Coke Unveils 'Happiness Expedition' Team
After several weeks of suspense and exciting on-line voting by fans across many countries, three young people have landed one of the coolest jobs in the world - as members of Coca-Cola's Expedition 206. The team will attempt to visit 206 countries and territories where Coca-Cola is sold, covering more than 150,000 miles in just 365 days, on a mission to find out what makes people happy.
Following a worldwide online vote to determine the team of happiness ambassadors, the three winners - Tony Martin, 29, a Washington, D.C., native now teaching kindergarten in Munich; Kelly Ferris, 22, a university student from Brussels and Antonio Santiago, 24, a university student from Mexico City - were introduced on November 16, at a global investor event at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta.
Martin, Ferris and Santiago will embark on one of the most ambitious travel adventures ever during 2010, bringing Coca-Cola's "Open Happiness" campaign to life as they visit people from different cultures, document their experiences and share stories of happiness with the world.
People can follow the entire journey as it plays out in real-time on the expedition's online headquarters at www.Expedition206.com, as well as on facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flicker and other social networking sites. Fans also will serve as "virtual travel agents," helping the team decide where they go, what they do and who they visit in each destination.
"Our goal is to bring fans along for the ride, using social media platforms to make them an integral part of the adventure," said Clyde Tuggle, senior vice president, Global Public Affairs and Communications, The Coca-Cola Company. "The magic of Expedition 206 is in its potential to bring people together in a global conversation, highlighting the stories of happiness and optimism people everywhere are eager to share."
Beginning in Madrid, Spain on January 1, 2010, and concluding in Atlanta on December 31, 2010, the expedition will make stops in cities big and small, visiting with people and attending marquee global events, such as the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Canada, the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. Along the way, Coca-Cola will identify people to act as a "Happiness Host" in each destination to welcome the team and help guide them on their exploration.
"Tony, Antonio and I have been given an amazing opportunity and we're eager to hit the road to meet thousands of people around the world," said Ferris, who was born in South Africa and grew up in Belgium. "It's an ambitious task, but I can't think of a better way to spend a year than exploring what makes people happy." "I still can't believe that I've landed this chance of a lifetime," added Tony Martin, who now resides in Munich, Germany. "If we stick to our itinerary we'll set a new world record for the number of countries visited in one year. I've already started packing my bags."
Coca-Cola's Happiness Ambassadors will be in Nigeria October 11-13, 2010. "We are planning a number of exciting events to give the team members and Nigerians a most memorable experience. Nigerians are reputed to be the happiest people on Earth, and we believe that the Coke Happiness Ambassadors will find the true meaning and expression of happiness when they arrive here", said Clem Ugorji, Coca-Cola Nigeria's Communications Manager.
During their first day on the job, the team kicked off "Happiness Ambassador Training Camp," to prepare them for the year-long trip of a lifetime. They went through a mix of fun and educational sessions including staying mentally and physically healthy on the road and tasting of exotic foods to prepare their palates. They also learned some key phrases - including "What makes you happy?" - in several of the world's most widely spoken languages. Preparations will continue over the next several weeks leading up to the team's departure.
