A The Price is Right episode brought New Westminster into the spotlight this week, when a contestant seriously overestimated the value of a vacation to the B.C. city.
With the trip to “beautiful Canada” on the line, the player, named Phillip, was tasked with guessing the price of the holiday by placing money bags with various values on a balancing scale.
The trip included round trip flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver and six nights at the Inn At The Quay in New Westminster.
“Take in scenic water and boardwalk views at this boutique hotel located nearby popular art spaces, shops and restaurants,” the game show said.
Phillip estimated the vacation at $8,280 US and was surprised to find out it was worth just $5,280 US, about $7,240 CAD.
The show’s host, Drew Carey, was also shocked at the low price tag.
“That’s it? That’s way less than I thought it was gonna be. We haven’t had a $5,000 trip in a while,” he remarked, patting Phillip on his shoulder.
B.C. residents who saw the episode were quick to joke about the destination online, asking why New Westminster would be chosen instead of Vancouver, Victoria or Whistler.
When they said "trip to Canada" I was really curious where it would go.
— Andrew (@adfvbricks) November 13, 2023
Then the first image was Sky Bridge and I scared the cats with my audible reactionhttps://t.co/Y0auwqat2i
Tourism New Westminster took the jabs in stride, however, and decided to launch a search for the contestant to offer him a free trip to the city, to prove it is worth visiting. The tourism board said if they can find Phillip, they’ll offer him round trip flights, a four-night stay, tickets to the Hidden Wonders Speakeasy Magic Experience and a beer tasting at one of its breweries.
In the spirit of fun, we invite everyone to join us in the #SearchForPhillip.
— Tourism New Westminster (@TourismNewWest) November 14, 2023
Let's bring the contestant from the @PriceIsRight to New Westminster! The Tourism Board is excited to extend a special invitation for Phillip to experience New West. https://t.co/gHBp9M8zrw pic.twitter.com/nWt0Zs4Fbc
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