Fairmont Hotels

TORONTO | 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 2009, a global environmental awareness event organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). On Saturday March 28, 2009 at 8:30 p.m., all 56 of Fairmont's world-class hotels and resorts from Dallas to Dubai 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 Toronto's landmark Fairmont Royal York, the hotel is creating a special line-up of "green" themed cocktails to be served in its famed Library Bar and will also illuminate its indoor pool area with more than 100 floating candles. In Seattle, the AAA Five Diamond Fairmont Olympic will host a charming candlelit dinner featuring an impressive selection of French-inspired Northwest cuisine in The Georgian. Spreading the word in the United Arab Emirates will be The Fairmont Dubai, which will share facts and figures about lighting usage and tips on energy conservation with guests and local businesses alike. Not to be outdone, The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, which is 50% powered by a blend of wind and run-of-river electricity generation, will light up its picturesque lakeshore with ice luminaries and invite guests to gather around a roaring fire and enjoy an old-fashioned storytelling session under the stars.

Earth Hour is a global WWF climate change initiative. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 8:30 p.m. 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. In 2009, Earth Hour aims to reach out to 1 billion people in 1,000 cities.

For close to two decades, Fairmont has strived to minimize its impact on the planet through its award-winning Green Partnership program, a comprehensive environmental platform focused on key areas such as waste reduction, energy management, water conservation, and innovative community outreach programs. In 2008, Fairmont became the first luxury hotel brand to address climate change by pledging to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Working alongside the global conservation organization WWF, Fairmont agreed to measure its current CO2 footprint according to UN protocol, and has plans to announce a world-class CO2 reduction target in the early part of 2009.

For more information on Fairmont's Green Partnership program and the company's industry leading environmental initiatives, please visit .

ABOUT 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 Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Québec City, Fairmont The Norfolk, Nairobi and London's The Savoy, reopening in 2009. 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 25 new properties in the coming years in destinations as diverse as Shanghai, Morocco and Anguilla.

Fairmont is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a leading global hotel company with 91 hotels worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. The company also manages 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 .

Lori Holland
212-715-7098
FRHI