The Iditarod dog sled race is one of the most grueling long-distance races ever known to dog and man. The 1,152-mile race, which begins on March 5, 2005, takes place in spectacular Alaskan snow settings and often in blizzard conditions.

The best way to experience Iditarod, one of the world's most amazing races, is with the Millennium Alaskan Hotel's Iditarod Package.

The Millennium Alaskan Hotel's Iditarod Package includes a two-night stay in a Millennium Club King Room with evening turndown service; two tickets to the five-course fund-raising dinner and auction at the hotel on March 4, 2005; transportation to and from the Iditarod Race start in Anchorage on March 5, 2005; access to the Iditarod Race activities at the hotel including the Musher's Champagne Toast; and breakfast via room service or in the hotel's Flying Machine Restaurant. The package is priced at $499 (for the first two nights) with additional nights available for $129 per room, per night. The package is valid from March 1, 2005, through March 6, 2005.

The package also includes complimentary shuttle service to the 5th Avenue Mall, Nordstrom's, J.C. Penney's and Dimond Center Mall. Complimentary use of the Millennium Alaskan Hotel's health club with sauna, steam room and hot tub is also included. For more information on the Iditarod Package please visit www.millenniumhotels.com or call 866-866-8086.

The Millennium Alaskan Hotel is the official Iditarod Race Headquarters for the upcoming 2005 race and it will be the hotel's 18th consecutive year serving as Race Headquarters. The hotel's proximity to the majestic Lake Spenard makes it an ideal base for the Iditarod Volunteer Air Force, who land their ski planes on the frozen lake right by the hotel's back entrance to drop off participating dogs and race personnel. One exciting part of the race is the hotel's presentation of the �First Musher to the Yukon Award� where the first musher to reach the Yukon River will savor a seven-course gourmet meal prepared by the hotel. A cash prize of $3,500 will also be presented to the winner.

The Iditarod race was inspired by a �race against time� mission in 1925. To combat a deadly outbreak of diphtheria in Nome, 20 volunteer dog-sled drivers (known as mushers) ferried serum non-stop for hundreds of miles from the town of Nenana at frigid 50 below zero temperatures. The first Iditarod race to Nome started in March 1973. Battling raging blizzards, the bitter arctic cold and rugged mountain terrain, these mushers and their dogs revel in the magnificent Alaskan wilderness. The dogs are well trained, well fed and are treated like members of an extended family by the animal-loving mushers. For more information on �The Last Great Race� please visit www.iditarod.com.

About the Millennium Alaskan Hotel, Anchorage

The Millennium Alaskan Hotel, Anchorage, is located on the shores of scenic Lake Spenard, one of the world's busiest floatplane lakes, and offers 248 guestrooms, including several suites and Club Rooms with additional services and amenities. Just one mile from Anchorage International Airport and 10 minutes from downtown, the hotel features two restaurants, a lounge, 24-hour room service, concierge service, a health club with sauna, whirlpool and steam room, complimentary airport shuttle and free downtown transportation. In summer or winter, the hotel is the perfect base for exploring the unspoiled splendor of Alaska's wildlife or outstanding salmon fishing. Flightseeing excursions are available from the hotel's private floatplane dock.

About Millennium Hotels and Resorts

Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR), established in the United States in 2000, is the North American arm of London-based Millennium and Copthorne Hotels plc (MLC). The MHR portfolio includes 19 holdings in The Americas, and the company operates properties including: Millennium Broadway Hotel, New York; Millennium UN Plaza Hotel, New York; Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles; Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel, Chicago; Millennium Bostonian Hotel, Boston; Millennium Hotel, Minneapolis; Millennium Hotel, St. Louis; Millennium Hotel, Cincinnati; Millennium Harvest House, Boulder; Millennium Hotel, Durham; Millennium Alaskan Hotel, Anchorage; Millennium Resort, Scottsdale, McCormick Ranch; the Millennium Maxwell House, Nashville; and the Royal Palm Resort, Galapagos Islands. MLC holdings outside of the Millennium brand include the Millenium Hilton (New York) and Sheraton Four Points Sunnyvale (California).

For further information on Millennium Hotels and Resorts, call 866-866-8086 or visit www.millenniumhotels.com.

Millennium and Copthorne Hotels comprises 90 four and five star hotels with 25,125 rooms worldwide in 17 countries. Our World of Hospitality marketing alliance partner Maritim Hotels has 45 hotels with 12,477 rooms in 6 countries. For more information please visit www.millenniumhotels.com or www.maritim.com.

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Contacts: M. Silver Associates, Inc. 212-754-6500 Linda Ayares linda@msilver-pr.com Aik Wye Ng aik@msilver-pr.com

Millennium Alaskan Hotel 907-266-2231 Bill Remmer bremmer@mill-usa.com