Raymond Blanc Appointed Vice President, Orient-Express Hotels Ltd

HAMILTON, Bermuda, December 2, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. (NYSE: OEH, http://www.orient-express.com), today announced the appointment of Raymond Blanc OBE, founder and chef patron of Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, a Vice President of Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.

M Blanc has had a close association with Orient-Express since the Company entered into a partnership with him by acquiring the equity of Virgin Hotels in the two star Michelin restaurant and 32 room hotel, Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, in 2002.

In his new capacity as a Vice President, M Blanc will have a consultancy role throughout the Orient-Express portfolio of hotels, trains and cruises, working with existing teams to improve and enhance their culinary offering. The first such project will be at Orient-Express Hotels' Santa Barbara, California property, El Encanto, due to open in 2012, where Raymond Blanc is designing the restaurant and will oversee delivery of the concept.

"Raymond is one of the world's most talented chefs and he has an amazing track record of encouraging his colleagues on to greater achievement. No less than 25 Michelin starred chefs trained with Raymond at some point in their careers," said Paul White, President and Chief Executive of Orient-Express Hotels. "I know my colleagues in Orient-Express restaurants and kitchens all over the world will be delighted to have his input and benefit from his knowledge."

Raymond Blanc said he was delighted to work more closely with Orient-Express hotels. "Unlike many hotel companies, Orient-Express runs its own restaurants and the reason they are successful is because they really aren't hotel dining rooms, but restaurants in the true meaning of the word. There are still many ways to enhance these offerings and I look forward to this opportunity to get more involved with my Orient-Express colleagues."

Orient-Express Hotels Ltd., (NYSE: OEH, http://www.orient-express.com) is the name behind an elite collection of 49 iconic travel experiences in 24 countries, 40 of which are highly acclaimed hotels, each unique in style and character, from the Mount Nelson in Cape Town and Rio's Copacabana Palace, to the Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg and Maroma Resort & Spa on Mexico's Riviera Maya. The Company first began to offer exceptional luxury travel experiences in 1976, when it purchased Hotel Cipriani in Venice and then shortly afterwards, recreated the celebrated Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which links London, Paris and Venice as well as other destinations. There are also two river cruise operations, six luxury tourist trains and a stand-alone restaurant, the celebrated '21' Club in New York.

    Contact:

    Victoria Legg
    Director, Corporate Communications
    Tel: +44-20-7921-4067
    E: [email protected]

SOURCE Orient Express Hotels Ltd