The Search Is On...Tommy Bahama Announces the $50,000 Nationwide Search to Discover the World's First Tommy Bahama Rumologist

SEATTLE, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Do you know the difference between a swizzle and a shrubb?  Do you dream of Mojitos?  If so, Tommy Bahama has an opportunity for you!   Tommy Bahama is excited to announce the search for the first-ever Tommy Bahama Rumologist™.   The search will launch on July 28, 2011. Tommy Bahama is scouring the country via a distinctive social media campaign seeking to find the person most worthy of this new title. "A Rumologist is a person with a vast knowledge of all things related to rum – one that can pour, educate, mix and create island-inspired cocktails for Tommy Bahama," explains Rob Goldberg, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Restaurants for Tommy Bahama.  "The person we are looking for must embody everything that a Tommy Bahama Rumologist should be about," adds Goldberg.  "They must not only love to create cocktails and put new twists on old recipes, but he or she must be so passionate about rum, that this person alone could claim this new title."  

To view the multimedia assets associated with this story, please click: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/50564-tommy-bahama-rumologist/

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110728/MM43052 )

As with most titles, this one comes with some great perks: A $50,000 Grand Prize; life-long bragging rights for being the first person to be proclaimed the Tommy Bahama Rumologist; a Tommy Bahama wardrobe and the Rumologist will become Tommy Bahama's chief rum consultant and rum ambassador for the next year.  Additionally, the Rumologist will help to create tantalizing new cocktails and rum-inspired menus for the world to enjoy at each Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar location.  

When chosen, the Rumologist may travel to locations in Southern California, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Florida, New York and beyond. He or she will work closely with the Tommy Bahama culinary team to develop the most distinctive, handcrafted rum drinks to pair with Tommy Bahama's island-inspired culinary creations.  The Rumologist will help to launch new rum programs in each of the Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar locations (currently at 13, including the Las Vegas location, which boasts the largest rum collection in Las Vegas with over 185 different varieties). Additionally, the newly anointed Rumologist, as a Tommy Bahama consultant, will make media appearances, host events for Tommy Bahama and share his or her adventures and knowledge with the world via an informative and compelling Rumologist blog.  In essence, the new Rumologist for Tommy Bahama will get $50,000 for being the world's top authority on rum (and get to travel to some amazing locations in the process).  

To enter the search, Tommy Bahama is looking for established bartenders, mixologists and anyone that believes they have what it takes to hold and honor the title.  All participants will be asked to create a short video (45-60 seconds max) declaring their candidacy and explain why they should be chosen to be the Rumologist. The expert team on-hand at Tommy Bahama will view all applications and announce a winner on/or around October 6, 2011.  The search will take place on the Tommy Bahama Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/tommybahama - Additional details of the search as follows:

• July 28, 2011:  Search launches – applications available on the Tommy Bahama Facebook page.  Deadline for submissions:  August 22, 2011.
• August 29, 2011:  Judges select Top 20 based on their scoring.
• August 30, 2011:  Top 20 announced.
• August 30 – September 8, 2011:  Top 20 will be posted for public voting based on first video submission.  
• September 12, 2011:  The Top 10 who received the most votes will be asked to submit a new video.
  • Video can be up to two minutes in length and must be posted no later than September 22, 2011 at 11:59 PM ET.
  • Applicants will be encouraged to be as creative as they would like to showcase why they should be the Rumologist.
• September 26, 2011:  Top 5 is announced and voting commences.
• October 3, 2011:  Voting period for Top 5 ends.
• October 6, 2011:  Winner Announced (on or around October 6, 2011).

"This is an amazing opportunity for someone to not only take their career to the next level, but to experience the Tommy Bahama way-of-life," explains Goldberg.  "Our goal with this search is to not only find the world's first Tommy Bahama Rumologist; it is to also introduce thousands of people to the Tommy Bahama island-inspired lifestyle.  Career-building opportunities are tough to come by these days, and we believe we've created the most exciting consultant position in the world.  We can't wait to discover our first Rumologist."  

In addition to complete contest rules, updates and postings on Facebook, Tommy Bahama has created a MultiVu/ARC media center which will contain promotion updates, videos, press releases and applicant information.  The site will go live on July 28, 2011.

Technical issues with the interactive media player?  Please send an e-mail to [email protected].

Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bars can be found at the following locations:  Laguna Beach, CA, Newport Beach, CA, Palm Desert, CA, Las Vegas, NV, Mauna Lani, HI, Wailea, HI, Myrtle Beach, SC, Sarasota, FL, Sandestin, FL, Orlando, FL, Naples, FL, The Woodlands, TX, and Scottsdale, AZ.

More information on Tommy Bahama can be found at:  www.tommybahama.com, www.facebook.com/tommybahama and on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/tommybahama

Please drink responsibly.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT IMPROVE ONE'S CHANCES OF WINNING.  Contest starts on 7/28/11 at 12:00:01 AM ET and ends on 8/22/11 at 11:59:59 PM ET. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia, and who are, as of entry date, 21 years of age or older. Void where prohibited by law. For the complete Official Rules that govern this offer visit: www.synmedia.net/rumologistrules/rules.html   Sponsor: Tommy Bahama Group, Inc., 428 Westlake Avenue N, Suite 388, Seattle, Washington 98109.

This Contest is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by FACEBOOK, nor is FACEBOOK associated with the Contest in any way.  Any questions, comments or complaints regarding the Contest must be directed to the Sponsor or Administrator, and not to FACEBOOK.

ABOUT TOMMY BAHAMA

Tommy Bahama is owned by Tommy Bahama Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE:OXM).  Established in August 1992, with corporate headquarters in Seattle, Tommy Bahama is a lifestyle company that defines elegant island living with men's and women's sportswear, denim, swimwear, accessories and a complete home furnishings collection.  Tommy Bahama is available at the country's finest retailers, including Nordstrom, as well as high profile resort locations around the world. There are over eighty Tommy Bahama retail locations across the country, thirteen of which include a Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar. Additional stores will be opening this year. For more information, please visit www.tommybahama.com

MEDIA CONTACT:                      
Wagner/Junker Agency                      
Kris Ferraro:  [email protected]: 323-461-1011                      
Michelle Loosbrock: [email protected]: 702-287-4130                      
Jeff Wagner:  [email protected]:  323-461-1011                            

SOURCE Tommy Bahama