Press Release: Orient-Express Hotels Ltd Successfully Defends Cipriani trademark

25 February 2010- Hotel Cipriani, the world famous hotel in Venice which is part of Orient-Express Hotels Ltd (NYSE:OEH, www.orient-express.com), has been successful in defending an appeal against the decision of His Honour Mr Justice Arnold in the High Court in London in December 2008 in which he found for Hotel Cipriani in an action for trade mark infringement and passing off in respect of the mark ‘‘Cipriani’’ for restaurant services, against the operators of the restaurant ‘Cipriani’ London.

Hotel Cipriani is the proprietor of the ‘Cipriani’ trade mark registered within the UK and across the European Union for hotels and restaurant services. In a lengthy and comprehensive judgment in December 2008, the High Court had found that ‘Cipriani’ (Grosvenor Street) Ltd, ‘Cipriani’ International SA of Luxembourg, companies controlled by the Cipriani family including Arrigo and Giuseppe Cipriani, and Giuseppe Cipriani personally, had by operating a restaurant in Mayfair under the name ‘Cipriani’ London infringed the Hotel's UK and Community trade marks and English Law and were also liable for passing the restaurant off as being associated with the Hotel. The High Court had also held that under international law ("the Paris Convention"), the Hotel's ‘Cipriani’ brand was a “well known mark”.

The Court of Appeal has now dismissed the Defendants' appeal and confirmed the High Court's findings that the Defendants’ use of ‘Cipriani’ and “'Cipriani’ London' was not in accordance with honest practices in industrial and commercial matters” and that the Hotel’s UK and Community trade mark registrations for ‘Cipriani’ are valid and subsisting. The Court of Appeal also confirms that the Hotel's ‘Cipriani’ brand is a "well known mark".

As a result the Court of Appeal has ordered the Restaurant to cease using ‘Cipriani’ and ‘Cipriani’ London and to change its name to one that does not infringe. The Court of Appeal has also ordered the Restaurant to publicise the Court's decision on its menus and elsewhere and to pay costs and damages to the Hotel.

Paul White, President and Chief Executive Officer of Orient-Express Hotels, said “We have no wish to cause difficulties for other businesses but Orient-Express Hotels has worked long and hard over many years to build a worldwide reputation for Hotel ‘Cipriani’, substantiated by the many awards and accolades the hotel and its restaurants win each year. We are entitled to protect this famous name in Europe and it was important to us to do so.

“‘Cipriani’ is one of the many valuable brands owned by the Company and others should be in no doubt that we will take appropriate action in any part of the world to protect shareholder value when others seek to encroach upon our brands.”

Design Hotels Presents 36 New Member Hotels

Berlin, 17 February 2010 – Design Hotels™, an international hotel marketing company, announces 36 new member hotels, increasing its membership to 184 hotels worldwide. In 2009, less than 10% of the hotels applying for membership were accepted.
“Design and architecture are important features of our member hotels, but they must be components of a larger whole,” says Claus Sendlinger, founder and CEO of Design Hotels™. “We place great value on a holistic approach to hospitality and always consider the entire concept.”

Throughout 2009 and 2010, Design Hotels™ welcomed new member properties into the collection: Crosby Street Hotel, the first venture by Tim and Kit Kemp outside London, opened in New York, bringing British flair and eclectic elegance to the Big Apple. In Milan, Maison Moschino, a fairytale-like hotel evoking Moschino’s quirky love for surrealism, opens in March. Conceived by hotelier Stefano Ugolini, the property is a fusion of fashion and hotel design. In June 2010 the charismatic duo behind Hotel Sezz in Paris, hotelier Shahe Kalaidjian and designer Christophe Pillet, will open the Hotel Sezz Saint-Tropez. Although different in look and feel, the Mediterranean resort will share the Parisian hotel’s emphasis on personal interaction and bespoke services. The Waterhouse at South Bund, a new project by Loh Lik Peng, the man behind Singapore’s New Majestic Hotel, is a 19-room property set to open in Shanghai’s Pudong neighbourhood. It will be a modern take on the traditional Shanghai courtyard houses of the 1920s. In Italy, visionary entrepreneur, hotelier and philanthropist Daniele Kihlgren invites guests to step into another culture and time at Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita. As part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancient cave dwellings were transformed into hotel rooms which retain evidence of their use over the centuries.

“Our member portfolio continues to evolve, offering guests one-of-a-kind hotel experiences throughout the world,” continues Sendlinger. “These experiences reflect a shift in values and services, in which luxury is being redefined. Luxury nowadays has less to do with physical materials and more to do with intangible qualities; this means anticipating and fulfilling guests’ emotional needs rather than only providing brand-name amenities.”

