The brand Orient Express is an iconic collection of luxury experiences ranging from hotels, luxury trains, wilderness safaris and river cruises, each offerings its guests an authentic, local experience.
Since the company acquired Venice’s Hotel Cipriani in 1976, several new hotels, trains and river cruisers worldwide have joined the Orient-Express collection. Some of these include The Ritz, Madrid, St Petersburg’s Grand Hotel Europe and Rio’s Copacabana Palace, each a destination in their own right.
Andrea Filippi, executive director of worldwide sales, Orient-Express said, “The brand Orient-Express is a company like no other.”
The company operates on four core values – enabling discoveries, authentic experiences, delightful touches and eclectic characters.
“Each of our properties must be enable discoveries or provide authentic experiences. Our products offer guests a new sense of space. We don’t believe in the cookie-cutter product and want our customers to be able to enjoy unique experiences and immerse in the local culture, every time they stay with us,” explained Filippi.
“We offer one of the highest standards of service in our hotels but without any defined code. Our mission is to understand our guests and offer delightful touches and surprise them when they stay with us.”
“Each of our properties is an eclectic character because they are so distinct, with a personality of their own. These characters are passed down to the staff. We encourage each of them to have their own personality, never forgetting they are there to serve the customers and ensure they have a memorable experience,” he added.
Today the Orient-Express portfolio includes 38 hotels, three safari lodges in Botswana, six luxury trains, two river cruises and one restaurant. The US and UK market are the key source markets for the company today accounting for almost 60 per cent of all businesses.
“But we are quickly diversifying. We are opening in new markets and our source markets are growing with more interest from Russia, Brazil, Canada, France, and Germany – what I call the mature markets.”
“In the last two years we have also seen growth in markets like China, India and Middle East and that is why since last year we have been more focussed with new representatives or offices in these areas,” he added.
Several new openings and additions to the portfolio will highlight the company’s growth in 2013. This year, Orient-Express will launch a second river cruiser in Myanmar in July 2013. Currently under construction in Yangon, the ship named Orcaella, will offer a collection of cruises giving passengers access to the very heart of this beguiling country.
Named after the dolphins known to inhabit the Ayeyarwady River, Orcaella will meander the Ayeyarwady River between Yangon and Bhamo. The elegant four-deck river cruiser will feature 25 spacious river-facing cabins with floor to ceiling sliding glass doors and Juliette balconies providing the perfect frame to the river and its banks. The Observation Deck will have a dedicated relaxing area with a retractable awning and reclining chairs, while the lounge and bar will be the social hub of this ship, complemented by a separate swimming pool.
Located on the French side of St Martin, La Samanna completed its second phase of an extensive renovation project. Revitalising its long-standing reputation as the ultimate luxury Caribbean destination, the property now features two new restaurants and a revamped lobby with sea views as part of the redesigned main building, as well as refurbished suites and rooms.
All eyes are on Rio as Copacabana Palace completed its $20 million refurbishment. This phased programme commenced in 2011 and has seen enhancements made to the lobby, all 145 rooms and suites in the main building, and the Cipriani restaurant. 2013 also sees the iconic hotel celebrating its 90th anniversary.
The iconic Orient-Express hotel, superbly positioned overlooking Copacabana beach, has embarked on a stellar facelift which will see its position strengthened as one of the city’s most glamorous and sought after hotels. The refurbishment included renovation work of 90 rooms on the lower floors of the main building.
This year, the Orient-Express’ luxury safari camp in Botswana, Khwai River Lodge, will offer guests a unique opportunity to spot and observe nocturnal activities of the wild with the introduction of night vision binoculars, the first luxury camp in Botswana to offer its guests these binoculars.
And lastly the El Encanto in Santa Barbara is slated for a March 2013 opening. The iconic early 20th-century property is nestled amid seven acres of gloriously landscaped gardens with a historic trellised lined arbour and lily pond offers 92 bungalows. Following its reopening, guests will enjoy a beautifully appointed boutique spa, an inviting outdoor swimming pool, signature restaurant featuring California coastal cuisine and a Santa Barbara dedicated wine list.
The hotel will also offer its own branded beer and keep a cow called Ellie that will produce milk which will be used to make the hotel’s very own branded cheese.
By Shalu Chandran