14th May 2008 – Orient-Express Hotels has set up an appeal fund to assist in the immediate delivery of aid relief to the worst affected victims of tropical cyclone Nargis in Burma.   

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                                                    or         Victoria Legg

Vice President Corporate Communications         Director of Public Relations

Tel:      (0207) 921 4065                                          Tel:      (0207) 921 4067

Fax:     (0207) 921 4193                                           Fax:     (0207) 921 4193

e-mail: pippa.isbell@orient-express.com              vicky.legg@orient-express.com