If you think journalists are inquisitive, you should hear what Four Points by Sheraton has done. It has been calling on US- and Canada-based business travellers to share their most outrageous, embarrassing or memorable travel tales for a chance to bag US$25,000 in cash and a US$50 beer tab.

Stories have been submitted to the chain’s Facebook page, and the contributor with the most votes for his/her story will be crowned on September 7. Voters were also given weekly chances to win two-night stays at any Four Points hotels in the US or Canada and a US$50 beer tab.

One contributor shared how she had skipped a dreaded meeting to go skiing, and ended up skiing all day with a gentleman who turned out to be the business party she had skipped out on. 

Another shared how the toilet in her hotel room had overflowed, and a further water pipe mishap placed her bathroom underwater. The hotel staff took so long to rescue her that by the time someone came to her room, she had fixed the pipe and cleaned up the mess herself. The staff then offered her a complimentary breakfast, which was already free for her, to make up for the inconvenience.

For another business traveller, a travel agent boo-boo placed her on a flight to Portland, Maine instead of Portland, Oregon, causing her to miss her meeting.

“Learning from their successes and mishaps helps us to further enhance their stay,” said Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of Specialty Select Brands at Starwood.

At the rate business travel is growing in Asia today, Four Points by Sheraton should consider opening the contest to this region for even more stories.