TripRewards Hot Wing Eating Contest

TripRewards, the hotel loyalty program, will host the Ultimate Hot Wing Eating Championship at Grand Central Terminal in New York. According to the press release, “Seven world-class eaters with a bone to pick will flock to New York’s Grand Central Terminal
on Monday to see who can consume the most chicken hot wings in 10 minutes and secure the title of TripRewards Ultimate Hot Wing Eating champion.” Oh, I thought anyone could participate. This is much less exciting.

The contest will be hosted by Kenan Thompson from Saturday Night Live at 1:00 p.m. in the Vanderbilt Hall of Grand Central Terminal at 42nd and Park Avenue. If you aren’t in the New York area, you can catch the simulcast at triprewardshotwingchampionship.com.

Competing for the TripRewards Ultimate Hot Wing Eating Championship title will be IFOCE eaters Joey “Jaws” Chestnut of San Jose, Calif.; Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas of Alexandria, Va.; Tim “Eater X” Janus of New York, “Crazy Legs” Conti of New York, Micah “Wing Kong” Collins of Drexel Hill, Pa.; Eric “Steakbellie” Livingston of Drexel Hill; and Pete Miernicki, a rookie eater from Philadelphia. Bob “Humble” Shoudt of Royersford, Pa., and “Wild” Bill Myers of Brenigsville, Pa., will be “waiting in the wings” as alternates.

The TripRewards Ultimate Hot Wing Eating champion will receive one million TripRewards points. For each pound of hot wings consumed during the contest, the TripRewards program will donate $250 to the Food Bank for New York City, which is excellent. The points can be redemmed for rewards such as a Hawaiian vacation package for two that includes flight for two, seven nights at participating hotels and more than two dozen $50 restaurant gift cards. Or the option to rent a car for 166 days; stay 100 nights at select hotels (to recover); or purchase two 42-inch, flat-screen televisions (to relive their big wins.) I would probably go for the car rental, provided I could use it any country I chose.

Why a wing contest? Good question. The contest is intended to bring to the TripRewards Mystery Hot Spot Promotion. Travelers who stay at member hotels, including Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Baymont Inn & Suites, Wingate by Wyndham, Travelodge, Howard Johnson, AmeriHost Inn and Knights Inn, between now through Sept. 6 will receive a TripRewards Mystery Hot Spot coupon book featuring $300 in discounts from popular retailers. WooHoo.

In addition, the TripRewards Mystery Hot Spot Promotion invites everyone to go to the website to play an instant-win game and enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win prizes.

At least you can see Keenan.