The complete list of 36 new members with opening dates is below.
To view them online www.designhotels.com/newmembers
THE AMERICAS
MEXICO
Maison Couturier, Veracruz (September 2009)

UNITED STATES
The Standard Hollywood, Los Angeles (January 1999)
The Standard Downtown LA, Los Angeles (June 2002)
The Standard Miami (January 2006)
The Standard New York (December 2008)
Crosby Street Hotel, New York (October 2009)

AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST
ISRAEL
Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem (June 2009)

MOROCCO
Murano Resort, Marrakech (January 2007)
EUROPE
FRANCE
Hotel Gabriel, Paris (March 2009)
Murano Resort, Paris (September 2004)
La Réserve Ramatuelle Spa & Villas, Saint-Tropez (May 2009)
Hotel Sezz, Saint-Tropez (June 2010)
KUBE Hotel, Saint-Tropez (June 2009)

GERMANY
Hotel Cosmo, Berlin (January 2010)
The Weinmeister, Berlin (May 2010)
Hotel ÜberFluss, Bremen (November 2005)
Hotel Louis, Munich (September 2009)

ITALY
Maison Moschino, Milan (March 2010)
Portrait Suites, Rome (July 2006)
Metropole Taormina - Le Grand Hotel, Sicily (summer 2010)
Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita, Matera (May 2009)
Sextantio Albergo Diffuso, Santo Stefano di Sessanio (September 2005)

SPAIN
El Palauet Living, Barcelona (August 2009)

SWITZERLAND
The Cambrian, Adelboden (re-opening in November 2009)
Hotel Nevaï, Verbier (December 2007)

UNITED KINGDOM
Boundary, London (June 2009)
The Scarlet, Cornwall (September 2009)
Town Hall Hotel & Apartments, London (April 2010)

ASIA-PACIFIC
CHINA
The Waterhouse at South Bund, Shanghai (April 2010)
The PuLi Hotel & Spa, Shanghai (September 2009)

INDIA
The Park Hyderabad (June 2010)
Alila Diwa Goa (December 2009)

INDONESIA
Alila Villas Soori, Bali (December 2009)

MALDIVES
Alila Villas Hadahaa, Gaafu Alifu Atoll (August 2009)

SINGAPORE
Klapsons The Boutique Hotel, Singapore (October 2009)
Wanderlust, Singapore (summer 2010)

The Leading Hotels of the World Just Got Hotter

(HONG KONG February 18, 2010) - The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is pleased to announce that it has recently accepted the following new member hotels:

A new ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of South Africa
Opened in January, the new Taj Cape Town is situated in the historic center of the city, close to St. George’s Cathedral, and the Houses of Parliament. With 166 rooms and suites, it is a combination of Cape Town’s rich history and elegant architecture and design. Once the home to the South African Reserve Bank and Temple Chambers, it retains the original marble pillars, vaulted ceilings, glass domes and architectural elements of those historic buildings. Restaurant options include Bombay Brasserie, serving Indian and regional specialties; Mint, for international cuisine; and Twankey seafood bar and restaurant. The Jiva Grande Spa is complemented by a fitness center and heated indoor swimming pool.

Eco Style Arrives on Mexico’s Riviera Maya

Banyan Tree Mayakoba is situated on Mexico’s stunning Riviera Maya, ten miles from Playa del Carmen. An exclusive, ecologically-sensitive resort, it features 132 free-standing one-, two-, and three- bedroom villas, all with private pools and featuring distinctive Mayan-inspired interior design with Asian touches. Dining outlets include Saffron, serving contemporary Thai cuisine; Tamarind, for Mediterranean-inspired specialties; Oriente, for buffet breakfast and modern Mexican fare; Sands, serving light meals and cocktails; and Reflections pool bar. For relaxation, the resort offers swimming pools, the Banyan Tree Spa, a beach club and golf. In addition, four meeting rooms can accommodate up to 180 people.


The Leading Small Hotels of the World has added the following properties to its roster:


Idyllic Alpine Retreat Overlooking the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc

Located in the heart of Crans, 1500 meters above sea level, Hotel Guarda Golf is an intimate retreat boasting spectacular views of the Alps from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc. With just 19 rooms and six suites, it offers its guests exceptional levels of attentive, personalized service. Despite its small size, the hotel has three dining venues: Giardino and Les Alpes restaurants, and the Guarda Golf Lounge. Year-round recreation options include an ultra-modern spa zone, indoor lap pool and fitness center, as well as golf on a 9-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed course or on an 18-hole course designed by Severiano Ballesteros. Two meeting rooms are available for small social or business gatherings.

City Centre Chic Moroccan Riad Style

Due to open later this spring, the Royal Mansour Marrakech is in the center of Marrakech, within walking distance of the Koutoubia Mosque and the famous Jamaa-el-Fna Square. Spread over 3.5 hectares within the walls of the old city, it resembles a traditional medina, comprising riads, restaurants and a spa, arranged around the reception area with its lobby, dining, bar, lounges and library. There are 53 riads, or three-story suites. The first floor offers a living room, lounge and patio; bedrooms, dressing areas and bathrooms are on the second level; and the third level is a tented roof terrace. The 4-bedroom riad is a self-contained unit with its own private swimming pool, elevator, gymnasium, hammam, home cinema, personal chef and housekeeper. A variety of restaurants offers French, Moroccan and international cuisines; while recreation options include a fitness center, spa and indoor swimming pool.

