Sing it to Win it with Holiday Inn Express

Singer songwriters invited to hum, strum and trill their way to winning the Holiday Inn Express Songwriting Competition

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Holiday Inn Express has launched its 2014 Songwriting Competition in four countries across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Amateur and professional musicians, and bands and solo acts in the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, India and Indonesia have the chance to show off their savvy musical skills and win great prizes.

The competition comes off the back of the success of the 2012 Holiday Inn Express Songwriting competition held in South Africa. The winner of the 2012 competition, Tresor Riziki, is now an accomplished multi-platinum selling singer songwriter, who has signed a worldwide agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group and has been featured across South African airwaves and international music channels such as MTV ZA, MTV Base and Trace TV.

Tresor, who is also one of the 2014 competition judges, said: “Winning the competition was incredible and has given my career a huge boost. I would encourage all aspiring artists to get involved in this amazing Songwriting Competition, especially as this year’s contestants will have the chance to have their music heard across the world.”

In order to be in with a chance of winning and echoing Tresor’s success, participants have to compose an original song which includes a mention of Holiday Inn Express in the lyrics. Entry is via the Holiday Inn Express Songwriting Facebook App. Even the less musically-talented can get involved by picking their favourite tunes and voting for them on the Facebook App’s ‘Listen & Vote’ section.

The top 10 songs in each country with the highest number of votes will then be rated by a panel of judges to choose the ultimate winner. The judges for the 2014 competition include:

• Time Out - media partner Holiday Inn Express Songwriting Competition 2014 (UAE)
• Tresor Riziki, singer-songwriter and winner of 2012 Holiday Inn Express Songwriting Competition (South Africa)
• Rachael Calladine, songwriter and performer, The Fridge - Dubai
• Lee Lin Teo, Director of Brand Management, Holiday Inn Brand Family, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group)

The winner in each market will be professionally filmed performing their hit and promoted around the region, together with an array of other prizes including room nights at Holiday Inn Express hotels.

Lee Lin Teo, Director of Brand Management, Holiday Inn Brand Family, IHG said; “The 2012 Songwriting Competition in South Africa was a great success, so we’re now looking to celebrate the incredible talent and diverse music culture across four locations that are key to the brand’s growth. We can’t wait to see - and hear - the individuality, creativity and resourcefulness of singers and songwriters who can identify with Holiday Inn Express and our guests.”

The top 10 songs will be judged on the following criteria: originality and creativity of the lyrics, song composition, melody and arrangement, contestants’ performing ability and the incorporation of the Holiday Inn Express brand personality. Submissions will close on 31 March.

The grand winners from each market will be announced on the 15th April. For more information visit fb.com/holidayinnexpress or to listen to 2012’s short-listed songs, visit: https://soundcloud.com/holiday-inn-express-sa.