SAM Magazine--Avon, Colo., March 23, 2004--In "Operation Freedom Lodging," Keystone and Breckenridge are offering 1,000 complimentary room nights to troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan for R&R. Rooms are available between April 1 and December 16.

A soldier from any branch of the military who has served on active duty for more than 30 days in Iraq or Afghanistan is eligible to receive up to three consecutive nights of complimentary lodging at a Vail Resorts-owned and -operated hotel in Breckenridge and Keystone. Toll-free numbers--(800) 832-3694 for Breckenridge and (800) 270-4690 for Keystone--have been set up for returning soldiers.

Providing the military with R&R is not new for Vail Resorts. Keystone has been a preferred provider of recreation for the U.S. military since 2001, when Keystone and the U.S. Air Force entered a long-term partnership to provide affordable year-round resort vacations to the military community.