The Green Blog Network: Fairmont For Earth Hour And Free Whistler Concert

Whistler, March 23, 2011 – Never shy to take a leadership stance on issues affecting the planet and the hospitality industry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is pleased to confirm its participation in Earth Hour 2011, a global environmental awareness event organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). On Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 p.m., all 60 of Fairmont‟s world-class hotels and resorts from Boston to Beijing will go dark by turning off their lights for one hour –Earth Hour – and in doing so will reinforce the company‟s pioneering commitment to operational sustainability and help draw further attention to one of the world‟s single largest environmental issues: climate change.

In addition to switching off principal lighting, a number of Fairmont‟s properties will also mark this eco-friendly event with creative and innovative programming in an effort to involve hotel guests in this global phenomenon. At Whistler‟s landmark Fairmont Chateau Whistler, the Wildflower Restaurant is offering a special dine by candlelight evening that will feature unique “raw” dishes from the newly released Lifestyle Cuisine Plus menu. Guests can feast on gazpacho cold pressed soup, heirloom beet ravioli, and indulge in chocolate coconut fudge with orange gelato. Guests of The Mallard Lounge can enjoy “unplugged” acoustic guitar entertainment from fan-favourite Colin Bullock along with a special “candlelight cocktail”.

Other initiatives include shutting down the hotel‟s boiler system and 3 of six elevators during Earth Hour, as well as going "dark‟ by shutting off non-essential lighting including outdoor lights and dimming all public area lighting.Taking things one step further, Fairmont Chateau Whistler is helping to sponsor the first ever bike-powered concert put on by the community of Whistler. After a romantic candlelight dinner, guests can head to the Whistler Olympic Plaza for a free outdoor concert for an evening of fun and entertainment.

Earth Hour is a global WWF climate change initiative. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour to show their support for action on climate change. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights.

In 2008, more than 50 million people, including several Fairmont hotels around the globe, participated. Last year, hundreds of millions of people in over 128 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet.

With a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible tourism, Fairmont is a strong supporter of WWF, participating in many of their campaigns, as well as being a member of their global Climate Savers program. For over two decades, Fairmont has been dedicated to preserving the places in which we live, work and play through its Green Partnership Program.

Expanding on this commitment, Fairmont will continue to actively support a sustainable future and a low carbon economy, understanding that ultimately, we are all in this together. For more information on Fairmont‟s Green Partnership program and the company's

industry leading environmental initiatives, please visit www.fairmont.com/environment.>

ABOUT FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS

Located in world-class destinations around the globe, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a celebrated collection of hotels that includes landmark locations like London‟s The Savoy, New York‟s The Plaza, and Shanghai‟s Fairmont Peace Hotel. With more than 60 hotels, Fairmont is known as much for its warm, engaging service and culturally rich experiences, as its classic hotels that imbue a sense of heritage, sophistication and social importance and are often considered destinations in their own right. A community and environmental leader, Fairmont is also regarded for its responsible tourism practices and award-winning Green Partnership program. Fairmont is owned by FRHI Holdings Limited, a leading global hotel company with over 100 hotels under the Fairmont, Raffles, and Swissôtel brands. The company also manages Fairmont and Raffles branded estates and luxury private residence club properties.

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