"We're thrilled, surprised, and absolutely gratified," said Zoe, a Houston-based trial attorney, after winning their second around-the-world travel adventure competition. "We worked hard together again for the third year, depended on the kindness of strangers in strange lands, and trusted our combined travel instincts. It was a challenging 40,000-kilometer event--the hardest one yet. In addition to the awesome trophy and medals for winning, we want to come back again next year, it is the best adventure possible ever year...I can’t wait…only 364 days to go!"

The Global Scavenger Hunt touched down in 11 countries including: Hong Kong, Viet Nam, Laos, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Austria, Slovakia, France and Iceland, over the three-weeks between April 9th - May 1st, that took it's contestants on their international treasure hunt from San Francisco to New York City--the long way! The Teams of two were required to seek out and answer cryptic clues that sent them on to other more challenging sight-doing and interactive cultural scavenges and on their global quest, ferreting out the answers to locations and extraordinary places, and doing remarkable things, all while eating exotic foods and experiencing bizarre local festivals.

"We felt confident that we could defend our title this year, and it was great to win again," said Rainey, a Pensacola-based attorney, "We literally went on a blind date with the world, riding elephants and camels, and we beat some very hardy and well-traveled international competitors from the US, Canada, Dubai, and the Barbados, who were all classy great travelers. I'm amazed and happy, but thoroughly exhausted. I need a relaxing vacation from my vacation!"

In the true spirit of Indiana Jones (and Janes), Zoe and Rainey were crowned The World's Greatest Travelers™ and presented with twin crystal globe-like trophies for winning The 2010 Global Scavenger Hunt™ at the Le Parker Meridien New York Hotel on Saturday morning after completing almost 300 global scavenges and collecting over 11,000-points for their efforts. All the Teams participating in this, now annual travel adventure competition, were helping to raise funds towards a $1 million goal for lauded organizations like: KIVA, the Nomad Foundation, and Free the Children among others.

"I am proud of Zoe and Rainey, they simply outworked, outhustled, and outlasted everyone else. They came to win and they did. They competed in the true spirit of the event. The true race was for second place and that turned out to be a great global competition among some truly worthy travel adventurers," stated William D. Chalmers, travel book author and Event Director.

"The Global Scavenger Hunt is a true cultural immersion and travel adventure competition that challenges our competitors to solve some really neat cultural puzzles along the way of their international quest. It is all about sight-doing, not just sight-seeing! We believe that travel brings people closer together, fosters global understanding and improves compassion for all involved," continued Chalmers, "Going around-the-world on one trip is an exciting prospect and when we add a little Indiana Jones-like scavenger hunt adventure to it, we feel that The Global Scavenger Hunt is a classic travel adventure competition bar none that just seems to be getting bigger and better every year. We threw everything at them this year and the competitors were equal to the task. I'm delighted for Zoe and Rainey and they deserved to win, I know they will come back to defend their title again in 2011!"

The Global Scavenger Hunt™ has garnered tremendous global media attention since it began: Outside magazine called it "…one of the most amazing trips in the world!" NPR's "Savvy Traveler" host Dianna Nyad, thinks that The Global Scavenger Hunt "…is just such a great idea!" And Time magazine says: "…would be Indiana Joneses will have a chance to follow in his footsteps…an international event that restores the curiosity and adventure." So far, travelers from over 45 countries have applied to join the annual adventure over the years making it truly an international global travel competition.

"It is like Survivor, The Amazing Race, and the Eco-Challenge all rolled into one except with much more cultural interaction," is how one previous competitor, Marvin S. of Canada, explained his participation in the global competition, that combines a treasure hunt with the style of the 19th Century Grand Tours, along with the jet-setter reality of 21st century travel. Participants have labeled it the Amazing Race for real travelers; because this real world travel adventure is for only the truly travel savvy among us who crave authentic adventure, genuine exotic travel, intimate cultural immersion, and a real travel adventure competition that is world-class fun.

"Having just completed our sixth safe and successfully run event, we're happy and thrilled to have created such an internationally captivating competition that has drawn the attention of some of the world's best travelers," boasts Chalmers.

And Chalmers ought to know a thing or two about international races, as the winner of a previous around-the-world race on public transportation, organizing this annual travel competition has become his dream come true. "I would love to participate, but setting up this annual event is equally challenging and we continue to attract world-class contestants and visit uniquely world-class destinations along the way." (National Geographic Adventure magazine knighted William Chalmers the "World's Greatest Traveler" in April 2002 for his collective travel efforts.)

Applications are already flooding The Global Scavenger Hunt offices for the 2011 event scheduled to begin April 15th, 2011!
_____________________________________________________________
For additional information, including: travel photos, an e-Press Kit, setting up interviews with contestants and/or the events organizer, or any other media-related questions, please contact: Pamela Finmark at MediaRelations {at} GlobalScavengerHunt.com or 1.310.281.7809.