Orient-Express Hotels today announced it has invested in Hosia Ltd., the Hong Kong holding company which owns or part owns and operates 5 unique hotels in southeast Asia under the brand name Pansea.
Simon Sherwood, President of Orient-Express Hotels, said that while Orient-Express Hotels has investments in the Eastern & Oriental Express tourist train which operates between Singapore and Bangkok and the Road to Mandalay cruise ship which
operates on the Irrawaddy River in Burma, the company has been under-represented in hotels in Asia.
Under the terms of the deal, Orient-Express Hotels will invest up to US$8 million in the Pansea group. This is initially a loan, convertible into equity in Hosia Ltd. Orient-Express has an option to buy 100 per cent of the shares in Hosia
over a period of five years. Pansea will continue to manage the properties with existing personnel and Orient-Express Hotels will assist with international sales and marketing and the development of mutual opportunities. Pansea has a number of
development plans and this partnership will accelerate those plans.
“The existing Pansea hotels are all in world class cultural destinations,” Simon Sherwood commented. “Many of our guests on the Eastern & Oriental Express and the Road to Mandalay also visit these places as part of their holiday arrangements
and some of them already stay in Pansea hotels. We knew the company and found we shared values and vision about the development of tourism experiences in special destinations, so when this opportunity arose, it offered great potential.”
There are currently five operational Pansea hotels, with a sixth under construction. They are located in Luang Prabang, the ancient royal capital of Laos; Rangoon, Burma, in a former Governor’s palace; Siem Reap, Cambodia close to the famous
temples of Ankor Wat; Bali, Indonesia where the property occupies an exceptional beach location, and Koh Samui on the Gulf of Siam in Thailand. The Pansea Hanging Gardens in Ubud, currently under construction, is scheduled to open at the beginning
of next year.
Pansea Luang Prabang is five minutes from the centre of town, which is a world heritage site. The hotel is set on a small hill with beautiful views all around. It has 32 spacious rooms and 2 suites and an eye level infinity pool overlooked
by an attractive restaurant, which serves a combination of traditional Lao cuisine and dishes reflecting the area’s French colonial heritage. The hotel is well positioned for visits to the Royal Palace, the caves of Pak Ou on the Mekong river, Wat
Xieng Thong and Wat Sen as well as local markets and the 300 year old weaving village of Ban Phanom.
Pansea Angkor is in the centre of Siem Reap on the river. It is the perfect location from which to explore the spectacular temples of Angkor Wat and the awe-inspiring World Heritage surroundings, just ten minutes from the hotel. Built in Khmer
style, it has 54 spacious rooms and one suite with a romantic, Cambodian character. There is a magnificent swimming pool, which reflects the flair of the Angkor, the royal seat of the Khmer Empire between the 9th and 13th centuries. Respecting
the proportions of the Baray (the artificial lakes within the temples) its 45,000 handmade, individually glazed tiles each reflects a different shade of green, from celadon to emerald.
The Pansea Puri on Jimbaran Bay in Bali is set in 4 acres of tropical gardens. The property is comprised of 41 thatched villas and one suite. A beachfront restaurant serves international and Indonesian fare and is particularly romantic at
night, reflecting the overall character of the hotel. Pansea Puri’s ‘rooms on the beach’ style is unique on Jimbaran Bay where other properties are set higher up.
The Pansea Yangon in Burma is a restored teak mansion in the embassy quarter, set among ancient trees and water features and a traditional lotus garden. The furniture and woodwork in the spacious guest rooms is typical of the region and is offset
by colourful silks and indigenous works of art. The hotel is close to the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda, the spiritual heart of Yangon, as well as the popular, bustling Bogyoke market.
The Pansea Samui has 55 individual cottages on the northern coast of this charming island and has its own beach. The property is scattered on the gentle slopes leading to the beach, with rooms accessed by golf carts, so all rooms have outstanding
views. There is a coral reef about 100 metres off the beach and the island, known for its beaches, also provides great diving and snorkelling. The central complex of the hotel has a spa, an infinity pool, two tennis courts and a restaurant and
bar area, and is situated only a few minutes from the island’s golf course. Beyond the rooms is a small development of 14 two and three bedroom villas with private pools which are currently for sale to private buyers.
New projects are well advanced. New properties are planned in Hoi Anh in Vietnam and in Pagan, Burma.
Simon Sherwood further commented that the Pansea properties had been developed with remarkable style by the company’s owners, the well-known French hoteliers Stanislas Rollin and Robert Molinari, and were the market leaders in each location.
Ends
For further press information, please contact:
Pippa Isbell
Vice President, Public Relations
Orient-Express Hotels
Mobile Tel: +44 (0)7775 703725 Fax: +44 (0)20 7805 5938
Email: pippa.isbell@orient-express.com
