospitals or other medical care centers, and any other parties that the Finalists need to and/or should contact in order to fulfill their obligatory duties.

6.8 The Finalists will be required to document their experience about the competition through various forms of electronic media including, but not limited to, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr and any other websites/networks deemed appropriate ("Assignment Materials").  Their documentation will cover three periods as follows:
•    Immediately after receiving their official blog URL and usernames and passwords for participating in the Competition, Finalists may start documenting their experience by introducing themselves, explaining their prior travel experience, medical facilities or medical experience, etc.
•    During the Competition, Finalists should document their daily experiences.
•    After the end of the 7-day traveling period until the end of the competition, Finalists can continue documenting their thoughts on their experience as a whole, from the beginning until the end.

6.9 Finalists have to provide their own electronic devices that will help them record their itinerary, such as video recorders, cameras, laptop computers, and mobile phones.   

6.10 The results and proceeds of all such Assignment Materials will become the sole property of the TAT and/or Organizer.  The Finalists will also be required to participate in media interviews and TAT events, as determined by the sole discretion of TAT and/or Organizer.

6.11 Only interviews coordinated and approved by the TAT and/or Organizer will be permitted throughout the duration of the Assignment unless approved in writing by the TAT and/or Organizer in advance.            

6.12 All assignment-related expenses, including but not limited to coach class airfare and car service/driver to/from the destination, local transfer, local utilities, automobile usage and fuel, parking, resort and hotel lodging (expenses for resorts/hotels will only include room rates and breakfasts), attraction fees, dinners, and tolls will be absorbed/reimbursed by the Organizer and/or Sponsor as part of the official Assignment.  

6.13 Apart from the aforementioned specified expenses, other costs incurred by the Finalists will not be considered assignment-related expenses and therefore will be considered Finalist’s personal expenses, which are not the liability or responsibility of the TAT, Organizer and/or Sponsor and are therefore exempt from reimbursement. Unreasonable or unnecessary expenses not specified by the Finalist Agreement will be the sole responsibility of each Finalist.  

6.14 The Sponsor shall have no obligation (express or implied) to use any Assignment Materials, or to otherwise exploit any Assignment Materials or, if commenced, to continue the distribution or exploitation thereof, and may at any time abandon the use of any Assignment Materials for any reason, with or without legal justification or excuse, and the Finalists shall not be entitled to any damages or other relief by reason thereof.  The TAT and/or Organizer reserve the right to allow or prohibit the Sponsor from using Assignment Materials.

6.15 No substitution is permitted, except at the sole discretion of the TAT and/or Organizer.  Each Finalist agrees to undertake the Assignment at his/her own risk.  Once the Assignment commences, no unscheduled lapses in the schedule are permitted, except at the sole discretion of the TAT and/or Organizer.  The TAT and/or Organizer reserve the right to structure the Assignment and travel routes, and select attractions/hotels at their sole discretion.

6.16 Any optional itineraries that are taken which are not planned or included in the official Itineraries and are not agreed upon by the TAT and/or Organizer will result in warnings or disqualification from the Competition at the sole discretion of the TAT and/or Organizer. In the event of disqualification, all accommodation, coach class airfare and/or a car service to/from the destination, automobile usage and fuel, attraction fees, restaurant vouchers, spa vouchers, and medical vouchers must be forfeited from the Finalists and/or returned immediately to the TAT and/or Organizer. Disqualified Finalists will thereafter be prohibited from taking part in any future competitions or activities provided or sponsored by the TAT and/or Organizer in perpetuity.

6.17 If the Competition is canceled for any reason prior to its commencement, the TAT and/or Organizer shall have no further obligation to the Finalists. If the Competition is canceled after commencement, as a result of an unexpected accident, such as a natural disaster or disease epidemic that may affect the safety of the Finalists, the TAT and/or Organizer reserve the right to cancel the Competition and shall require Finalists to return all the gifts and goods that have been provided by the Sponsor to the Sponsor by the reason that the TAT and/or Organizer cannot deliver what they have promised to the Sponsor and shall return everything to them, except for the air-tickets, which all Finalists will need for returning to their home countries.

