Fairmont Gets "Original" With Launch Of New Media Hub

As social networking continues to grow and shape the way people communicate,

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts today announced the creation of its new online community platform (EAO).

A mix of customer-generated media and non-traditional Fairmont content, the new site

will serve as a virtual gathering place for Fairmont guests, colleagues, and others and be an interactive environment where fans of the brand can post photos or video from a memorable trip, participate in exclusive polls and contests, access exclusive hotel and destination content, and engage in dialogue with other site users about their Fairmont travel experiences.

On top of being a platform for brand and hotel storytelling, the EAO site will also serve

as a timely and comprehensive resource for travelers seeking hotel and destination information and visuals. Designed to support and house rich media content including high quality digital video and podcasts, vignettes from Fairmont will range from tours of suites made famous by visiting VIP or celebrities to tips on how to fully explore the locale, whether it's eyeing The Big Five on a game drive at Fairmont Mara Safari Club in Kenya or exploring the cultural diversity of Boston's North End during a visit to the Fairmont Battery Wharf. Ensuring a sense of authenticity, Fairmont guests will also be encouraged to post short vignettes from their travels.

Generating some buzz and excitement around the new web platform is the company's

Original Memories Photo Contest. A call for creative or interesting photography from a past Fairmont experience, guests are being encouraged to submit their top images along with a short post about why the photo holds a special place in their heart for a chance to win one of three exciting prizes. The contest's Grand Prize consists of a five- night stay to any one of Fairmont's world-class hotels in addition to a $1,000 airfare credit. *

"Fairmont is an experiential brand and storytelling is a common theme amongst our

guests and hotels," says Brian Richardson, Vice President Brand Marketing & Communication, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. "We see great value in creating an ongoing dialogue with our guests and feel our new EAO platform is an area where they can not only share their stories with us, but also with other like-minded individuals who may share a common interest with them. Our intention with EAO is to try and engage our customers online in a much more meaningful way."

In addition to hosting user generated content and exclusive Fairmont content,

Fairmont's new EAO site will also serve as the "hub" for the brand's growing social media presence. Already, Fairmont can boast strong visibility on sites such as Twitter () and Facebook (), and has plans to explore and leverage other top sites like Flickr and Linkedin throughout 2010.

ABOUT FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS | With over 60 distinctive hotels,

including the iconic Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai, and more in development, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality brand known for its warm and engaging service and culturally rich experiences. Located in coveted worldwide destinations, its unrivalled collection of classic hotels imbue a sense of heritage, sophistication, and social importance, and are often considered destinations in and of themselves. Fairmont is also committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program. Fairmont is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a leading global hotel company with 95 hotels under the Fairmont, Raffles, 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