Money raised through the fund will be distributed to a number of charities who have experienced teams already in place in the Delta Disaster Zone.  Orient-Express has established the fund with an initial donation of US$20,000 and these funds are already being distributed.  In addition, the company’s full time doctor is also in the delta region, funded by the company to provide medical assistance.

The primary beneficiary of the Orient-Express Hotels Burma Cyclone Appeal will be a UK registered charity, the Shelterbox Trust (www.shelterbox.org), which has an established network in Burma on the ground already distributing emergency aid.  Shelterbox provides emergency life saving kits in the form of a tough, green plastic box containing a ten person waterproof tent and ancillary equipment designed to enable a family of up to ten people to survive for at least six months.  Each pack costs £490 and contains equipment especially designed for homeless and displaced persons, such as thermal blankets, mosquito nets, cooking utensils, a mini fuel stove, practical tool kit, water purification kits and a children’s play pack.

Funds from the Orient-Express Hotels Burma Cyclone Appeal will also be distributed to MERLIN, which is an emergency medical organization, as well as the Save the Children Fund and World Vision, who are also well established in Burma and have teams in the country who are being permitted to give much needed assistance.

Ends/…..

Note to Editors:
Anyone wishing to donate to Orient-Express Hotels Burma Cyclone Appeal may do so by sending a cheque made out to the ‘Orient-Express Hotels – Burma Cyclone Fund’ to:

Orient-Express Hotels
20 Upper Ground
London SE1 9PF
Attn; Paul Trivass

Alternatively, payments may be made directly to the fund bank account at the following coordinates:

Barclays Bank PLC
London Corporate Banking – Pall Mall
50 Pall Mall
London SW1A 1QA

Account Name:  Orient Express Hotels – Burma Cyclone Fund
Account Number:  03187845
Sort Code:   20-65-82
IBAN/BIC:   GB92BARC20658203187845
Swift Code:   BARCGB22

Orient-Express Trains & Cruises has operated a river cruiser, The Road To Mandalay, in Burma (Myanmar) since December 1995.  In July 2006, the company also acquired The Governor’s Residence, a 48 room hotel in Rangoon.

The Road To Mandalay was closed for the season when the tropical cyclone struck and there were no guests onboard. The ship was in Yangon for a scheduled dry-docking and was badly damaged.

The Governor’s Residence also sustained some damage. The hotel had few guests as it is currently the low season; all guests and staff are safe.

For further information, please contact:

Pippa Isbell    
Vice President Corporate Communications 
Tel: (0207) 921 4065     
Fax: (0207) 921 4193             
e-mail: pippa.isbell@orient-express.com  

Victoria Legg
Director of Public Relations
Tel:  (0207) 921 4067
Fax:  (0207) 921 4193
vicky.legg@orient-express.com