10.1 By entering this Competition, the Participant agrees that:
•    any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection to the Competition, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action;
•    any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out of pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Competition, but in no event will attorneys' fees be awarded or recoverable; and
•    under no circumstances will any Participant be permitted to obtain any award for, and hereby knowingly and expressly waive all rights to seek, punitive, incidental or consequential damages and/or any other damages, other than actual out of pocket expenses, and/or any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased.

10.2 Each Participant acknowledges and agrees that the TAT, its agencies, organizers, liaisons, web masters and associates are not responsible for any costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising from or in connection to:
•    incomplete, lost, late, misdirected, or illegible Submissions or for failure to receive Submissions due to any cause, including without limitation human, transmission, or technical problems, failures, or malfunctions of any kind, whether originating with sender, with TAT and/or Organizer or otherwise, that may limit a Participant's ability to participate in this Competition;
•    incorrect or inaccurate information whether caused by internet users, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in connection with this Competition and assume no responsibility for any error, omission, malfunction, interruption, deletion, defect, or delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft, or destruction or unauthorized access to, tampering, or hacking;
•    linked third-party sites, third-party sites provided as search results, or third-party advertisements which do not make any representations regarding their content or accuracy. Participants’ use of third-party websites is at their own risk and subject to the Terms of Use of such websites.
•    any injury or damage resulting from participation in the Competition (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to, loss or destruction of property, or any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages related to or based on the Participant's rights of publicity or privacy); or
•    the Participant's claim that they have somehow been defamed or portrayed in a false light. The TAT, its partners, Organizer, Sponsors, and any associated parties  assumes no responsibility for any damage to Participant's computer system, which is occasioned by accessing the Website or other respective websites, or participating in this Competition, or for any computer system, phone line, hardware, software or program malfunctions, or other errors, failures, delayed computer transmissions or network connections that are human or technical in nature, or for the incorrect or inaccurate capture of information, or the failure to capture any information.  

10.3 By participating in the Competition, Participants agree that the TAT, its Organizer, Sponsor, subsidiaries, affiliated companies and their respective advertising, promotion and distribution agencies, affiliates, officers, directors, and employees shall have no liability of any kind arising from or in connection to the acceptance, possession or use of the prizes awarded herein, and acknowledge that said parties are not in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation, or guarantee, expressed or implied, in fact or law, relative to any prize including but not limited to its quality, mechanical condition or fitness for a particular purpose.

10.4 The TAT and/or Organizer reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to disqualify any Participant that violates the Submission requirements, is found to be tampering with the Submission process or operation of the Competition, or to be acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to threaten, abuse or harass any other person.  

10.5 If, for any reason, this Competition is not capable of running as planned, the TAT and/or Organizer reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to close the Submission acceptance period at any time, cancel, terminate, modify or suspend this Competition or as otherwise deemed fair and equitable by TAT and/or Organizer. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary hereof, in no case shall the TAT and/or Organizer be liable for any indirect and consequential loss arising out of or attributable to this Competition.

10.6 Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, the laws of Thailand will govern any disputes arising out hereof and shall be resolved by jurisdiction of Thai court(s).

