ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Olive Garden
has long been a place for celebration and sharing special moments
with loved ones. Today, in honor of the national holiday of
amore, Olive Garden announced its Sweetheart Sweepstakes.
Now through February 19, individuals
can enter to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip for two to Italy on the restaurant's Facebook page
(facebook.com/OliveGarden).
"We value everyone as family and friends, and that means trying
to make our guests' experiences truly memorable," said Jay Spenchian, executive vice president, Olive
Garden. "Through this sweepstakes, we'll offer a fortunate couple
the opportunity to experience everything that Olive Garden loves
about Italy: the delicious food
and wine, generosity and hospitality of its people and even a
little romance."
Pack Your Bags for Two
One winner and guest will fly into Rome, known for its rich history and
architecture, to begin a seven-night getaway. During the week,
winners will travel to Florence,
Renaissance epicenter and capital of Tuscany, to continue their Italian adventure.
The prize will include hotel accommodations and meals to help
complete the romantic retreat. Olive Garden is also offering
individuals an opportunity to win a daily $25 gift card to the restaurant when they enter
the sweepstakes.
Table for Two
A recent OpenTable survey revealed that 35 percent of diners find
Italian cuisine the most romantic Valentine's Day dinner choice. Olive Garden is
inviting guests to come into their local restaurant with their
loved ones for a delicious Italian dinner. For a limited time,
guests can enjoy a three-course meal for $12.95* which includes:
- A choice between unlimited homemade soup or salad and
breadsticks
- One of five new entrees, such as Smoked Chicken Mozzarella
- One of five Dolcini desserts, such as Amaretto Tiramisu or
Limoncello Mousse
Olive Garden has been part of many special occasions, from first
dates to anniversary celebrations. Some memories guests have shared
with the restaurant include:
- A Philadelphia couple who
remembers their second date, where they stayed until closing time
at Olive Garden 13 years ago, as "one of their best nights out
ever"
- A Cincinnati woman who
remembers her grandparents dining at Olive Garden every Friday for
more than 15 years and celebrating their 61st wedding anniversary
at the restaurant
- A Los Angeles couple who first
met over a blind date and fell in love at Olive Garden, who now
spends every wedding anniversary at the restaurant
Olive Garden continues to be a place where guests enjoy family,
friends and significant others. Now, the restaurant makes
Valentine's Day dinner a little
sweeter – and a little more affordable for everyone. After
visiting, Olive Garden encourages guests to share their experience
at facebook.com/OliveGarden.
*Prices may vary in New York
City, Alaska and
Canada.
About Olive Garden's Sweetheart Sweepstakes:
No purchase necessary. A purchase will not increase your chances of
winning. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 21 years
and older. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes ends 2/19/12. For
Official Rules, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit
Facebook.com/OliveGarden. Sponsor: GMRI, Inc., 1000 Darden Center
Drive, Orlando, FL 32837,
U.S.A.
About Olive Garden:
Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining
segment with more than 750 restaurants, more than 88,000 employees
and more than $3 billion in annual
sales. Olive Garden is a member of the Darden family of
restaurants (NYSE: DRI), the world's largest full-service
restaurant company. In 2012, Darden was named to the FORTUNE
"100 Best Companies to Work For" list for the second year in a row
and is the only full-service restaurant company to ever appear on
the list. Olive Garden is committed to making a difference in the
lives of others in the local community. For more information,
visit www.olivegarden.com.
SOURCE Olive Garden