THE GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE IN YANGON
TO REOPEN ON 1ST SEPTEMBER 2008

12 AUGUST, 2008 – The Governor’s Residence in Yangon, Myanmar, has announced that it will reopen and begin receiving guests on 1st September, 2008. 

The hotel was extremely fortunate and was largely undamaged during Tropical Cyclone Nargis, which hit the region on 3rd May 2008.  The hotel, which closes annually over the low season for essential maintenance work on its antique teak structure, suffered minimal damage to the roof, windows and extensive gardens, all of which have been restored in time for the reopening. 

During and immediately after Cyclone Nargis, the Governor’s Residence opened its doors to local residents seeking shelter, and set up an ongoing programme to donate medicine, clothes and food to those worst affected by the storm.

The Governor’s Residence has started to receive future bookings, showing hope that tourism will return to the region.

 
Orient-Express Hotels set up a charity appeal to assist in the immediate delivery of aid relief to the worst affected victims of the cyclone.  The appeal has been very well supported and some US$50,000 has so far been dispersed to a number of relief agencies including MERLIN, Save the Children and World Vision.  The primary beneficiary of the Orient-Express Hotels Burma Cyclone Appeal is a UK registered charity, the Shelterbox Trust, which has an established network in Myanmar effectively distributing emergency aid.

The Road To Mandalay, Orient-Express’ river cruise ship in Myanmar, was damaged and is currently undergoing a period of repair and reconditioning and our cruises will recommence on August 26th 2009

The Road To Mandalay’s onboard Doctor, Dr Hla Tun, has been visiting the Delta every week since the cyclone and together with an assistant has been treating up to 400 patients on each trip. 

For further press information please contact:

RENOVATIONS BEGIN AT THE GOVERNORS RESIDENCE

27th May 2008 - The Govenors Residence will be closed until 31st August, reopening on 1st September for rennovations following Cyclone Nargis.


ORIENT-EXPRESS HOTELS BURMA CYCLONE APPEAL

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.

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

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 

or

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

 

ORIENT-EXPRESS OPERATIONS IN BURMA (MYANMAR) FOLLOWING CYCLONE NARGIS

6th May 2008 - In the early hours of Saturday 3rd May 2008, the southern part of Burma was hit by tropical cyclone Nargis, which has caused extensive damage and loss of life.
 
Orient-Express has two operations in Burma: the Road To Mandalay river cruise ship which cruises the Ayeyarwady River, and The Governors Residence, a hotel in Yangon (Rangoon).

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

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

The airport in Yangon reopened on Monday 5th May and one of our regional Directors was on the scene immediately. He and Orient-Express staff based in the country are currently assessing the damage as well as providing what assistance they can.
 
At present, it is unlikely that either operation will be able to reinstate normal services for at least three months. Any passengers or guests booked to travel before 1st September 2008 are advised to contact their local Orient-Express office or travel agent to rearrange their travel plans.
 
Orient-Express has an extensive management presence in Yangon, and will continue to assess the situation, providing further updates as necessary.