The Laguna Phuket resorts complex has been chosen as the venue for the climax of the new annual Asia-Pacific Ironman 70.3 Event Series, starting next year and attracting top triathletes from around the world.

With hotel rooms empty across the island, Laguna Phuket makes a generous bid for the local market.

US-based resort management company Outrigger has been selected to manage a luxury collection of residences, villas, town homes and apartments being developed by Laguna Resorts & Hotels in Phuket.

Laguna Phuket, with its six – soon to be seven – resorts, has put together an array of family entertainment and activities called the Summer Family Festival, running from July 8 to August 30.

A heads-up for seriously sporty types: Online reservations are now open for the 2009 Laguna Phuket Triathlon, which will take place on Sunday, December 6. Anyone interested in taking part should register fast; in the past four years, all places have been filled long before the event.

Nine hundred athletes are expected to take part in the triathlon, now in its 16th year. The event comprises a grueling combination of 1.8km swim, 55km cycle and 12km run.

Laguna Resorts & Hotels, which has six hotels in its lakes-and-beachside complex on the west coast of Phuket, is giving away 100,000 room nights for guests who book online. The room nights are being given away on the basis of one free night per online booking.

“It seems incredible to offer this many room nights,” said Laguna’s Managing Director, Mr. Michael Ayling, “but guests simply book online at their preferred hotel’s website to take advantage of the one free night offer for every paid booking. Our … initiative coincides with the launch of our redesigned Laguna Phuket website and will help drive traffic to the new site, as well as generating bookings for the upcoming low season.”