Orient Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises

Orient-Express, the name behind an elite collection of travel experiences, first came into being in 1883 as one of the world’s most exciting and indulgent train journeys. Today those same two evocative words also embrace hotels, cruises and other luxury rail adventures in 25 countries, across five continents.

Compay Profile

The creation of this company has in itself been a fascinating global journey: it began as a single property, the Hotel Cipriani in Venice. Founder and Director James B Sherwood acquired this legendary hotel in 1976 and went on to purchase the first two Orient-Express carriages a year later, before scouring Europe to discover others to make up a full train. Each one was painstakingly restored, from the original marquetry to the glamorous Lalique glass panels, before, in 1982, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – returned to splendour - pulled out of London’s Victoria station and headed south for Venice.

Today we own, or part-own and manage, 51 businesses. 41 are hotels, including iconic assets such as Hotel Cipriani in Venice, the Grand Hotel Europe in St Petersburg, Hotel Ritz Madrid, Mount Nelson in Cape Town, Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, The Observatory in Sydney and Maroma Resort and Spa on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. There are two restaurants; ‘21’ Club in New York and La Cabaña in Buenos Aires. Six tourist trains include the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in Europe, the Eastern & Oriental Express in South East Asia and The Royal Scotsman. The company also part-owns and manages PeruRail in Peru, which operates, among other routes, the Cusco-Machu Picchu train services used by nearly every tourist to Peru, including the first class Hiram Bingham train experience. The m.v. Road to Mandalay provides luxury cruises on the Irrawaddy River in Burma and Afloat in France operates luxury péniche-hôtels (barges) on the inland waterways of France.

Each of these properties is unique and many are destinations in their own right. Yet all are alike in being managed locally, to the highest standards, by staff who regard them as their own properties and are encouraged to innovate and contribute new ideas. Every hotel and train has its own name and personality, and all are in exceptional locations, whether at the heart of a major city, beside a beautiful beach or in peaceful countryside. Many are positioned next to world-famous sights: the sanctuary of Machu Picchu, the Amalfi coast, Australia’s Blue Mountains, the magnificent temples at Angkor Wat, to name but a few

All are very much a part of the environment where they are located, and guests will find each stay an enriching experience, the opportunity to discover more about the world around them. Orient-Express is also highly committed to responsible tourism, and goes to great lengths to ensure its properties add to their surroundings and have a positive impact on local communities. As a member of the International Tourism Partnership, Orient-Express aims to work together with the people and places around each property in ways that are appropriate to the individual location.
Pipeline

The company’s pipeline of hotels for refurbishment, construction or planned development includes Hotel Das Cataratas in Iguaçu Falls, Brazil which remains open during extensive renovations, due for completion by 2010 and El Encanto in Santa Barbara, California, due to reopen in 2011.
Recent Investments

• In April 2009, we unveiled 19 additional one-bedroom and three two-bedroom idyllic thatched villas at Jimbaran Puri Bali, each with butler service and set in a traditional Balinese garden and courtyard, with a luxurious private swimming pool and a shady teakwood deck where rejuvenating spa treatments can be arranged.
• In March 2009, Rio de Janeiro’s legendary Copacabana Palace hotel opened a stylish and contemporary 250 sqm Lounge Bar, where fashionable Brazilians and international visitors gather to sip champagne at the illuminated Murano glass bar, or dance the night away on the golden dance floor.
• In April 2008, we opened Las Casitas del Colca, a 20 room luxury hotel in Peru’s Colca Canyon situated on a 24 hectare estate of cactus and fruit trees, watered by natural springs. The hotel employs strict environmental standards to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Colca Canyon and affords visitors a rare and special opportunity to experience the beauty and tranquillity of the Andes.

