Orient-Express joins TOWARD Europe Pioneering industry organisation announces new signing

19 August 2003 � TOWARD Europe the pioneering organisation created to maximise the commercial success of travel industry companies today announces the signing of luxury hotel and leisure company Orient-Express Hotels.

This latest signing will increase membership of the organisation, which launched in April 2003, and whose initial focus is to optimise distribution through industry-wide agreement on best use of technology, to 29 leading travel industry companies across Europe. Other members include Amadeus, Cosmos, Hertz Europe, Eurostar, Starwood and RWA.

Orient-Express Hotels has also joined TOWARD Europe�s Travel Supplier to Tour Operator working group, which is creating a vision for how travel suppliers such as airlines, hotels and car rental companies can distribute their product more efficiently through tour operators and to agents and end consumers. Existing group members include Travel2, Accor, OTC and Avis.

Angela Clarke, director of sales and marketing at Orient-Express Hotels said: �TOWARD Europe is intent on improving industry distribution, which is the key reason behind Orient-Express Hotels� decision to become the organisation�s latest new member.�

Clarke continued: �We will become actively involved in the Travel Supplier to Tour Operator working group and provide maximum input to help the entire organisation achieve its goals.�

Alister Beveridge, TOWARD Europe�s acting-chairman and Group IT director of Cosmos, said: �We welcome Orient-Express Hotels to TOWARD Europe, and believe this blue-chip company�s involvement will provide an invaluable contribution to our organisation�s rapid development.

�Orient-Express� arrival provides further evidence that the industry is focused on emerging from a succession of volatile trading periods with a far more robust distribution infrastructure, to help us withstand difficult times in future and to ensure we maximise profitability during the good periods. If we work together, this is achievable.�

TOWARD Europe organisation represents, informs and educates on behalf of its members in order to improve electronic distribution and fulfilment of tour operator product to agents and consumers. TOWARD Europe is targeting European tour operators, suppliers, technology providers and other companies across the travel industry for recruitment, and has established a dedicated hotline to deal with membership enquiries (+44 (0) 20 7691 3938).

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Notes to editors

About TOWARD Europe: TOWARD Europe�s launch objective is to secure change in distribution within today�s dynamic travel market through agreement on best use of technology. The organisation will represent, inform and educate on behalf of its members in order to improve electronic distribution and fulfilment of tour operator product to agents and consumers.

The organisation officially launched to the travel sector in April 2003 with the formation of a management committee and two working groups. Toward Europe�s 22 founder members from across Europe include Amadeus, Eurostar and Hertz Europe.

TOWARD Europe has established two working groups, �Supplier to Tour Operator� and �Tour Operator to Distribution Channel�, whose combined goal is to recognise the issues faced by tour operators and to optimise the travel industry�s entire distribution chain - from suppliers to agents and the end consumer.

A seven-strong management will drive TOWARD Europe in the market and comprises acting-chairman, Alister Beveridge, Group IT director of Cosmos; Ghislain D'Auvigny, web distribution director, Accor; Bill Barnes, business development manager, Amadeus; Mike Eivers, sales and marketing director, Boscolo Tours; William Hennessy, director, automation marketing at Hertz Europe; Mark Bradbury, director business development, RWA and Paul Mahoney, IT director, Travel 2.

About Orient-Express Hotels: Orient-Express Hotels owns or part-owns, and manages, 40 leisure properties in 17 countries. Thirty are hotels ranging across five continents, from the Hotel Cipriani in Venice to the Mount Nelson in Cape Town, the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro to the Observatory in Sydney. Four tourist trains include the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in Europe, The Eastern & Oriental Express in Asia. The company also part-owns and manages PeruRail in Peru, which operates the Cuzco-Machu Picchu train service used by nearly every tourist to Peru. The m.v. Road to Mandalay provides luxury cruises on the Irrawaddy River in Burma.

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For further information please contact: Katrina Walker/ Laura Bradley Rooster tel: +44 (0) 20 7691 3939 fax: +44 (0) 20 7691 3929 email: firstname.surname@rooster.co.uk web: www.rooster.co.uk

Pippa Isbell Orient Express Hotels Tel: +44 20 7805 5065 Fax: +44 20 7805 5938 Email: Pippa.isbell@orient-express.com Web: www.orient-express.com