Orient-Express' Windsor Court Hotel Hurricane Katrina Update
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast on Monday, August 29, 2005 with the hurricane passing just east of New Orleans with sustained winds of 125 miles an hour.
"We are thankful that we weathered the storm safely," said Tony McHale, General Manager of the Windsor Court Hotel. "We had fully prepared the hotel to safely accommodate guests and staff that rode out the hurricane, and we have had no injuries."
The hotel did sustain some damage, however, preliminary reports indicate that it is limited to some broken windows on a few of the upper floors and the resulting rain intrusion. The hotel was fortunate and did not experience any flooding.
"We have our construction team en route to the hotel and will be completing a thorough inspection of the property tomorrow," explained Mr. McHale. "Over the next two days we will concentrate on getting more than one hundred guests who rode out the storm with us safely home and supporting our staff and fellow New Orleaneans in getting their lives back to normal. We have power from our own generator and plan to provide a date for the official re-opening of the Windsor Court by Wednesday afternoon."
Simon Sherwood, President of Orient-Express Hotels commented, "All of us at the company are relieved that the preliminary reports are encouraging. The hotel has hurricane insurance cover so any financial impact should be limited to the $500,000 deductible. We are very grateful to all the employees in the hotel who have worked so hard over the last few days."
Owned by Orient-Express Hotels Ltd (NYSE: OEH - News), The Windsor Court Hotel is located in the New Orleans business district, which is within easy access of the French Quarter, Bourbon Street and the boutiques of Royal Street. Considered the premier hotel in New Orleans, The Windsor Court has been recognized as one of the "Top Hotels" in the country by Travel + Leisure and is ranked on the coveted Conde Nast Traveler "Gold List" and most recently was named best in the city by Andrew Harper's Hideaway report. Additional information can be found at .
Orient-Express Hotels Ltd is a hotel and leisure company providing luxury travel experiences for discerning travellers in areas of outstanding cultural, historic or recreational interest. Founded in 1976 when the company acquired Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Orient-Express owns or has investments in 49 businesses: 38 highly individual hotels, three restaurants, six tourist trains and two river cruise operations, located in 25 countries worldwide. The company believes that discerning travellers will choose a famous individual property in preference to a chain brand, so none of its businesses is called Orient-Express except the fabled Venice Simplon-Orient-Express luxury train which operates through Europe, linking London, Paris and Venice, and its Orient-Express Safaris in Botswana. Orient-Express Hotels chooses to own or part-own its businesses, believing equity returns are greater than management fee income alone and continues to seek out unique properties with expansion potential and introduce new experiences, restoring romance, glamour and style to international travel.