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UPDATE: Orient-Express Operations in Burma (Myanmar) Following Cyclone Nargis

13th June 2008 -Following the effects of Cyclone Nargis, the Road To Mandalay river cruise service will be suspended for the 2008/2009 season during which time the vessel will be repaired and substantially reconditioned in Burma.  The boat will return to service in the summer of 2009 at the start of the 2009/2010 season.

All passengers who were booked to travel during the suspension of services are being contacted directly or via their travel agents so that they can re-arrange their travel plans and assistance will be offered to make alternative arrangements, if required.

The company’s Rangoon hotel, The Governor’s Residence, was largely undamaged by the storm and will re-open on September 1st, 2008, following its scheduled annual low season closure.

In the meantime, the 120 local staff involved in the river cruise operation will be retained and redeployed wherever possible, covering work on the ship’s reconditioning project,  Orient-Express’ other businesses in the region and the company’s ongoing support for the relief efforts and the longer term recovery for those in the Ayeyarwady Delta who were most affected by the disaster. 

Orient-Express’ charity appeal to assist in the immediate delivery of aid relief to the worst affected victims of the cyclone has been very well supported and some US$50,000 has so far been disbursed 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 Burma distributing emergency aid.  In addition, 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.

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.