BANGKOK, 29 March, 2010 – “Accor Race to Survive Phuket 2010” participants completed the challenging event and returned home today after exceeding expectations in raising over US$206,000 to benefit the Yim Kids Foundation, Accor’s registered foundation in Thailand.

The Phuket-based event was held over four scorching hot days (22 to 25 March) with racers running, swimming, cycling and canoeing around the island during the fun-filled competition to raise funds to improve the social well being of Thai children around Thailand.

According to Chairman and COO of Accor Asia Pacific, Michael Issenberg, all racers participating in the Race to Survive Phuket 2010 should be very proud of their fund raising efforts for the Yim Kids Foundation.

“It truly was a remarkable effort by all concerned. They raised an incredible amount of money that will make a huge difference in the lives of hundreds if not thousands of Thai children. And they should also be pleased that they challenged themselves and completed a very difficult course over the four days. Accor is indeed very proud of them all and grateful for their significant contribution to what is a very worthy cause,” Mr Issenberg said.

Accor Race to Survive has also attracted strong support from leading travel companies around the Asia Pacific region, including V Australia airlines.

V Australia spokesperson Amanda Bolger, said: “V Australia is delighted to work together with Accor to support Yim Kids and the ‘Accor Race to Survive Phuket 2010’. It’s important for companies to be mindful that these efforts are for the long term. It’s great to see the Yim Kids Foundation expand its outstanding charity work for the underprivileged children of Thailand. We are proud to be a part in this important event.”

Accor Director of Operations - Thailand and Race to Survive organizer, Paul Stevens, thanked all participants who put their heart and soul into four full days of running, swimming, canoeing and cycling and made then it to the finish line successfully.

“I think Accor Race to Survive Phuket 2010 has achieved a number of really important things this week, raised substantial funds for kids in Thailand that really need them in addition to providing a platform for racers to challenge themselves both physically and mentally. All participants agreed that they had a great time and the race really showcased Phuket as a truly unique destination. We really can't wait to do it all again,” he added.

Whilst Accor Race to Survive Phuket 2010 has drawn to a successful close, the hard work has just begun with Accor now working with its partners on the field work that is required to help improve the lives of the recipient programs in Thailand.

Accor Race to Survive is an established, dynamic fundraising event to raise funds through sponsorship of teams that are made up of Accor employees and friends. Over the course of four days - March 22 - 25, 2010 - teams from all corners of the globe will travel to Phuket and will push their bodies and minds to the limit, completing strenuous daily combinations of swimming, mountain biking, kayaking and running. Many of the team members participating in the race are hoteliers, not professional athletes, but all are training hard and truly committed to the fundraising event.

The success of Accor’s Race to Survive for Yim Kids is reliant on team fundraising, public support, and the sponsorship and generosity of corporate sponsors. Gold sponsors of the event are: Accor Asia Pacific, Ecolab, HotelTravel.com, King Power Group, Syntec and V Australia.

Through the Yim Kids Foundation, Accor is creating sustainable, incremental and prudent improvements to the social well being of children through assistance in the following projects:

1. Support the cost for children’s education in the Mercy Centre’s Bangkok slum school. There are around 300 children at the school and the cost for each child to receive a proper education is approximately US$57 per child per year.
2. Support the health and medical-related cost for 63 orphaned and abandoned children with HIV/Aids at the Mercy Centre.
3. Assist communities in Koh Lon by expanding their sustainable fishing program to improve their livelihoods, enabling the children from these communities to continue their secondary-level education in Phuket.
4. Provide education funds to help the children of sea gypsies and rubber tree tappers in Phuket whose livelihoods and way of life have been affected by the Tsunami in 2004.

Companies or individuals who would like to contribute to either the ‘Accor Race to Survive Phuket 2010’or the Yim Kids Foundation can do so by logging on to www.yimkids.com.

Contacts:

Vasu Thirasak
Accor Thailand
Vasu.Thirasak@accor.com
(66) 2659-4620

Tom Racette – Embedded Correspondent
HotelTravel.com
Tom.R@hoteltravel.com
(66) 7628-2808