10.7 Condition of Participation:  
•    This Competition is subject to all applicable laws of Thailand.
•    Participants hereby:
    o    agree that the TAT and/or Organizer shall have no liability whatsoever for, and shall be held harmless by Participants against any liability for any injuries, losses or damages of any kind to person(s), including death, or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, as a result of participation in this Competition or any related activity;
    o    release the TAT’s advertising and promotional partners, fulfillment and/or judging agencies, retailers, franchises, agents and their estates and/or family members from all liability, claims, action, or proceedings relating to this Competition and from injuries or damages arising in connection with or relating to participation in this Competition; and
    o    permit the TAT and/or Organizer to use their blogs and assignment materials for promotional purposes for any advertising, trade and promotional purposes relating to the Competition, future versions of the Competition or any other TAT tourism campaign or promotion contest without further compensation, consideration, review or consent.
    o    waive any right to claim ambiguity in this Competition or the Official Rules.
•    The TAT and/or Organizer reserve the right to modify the Official Rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting thereof and without prior notification. To void suspect Submissions and/or cancel, terminate or suspend any portion of this Competition should a virus, bug, non-authorized human intervention or other cause beyond the control of the TAT and/or Organizer that corrupts or impairs the administration or security of this Competition.  The TAT and/or Organizer reserve the right to amend or vary the Official Rules at any time without prior notification.
•    The TAT and/or Organizer reserve the right to terminate the accounts of any registered Participants in the Competition at any time for any reason, subject to the Official Rules herein.
•    Non-compliance or breach of any of the Official Rules shall immediately disqualify the participant from the Competition and prohibit him or her from participating in any future contest organized or sponsored by the TAT and/or Organizer.
•    The TAT and/or Organizer will not be held responsible for any lost, late, incomplete, illegible, damaged or misdirected Submissions, or for any human or technical errors, failures or malfunctions in the transmission or receipt of details submitted through the internet.

Winning Criteria and Prize Distribution (The Med Blog Contest Winners)

1.    Submission period is from September 1, 2010 until October 31, 2010 11:59PM (GMT +7) and the blog visiting / best blog content selection period is from November 22, 2010 until January 31, 2011 11:59PM (GMT +7).

2.    The Winners will be announced on or about February 7, 2011 on the website www.medblogcontest.com. A personal e-mail declaring them the Winners will also be sent.

3.    One of the Winners shall be the one whose eligible blog received the highest number of unique visitors, and the other shall be the finalist whose eligible blog was selected to have the best content. If the number of unique visitors is a tie, the period will be extended for an additional twenty-four (24) hours to identify the finalist winner.

4.    In the event the successful Winners cannot be contacted at the e-mail address indicated on their application form or on informing the selected Winners they do not reconfirm within a given period of time, the TAT and/or Organizer reserve the right to award the prize to another Finalist.

5.    Winners will have to attend an announcement ceremony and a press conference in Thailand on February 25, 2010 (tentatively). Prizes will be handed directly to the Winners on this day and therefore no shipping service from Organizer, Sponsor or TAT will be required.

6.    The finalist contestants and web site users may not attempt to increase the number of unique visitors for any submitted blog through the use of any automated, deceptive, fraudulent or other invalid means (including but not limited to automated click-generating software, macro programs, or internet agents). If any of the Winners are discovered to have cheated or acted inappropriately, breaching the stipulated rules and regulations, and such discovery occurs either after or during the Competition period, the said Finalist will be disqualified from receiving their winning title and the prizes, and all such prizes will be awarded to the first runner-up Finalist.

Prize Distribution (to Winners)

Prizes will be distributed to the successful Winners who can be contacted at the e-mail address indicated on their application form and reconfirm the TAT and/or Organizer within a given period of time under the conditions as follows:

1.  Prizes cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion or offer. Prizes may not be transferred or assigned except by the sponsors.

2.  Only listed prizes will be awarded and no substitutions or redemptions will be made, except by the Sponsor in its sole discretion due to prize unavailability for any reason and only then for a prize of equal or greater value.

3.  The TAT will pay all shipping and handling fee (if any) required for delivery of prizes within Thailand. All shipping, handling or other costs for delivery abroad will be the responsibility of the Winners.

4.  According to Thai law, the Winners may be charged 5% withholding tax of the total amount of the prizes that they are awarded.

5.  Expenses not specifically stated above, together with the reporting and payment of all applicable taxes, fees, and/or surcharges, if any, arising out of, or resulting from acceptance or use of a prize, are the sole responsibility of the Winners of that prize.

6.  The TAT and/or Organizer expressly disclaim any responsibility or liability for injury or loss to any person or property relating to the delivery and/or subsequent use of the prizes awarded. Restrictions, conditions, and limitations apply. The TAT and/or Organizer and Sponsors will not replace any lost or stolen prize items.