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Kohala Coast, Hawaii’s Big Island (June 18, 2008) — Need an excuse to get in shape? Set your sights to compete in the 2009 Ford Ironman 70.3 Hawaii competition and relax in the luxury Hawaiian accommodations of the event’s newest partner, The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii at Mauna Lani Resort.
Diana Bertsch, Event Director, announced the new partnership as, "A great opportunity to combine an internationally recognized luxury hotel brand with Ironman, a brand known for its endurance events around the globe. We look forward to the possibilities."
The 2009 Ironman 70.3 Hawaii will take place on Saturday, May 30, 2009 beginning with a 1.2-mile swim at Hapuna Beach State Park, a 56-mile bike to the northern town of Hawi and back to Mauna Lani Resort ending with a 13.1-mile run entirely within the Resort grounds. Approximately 1,600 athletes from several states and countries will compete for 79 qualifying spots for the Ford Ironman World Championship held every October in Kona.
The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii is a AAA Four Diamond destination resort on 32 oceanfront acres offering 540 guestrooms on the island’s northwestern coast. Facilities and services include the Hawaiian-inspired Spa Without Walls with 10 waterfall hale (hut) and 5 oceanside cabanas, authentically local daily beach and cultural activities, golf, tennis and water sports, year-round children’s program, five delectable restaurants and expansive indoor/outdoor meeting facilities all surrounded by service with Aloha.
Ian Pullan, General Manager of The Fairmont Orchid and a marathon competitor himself, is inspired by the opportunity. “We’re a long-time supporter of Ironman and our new role as host hotel for the 2009 event is a natural transition of our commitment to provide a memorable experience for both guests and competitors alike.”
Athletes and their families traveling to the Big Island for the Saturday, May 30, 2009 event are invited to stay at The Fairmont Orchid with rates starting from $249/night plus tax. Call the hotel’s toll free reservation line at 1-800-845-9905 and ask for Ironman 70.3 Hawaii rate or register online https://resweb.passkey.com/go/6556838f. Event information can be found at www.ironman.com, by calling the Ironman 70.3 Hawaii race office at (808) 329-0063, or via e-mail at kona@ironman.com.
About Ironman
Ironman Corporation, is a Florida-based company recognized for athletic excellence, performance and quality products. With the addition of the Ironman 70.3 Series, Ironman now has more than 48 qualifying events worldwide. Supported by partners that include Ford Motor Company, Dell, Timex and Gatorade, Ironman is the No.1 user-based sports brand in the world. Ironman has been a respected name in triathlon since its inception 30 years ago and is regarded as the world’s most challenging endurance event. Millions may remember moments in Ironman history such as Julie Moss’ crawl to the finish line in 1982, which was showcased on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. Each year, nearly 90,000 athletes compete for slots in the Ford Ironman World Championship held every October in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 held every November in Clearwater, FL. The Ironman brand has been featured in a range of media outlets to include NBC, CNN Headline News, The Wall Street Journal, People, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times and USA Today. Information relating to Ironman and Ironman 70.3 events can be found at the official Web site, Ironman.com.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
A leader in the global hospitality industry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is an extraordinary collection of luxury hotels, which includes iconic landmarks like the Fairmont Singapore, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace in Switzerland and New York's The Plaza. Fairmont hotels are one-of-a-kind properties where sophisticated travelers can discover culturally rich experiences that are authentic to the destination. Situated in some of the most exclusive and pristine areas in the world, Fairmont is committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program. Fairmont's portfolio includes 56 distinctive hotels, with plans to develop over 20 new properties in the coming years in destinations as diverse as Shanghai, Abu Dhabi and Anguilla.
Fairmont is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a leading global hotel company with 90 hotels worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. The company also owns Fairmont and Raffles branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com.
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