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Did you hear the one about the contest where the first prize was a free week in Greensboro?

That’s right. And the second prize was two free weeks in Greensboro.

Rim shot, please.

Seriously, this one is no joke.

VisitNC.com, the state’s travel Web site, calls its first sweepstakes of the year “Going Green in Greensboro.”

The winner will get a weekend getaway for four to the Gate City worth nearly $5,000.

The prize includes spending money, a shopping spree and accommodations at the Proximity Hotel at 704 Green Valley Road.

The Web site calls the Proximity, which graces the cover of the 2009 North Carolina Travel Guide, “the most environmentally friendly hotel in America.”

The guide’s cover photo represents a significant first for Greensboro and the state’s urban areas.

Past cover shots typically have featured one of the state’s scenic vistas.

“We have really encouraged (travel officials) to look at all the wonderful places you can go in North Carolina,” said Gail Murphy, director of marketing and communications at the Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We were thrilled when (they)
said, “Okay, we’ll give it a shot.’”

The travel guide exposure — 700,000 printed copies plus an online presence — will mean tons of free publicity for the city and the Proximity.

“It is sort of our introduction to North Carolina and people who want to visit,” said Wit Tuttell, public relations director for the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, which produces the guide. “We don’t have a dollar value (on the exposure) but if we did it would be pretty high.”

Tourism experts say the guide will give Greensboro a new drawing card beyond the usual conventions and sporting events.

“It’s the idea of green travel or ecotourism,” said Erick Byrd, assistant professor of recreation, tourism and hospitality management at UNCG. “The Proximity represents that well. For people who are looking for that type of travel, they can look to Greensboro as almost a leader in this type of market.”

And the exposure didn’t cost the visitors’ bureau a penny.

But the bureau had to pay state travel officials $3,000 to be included in the sweepstakes.

In addition to the free accommodations, the sweepstakes winner will get a $500 travel voucher; gift certificates to the Proximity’s Print Works Bistro and sister restaurant, Lucky 32; golf at Bryan Park; tickets to events at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex and Triad Stage; and a $250 shopping spree at Replacements, Ltd.

Murphy said the effort has already paid off.

The state passes along the names of people who enter the sweepstakes  to the visitors bureau, which in turn sends them information about the city.

“We have gotten hundreds and hundreds of leads,” Murphy said.

Some have even come from Greensboro residents.

“We are thrilled if people from Greensboro want to participate,” Murphy said. “We feel that the more people that appreciate what is here in Greensboro, the better off everybody will be.”

The sweepstakes ends Feb. 28.

Contact Donald W. Patterson at 373-7027 or don.patterson@news-record.com