Our long-term plan is to continue to acquire additional distinctive luxury properties throughout the world when market conditions improve.
Private Residences

Orient-Express real estate developments draw on over 30 years of experience in the creation of luxury resorts and travel experiences. The company’s overriding commitment to providing the highest quality of service, products and amenities in its hotels, trains and cruises is also a standard in its real estate developments.
Some of our hotels have adjacent vacant land which is suitable for the construction of luxury vacation villas and apartments. In general, these residences would be for sale but in some cases, may form part of the hotel inventory. Most of these projects are on hold in the current economic climate.
We are currently building Porto Cupecoy between the beach and the bay in prestigious Sint Maarten, just steps from the French side of this Caribbean island and Orient-Express’ famous La Samanna hotel. Porto Cupecoy consists of 180 luxury residences, retail boutiques and a 48 slip marina in a village setting, designed in the style of a Mediterranean seaside town. There is a large waterfront plaza surrounded by boutique ground floor retail space which includes a varied selection of restaurants, a gourmet market, high end home furnishings stores and many fine boutiques. The marina has 41 pleasure craft slips and 7 mega-yacht slips.

In addition to Porto Cupecoy, Orient-Express is currently offering luxury lifestyle residences at Keswick Estate (Charlottesville, Virginia) and Napasai (Koh Samui, Thailand). The company owns development land in Madeira; New South Wales, Australia; Riviera Maya, Mexico; and St Michaels, Maryland.
History and strategy

Orient-Express Hotels began as the leisure division of an international marine leasing and passenger transport company and was later incorporated as Orient-Express Hotels Ltd., a Bermuda company. Orient-Express Hotels Ltd was floated on the New York Stock Exchange in August, 2000 and its parent company sold the last of its shareholding in November 2005.

We seek properties that are special and unique as well as luxurious, and we avoid the use of a chain brand. Instead, we promote the local brand and use the Orient-Express Hotels brand as an assurance of quality to our customers, since we believe that discriminating travellers seek distinctive individual hotels in preference to a chain.

We manage all of our owned properties and, in appropriate circumstances, will pursue management opportunities for properties in which we may also take an equity interest. We currently operate five of our 41 hotels under management contract and also own equity in these properties. We consider management or management with equity interest a model for growth, taking advantage of our superior brand power.
Industry Awards

We have gained a worldwide reputation for quality and service in the luxury segment of the leisure and business travel markets. Over the years, our properties have won numerous national and international awards given by consumer or trade publications, such as Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure and Tatler and private subscription newsletters such as Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report, or industry bodies such as the American Automobile Association.

Awards received in 2008-09 include:

• La Residencia and Hotel Splendido, #1 and 2 Best Overseas Leisure Hotel – Europe, Asia Minor & Russian Federation, Conde Nast Traveller (UK) 2008 Reader’s Travel Awards
• Hotel Monasterio, #1, Top 15 South American Hotels, 2008 Reader’s Choice Awards, Condé Nast Traveler (US)
• Maroma Resort & Spa, #1 in Latin America, World’s Best Awards, Travel + Leisure (US)
• Mount Nelson Hotel, Best African Hotel, Ultratravel 100, (UK)
• The Observatory Hotel, Best Luxury Hotel, Australian Travel & Tourism Awards
• Las Casitas del Colca, named in the Conde Nast Traveler (US) Hot List 2009
• Orient-Express Hotels, #1 in the Top 10 Luxury Hotel Brands; Women’s Wear Daily (US)
• Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons has retained two Michelin Stars for 23 consecutive years.

These awards are based on opinion polls of a publication’s readers or the professional opinion of journalists or panels of experts, and they are highly prized because they are believed to influence consumer choice.

For further details: www.orient-express.com

Career Opportunities

The character of each Orient-Express property embraces the local culture, history and traditions, offering a unique and authentic experience. Orient-Express employees deliver exceptional service enhanced by local flair and charm and staff are encouraged to engage with the clients, sharing their knowledge and way of life. Orient-Express can provide an exceptional opportunity to work at different properties in diverse environments and cultures.
 

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