Le Meridien Phuket Hosts Futsal Tournament to Benefit Unicef’s Checkout For Children Programme

Le Meridien Phuket organizes three-day charity futsal tournament to raise funds for the United Nations Children’s Fund’s immunization of thousands of children in the Asia Pacific region against the major childhood diseases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort successfully hosted a Futsal Tournament to raise funds for the United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) “Checkout for Children Programme”. A total of forty-five teams participated in the three-day tournament which kicked-off on 1 September 2009 at Phuket’s Saphan Hin Gymnasium.

The tournament was organized in line with Starwood Hotels and Resorts International’s “UNICEF Checkout for Children Challenge 2009”, a fundraising program by Starwood hotels associates. Sponsors include Asia Web Direct, Docomo InterTouch (Thailand) Ltd, Elsafe-Vingcard (Assa Abloy Hospitality Limited) Thailand, and King Fisher Veritas Gold Sparkling Water Company.

The Challenge started in 2003 and continues to gather strong support throughout the Starwood Hotels and Resorts in the Asia Pacific region. The Challenge is a chance for all Starwood Hotels and Resorts employees in the region to come up with a creative campaign to raise funds for UNICEF immunisation projects.

In 2008, the UNICEF Check Out for Children Challenge in the Asia Pacific region raised over AU$93,000 or THB 2,663,419. Raised funds go towards immunization of thousands of children in the Asia Pacific region against the major childhood diseases: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, measles, childhood tuberculosis and hepatitis B.

Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort is situated on 40 acres of lush tropical greenery and features a secluded 500-metre pristine beach, two oversized swimming pools, 10 restaurants and bars, over 1,310 square metres of floor space for indoor and outdoor events of up to 980 persons and a complete range of water sports and recreational facilities.

The resort is a 45-minute drive from Phuket International Airport and just minutes away from some of Phuket’s popular sites, including the shopping and restaurant district of Patong.