Qatar Airways continues IRONMAN support with Melbourne race

Qatar Airways continues IRONMAN support with Melbourne race
Edited by Travel Weekly


Qatar Airways continues to be the global partner of the Global IRONMAN Series and IRONMAN 70.3 Series by supporting Sunday’s Melbourne race, won by Ellie Salthouse and Jarrod Osborne for the women’s and men’s races respectively.

The airline first partnered with IRONMAN in 2022 and has been supporting the organisation ever since – notably seen during the rolldown ceremony at the Catani Gardens in St Kilda and with Qatar Airways cabin crew also out in force.

As part of the partnership, Qatar Airways also provided free return flights to Malaga for next year’s VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Marbella for one lucky athlete, who will be the lucky recipient of the prize draw, hosted by the airline.

Ellie Salthouse

Sunday’s event was part of the IRONMAN 70.3 series, comprising a 1.9 km swim, a 90 km bike ride, and a 21.1 km run, and featured over 1,800 athletes who were keen to experience beautiful Catani Gardens in St Kilda, expansive views of Port Phillip Bay and palm tree-lined boardwalks, all within a few kilometres of the CBD.

Qatar Airways’ goal is to bring communities together through sport with Australia being a key region of focus. From the Sydney Swans to the MotoGP in Phillip Island and Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne, the airline is heavily investing in bringing unique and beneficial experiences to Australian consumers and sports fans.

Luke Drake, senior vice president of sponsorship, events & exhibitions, Qatar Airways, said: “Supporting the Australian sporting communities has been a major priority for Qatar Airways, and we are thrilled to offer experiences that provide great value and enjoyment to all those associated with the clubs and events we support.

Since 2022, we have been proud to support IRONMAN, and watch as the IRONMAN 70.3 series goes from strength-to-strength. We’re pleased to play a small role in contributing to this growth.”

Since its debut in 1978, IRONMAN events have become globally known for being the world’s most challenging single-day sporting competitions. IRONMAN triathlons are a series of full-distance races composed of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride, and a 26.2-mile run, in that order. Similar to the IRONMAN triathlons, the IRONMAN 70.3 triathlons maintain the structure and format of the original triathlon series but with half of each distance.

Jarrod Osborne

Qatar Airways offers seamless travel from Australia to over 49 destinations across Europe and the United Kingdom, 29 destinations across Africa, 33 destinations across the Middle East, 13 destinations across North and South America, plus many more.

Qatar Airways achieved the ‘World’s Best Business Class’ for the eleventh time in 2024, in addition to being awarded ‘World’s Best Airline’ for a record-breaking eighth time in 2024. The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, taking home, ‘World’s Best Business Class Lounge’, and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’. Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide, via one seamless connection through Hamad International Airport, the ‘World’s Best Airport’, as voted by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

Latest News

  • Road & Rail

Ingenia Holiday Parks powers its very own EV Superhighway throughout NSW

Ingenia Holiday Parks has started plans to make it easier for electric vehicle drivers to explore Australia’s east coast with their expanded EV charging network. By the end of 2024, Ingenia Holiday Parks will have installed 44 new EV charging ports across 11 of its parks, enabling seamless travel from Brisbane in Queensland to Eden […]

  • Destinations
  • Regional
  • Tourism

Warrawong on the Darling’s new ownership and summer savings

Outback holiday retreat, Warrawong on the Darling, has new owners marking a new era for the cabin, van and camping park near Wilcannia, and released savings for summer stays and a free roast dinner on Christmas Day. Nestled by a pristine billabong on the Darling River and surrounded by sand dunes, far horizons, rugged open […]

  • Aviation

Visit Sunshine Coast, Jetstar host Kiwi trade partners ahead of JQ Auckland-Maroochydore launch

Visit Sunshine Coast’s trade and international manager, Emily Zinowki, treated Auckland trade partners to a hosted lunch alongside Jetstar New Zealand. The lunch was in celebration of the imminent launch of the new JQ Auckland to Maroochydore direct service on 13 December. The year-round direct flights between Auckland and the Sunshine Coast are a first […]

  • Cruise

Celebrity Cruises opens new 2026/27 sailing bookings

Celebrity Cruises has opened bookings for its exciting new 2026/27 sailings, including the Grand Voyage, a 110-night journey, and the longest without repeating ports for Celebrity. Aussies will be able to book fan favourite Celebrity Solstice as she returns to Australia in the 2026/27 season as part of Celebrity Cruises’ Grand Voyage. When they aren’t taking […]

  • Cruise
  • Cruise Lines

Heritage Line launches 2025 early bird discount

Boutique river cruise operator, Heritage Line, has launched an early bird discount with up to US$200 (around AU$313) off on bookings for 2025. The offer is available until 31 December, making it ideal for those planning to gift a trip to someone for the holidays or for those ready to plan their 2025 vacations. The […]

  • News

Tragedy at Bali’s Ubud Monkey Forest as tree collapse kills two

A freak event claimed the lives of two tourists at the popular Ubud Monkey Forest in Bali on Tuesday afternoon local time when a large tree branch collapsed. A 32-year-old French woman and a 42-year-old Korean woman were fatally injured. At around 12:30 pm a sudden storm with strong winds and heavy rain arrived with […]

  • Aviation
  • Hotels
  • Travel Agents

Dorchester and Cathay Pacific advisor promotion winners enjoy luxury fam in Rome and Milan

Winners of a Dorchester Collection and Cathay Pacific travel advisor promotion enjoyed a luxury fam in Roma and Milan where they were wined and dined before enjoying a stopover in Hong Kong. The winners, Hema Desai (Spencer Travel), Ani Aladjadjian (ATPI), Mimi Romijn (Wentworth Travel), Emma Neely-Bartlett (Travel Beyond Group), Nicole Reber (Mosman Travel), Steve […]

  • Food & Beverage
  • Hotels

Lee Ho Fook chef Victor Liong adds another chapter with new offering Singapore’s Quenino Artyzen hotel

Melbourne chef Victor Liong, of the two-hatted Lee Ho Fook, has added to his culinary storytelling with Quenino by Victor Liong, in Singapore’s Artyzen hotel, where contemporary Asian cuisine is served with a relaxed fine-dining flair. Artyzen Singapore emerged from an iconic Singapore heritage landmark that was once the sprawling tropical-garden mansion named “Villa Marie” […]

  • Food & Beverage

Tolpuddle Vineyard opens Tasting Room in Coal River Valley

Tolpuddle Vineyard is opening its Tasting Room at their Coal River Valley property in Richmond, Tasmania, this Friday, 13 December. The Tolpuddle Vineyard Tasting Room, managed by Pip Anderson, previously general manager of hospitality at Mona, will be open from Friday to Monday, 11am to 5pm with appointments available online. Visitors can taste a flight […]

  • Aviation

Air Tahiti Nui celebrates big wins with 2025 APEX awards and Cash & Miles Program

Air Tahiti Nui has again been recognised for service to travellers being honoured with the prestigious Five Star Major Airline title for the 7th consecutive year. Announced at the APEX/IFSA Awards 2025 ceremony, the ranking is based on passenger reviews of over one million flights and 600 airlines. The flagship carrier of The Islands of […]