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Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong Backs City's Inaugural Running Festival - Official Accommodation Partner unveils exclusive stay offers and Smile for Miles at Holiday Inn Hill cheer zone for the 2026 Geelong Running Festival

Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong

Key Facts:

• Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong is the Official Accommodation Partner for the inaugural Geelong Running Festival, taking place on Sunday, 20 September 2026.
• The hotel will host a dedicated cheer zone called Smile for Miles at Holiday Inn Hill, located on the north side of Moorabool St at the McKillop St corner, offering complimentary coffee, family activities, exclusive merchandise, and race-day atmosphere.
• A Stay & Run package is available for marathon participants, including a minimum two-night stay, an early breakfast pack on race morning, a carb-loading dinner on Saturday evening, and a recovery buffet breakfast on Monday.
• A Cheer & Chill package is offered for supporters and family members, featuring buffet breakfast, late check-out, and a picnic-style takeaway for two adults, with no minimum night requirement.
• A Run Your Way option provides a discounted room rate with flexible booking terms for guests who prefer to stay without a package.

Geelong, 27 August 2026 — As excitement builds for the inaugural Geelong Running Festival on Sunday, 20 September 2026, Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong is proud to support the landmark event – Geelong Running Festival - as its Official Accommodation Partner, helping welcome runners, supporters and visitors as Geelong prepares to host its first-ever running festival.

Expected to attract thousands of participants and spectators, the inaugural event marks a significant milestone for the region, showcasing Geelong's iconic waterfront and Geelong city center while delivering a welcome boost to local tourism and hospitality.

For race day, Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong will bring its support to the course with its Smile for Miles cheer zone at Holiday Inn Hill, giving the local community a dedicated place to come together, cheer on participants and enjoy the excitement of Geelong's newest major sporting event.

Located on the north side of Moorabool St at the McKillop St corner, the Smile for Miles cheer zone at Holiday Inn Hill offers visitors a vantage point on one of the highest parts of the course, creating an ideal spot to watch runners make their way through the event.

From the first runners through to the final finishers, the area will be brought to life with complimentary coffee, family activities, exclusive merchandise and plenty of race-day energy. The motivational atmosphere is designed to keep supporters engaged while giving the community a chance to play an active part in the inaugural festival.

In addition, to help guests make the most of race weekend, Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong has introduced exclusive accommodation offers for runners and supporters and visitors.

The Stay & Run package is tailored for marathon participants and includes a minimum two-night stay, an early breakfast pack on race morning, a carb-loading dinner on Saturday evening, and a buffet breakfast on Monday to support both race preparation and recovery.

For family members and supporters, the Cheer & Chill package offers a flexible stay with no minimum night requirement, complete with buffet breakfast, late check-out, and a picnic-style takeaway for two adults.

Guests looking for accommodation without a package can also take advantage of the Run Your Way offer, which provides a special discounted room rate with flexible booking terms.

With the Smile for Miles cheer zone at Holiday Inn Hill  and accommodation offers working together, Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong is creating a race weekend experience that starts before the runners reach the course and continues throughout race day. The hotel provides a convenient base for participants and supporters, while Smile for Miles at Holiday Inn Hill gives the wider community a place to get involved and cheer on the festival.

Accommodation offers for race weekend are now available, providing convenient options for participants, supporters and visitors looking to stay close to the action and enjoy everything Geelong has to offer during the festival weekend.

For more on Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong, visit the hotel’s website or follow @holidayinngeelong, on Facebook and Instagram.

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Contact details:

Lely Elfrida
Marketing Manager

Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong

[email protected]