FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GARDEN SPOT VILLAGE MARATHON BOOSTS LANCASTER COUNTY TOURISM
Event brings hundreds of participants and spectators to scenic New Holland
NEW HOLLAND, Pa. ‹ Mar. 4, 2010 ‹ Eastern Lancaster County offers many
attractions for visitors, but retirement communities aren't often
top-of-mind when it comes to tourism. With registration numbers for its
second annual marathon steadily soaring into the high triple digits, Garden
Spot Village may be the exception.
More than a month before the April 10 event, the Richmond House bed and
breakfast on East Main Street here was booked solid for the night before
the marathon.
Everybody staying with us that Friday night is going to be in the race,
said Dolores Walter, innkeeper, noting that rooms were still available for
Saturday. Last year, she said, the Richmond House had guests who were
participating in Pedal to Preserve, which also begins and ends on the
retirement community campus.
Such events benefit tourism in the region.
Typically, from a retirement community, we get visiting relatives‹-but it
doesn't surprise us that a progressive retirement community such as Garden
Spot Village, integrating well with the surrounding community by holding
events like a marathon with cash prizes, is attracting people to the area,
said Kristina Peters, sales manager at the Best Western Eden Resort &
Suites in Lancaster, which also had a number of marathon-related bookings
for Friday evening.
They're a neat partner to the overall tourism community here in Lancaster,
and we're happy to participate with them, Peters said.
The resort offers a discounted rate to participants for rooms booked by
Mar. 9. The Country Squire Motor Inn is also offering a Marathon Special
rate and is providing transportation to the starting line.
Although the majority of participants registered to date are from
throughout Pennsylvania, the marathon has attracted more than 100
out-of-state participants. Entrants come from New Jersey, Maryland, New
York, Virginia and beyond, including Brazil, Canada and Germany.
The Garden Spot Village Marathon is a 26.2-mile, USA Track & Field
(USATF)-certified, Boston Marathon qualifier. The event is open to runners,
walkers and four-person relay teams. This year, Garden Spot Village added a
half marathon for participants who prefer a shorter course, and is also
adding a food court for participants and spectators. A variety of foods
will be available for purchase.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Garden Spot Village Benevolent Fund,
which helps support residents who need financial assistance.
Registration and travel information are available at
www.gardenspotvillagemarathon.org.
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