About The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.

The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is the prestigious luxury hospitality organization representing more than 450 of the world’s finest hotels, resorts and spas, and is the operator of www.lhw.com and www.lhwspas.com – the online sources for your luxury lifestyle. As the largest international luxury hotel brand, the firm maintains offices in 22 major markets across the globe.

Since 1928, the company’s reputation for excellence derives from the exacting levels of quality it demands of its members, each of which must pass a rigorous, anonymous inspection covering hundreds of meticulous criteria spanning from product to behavioral standards. This set of standards is the most stringent in the industry.

High resolution images are available for downloading at www.lhw.com/press.

To receive a copy of the latest 2010 directory including all of the award winning hotels plus a series of tempting offers, please contact your local LHW reservations office:

The Standard Hotels Join Design Hotels

Berlin, 10 February 2010 – Design Hotels™ announces the signing of four of André Balazs’ properties: The Standard, Hollywood; The Standard, Downtown LA; The Standard Spa, Miami Beach and The Standard, New York.

Conceived by visionary hotelier André Balazs, The Standard brand, which debuted in 1999 in West Hollywood, California, is anything but “standard.” Balazs realised early on that a new generation of young, fashionable and style-conscious consumers was emerging. They were hungry for a new hospitality experience: one that catered to their sophisticated tastes, but at the same time was affordable.

Each of The Standard hotels has its own identity and distinctive design. Moreover, the hotels offer environments that connect guests to the local social scene – a fact which brings them back time and time again.

“We are excited to have these hotels join our portfolio,” says Claus Sendlinger, founder and CEO of Design Hotels™. “We have found the ideal partner to increase our presence in the U.S. market and provide our guests with additional outstanding properties in key destinations like New York, Miami and Los Angeles.”

The Standard, New York

The Standard, New York is a colossal new building standing tall over the High Line, a former elevated railway, now rehabilitated into a public park in Manhattan’s historic Meatpacking District. The 18-floor, 337-room hotel is supported on massive concrete pillars and contains a striking combination of custom details, inspired by a century of modern design.

Tucked underneath the High Line’s hefty steel frame, are a garden café and The Standard Grill, an acclaimed restaurant with Michelin-starred chef Dan Silverman at its helm. The rooms, all with floor-to-ceiling windows, provide spectacular views of the Hudson River and a sense of “floating” above New York – a feeling guests are bound not to forget. The Standard, New York opened in December 2008.
www.designhotels.com/standard_nyc

The Standard Spa, Miami Beach
Originally built in 1957 as The Lido Spa, The Standard Spa, Miami Beach is located on Belle Isle, a lush residential island on Biscayne Bay. Balazs’ vision was to update and infuse the property with renewed energy, without stripping its original charm and character. The fresh, Scandinavian design draws on Modernist elements evident in the white marble walls, terrazzo floors and vintage Danish furniture.

Inspired by ancient bathhouses and their communal lifestyle, The Standard Spa is an airy, elegant hydrotherapy spa hotel. Its “Do-It-Yourself” menuallows guests to indulge themselves with an extensive range of options including a Mud Lounge, Aroma Steam Room and Roman Waterfall Hot Tub. The hotel’s waterfront has private boating docks and spectacular views of Miami’s sunsets, and is only five minutes from the beach. The 105-room property opened in January 2006. www.designhotels.com/standard_miami

The Standard, Downtown LA

One day in 2000, whilst on his way to the airport, Balazs received a phone call from a friend saying: “You have got to see this building!” Balazs took a detour and after seeing it, bought it on impulse. An elegant Carrara-marble clad office building from 1952 became the home of The Standard, Downtown LA, which then set off a resurgence of the entire downtown Los Angeles area. 207 spacious rooms are outfitted with platform beds and oversized desks, and in some a gigantic black foot by Italian furniture designer Gaetano Pesce stands in the middle of white-tiled bathrooms. But the star of this hotel is its rooftop, which attracts both guests and locals. It encompasses a heated swimming pool, red Astroturf deck, a dance floor, bar, outdoor fireplace, vibrating waterbed pods and a grassy knoll with sculptured topiary. The hotel is just blocks away from downtown LA’s primary attractions. The Standard, Downtown LA opened its doors in June 2002.
www.designhotels.com/standard_la

The Standard, Hollywood

Unconventional in every possible way, The Standard, Hollywood dazzles from the moment guests walk into its white terrazzo-tiled lobby. The sleek, sexy environment features a tattoo parlour, a DJ spinning smooth tunes and an almost-naked model-turned-performance artist in a glass case behind the front desk.

A 1960s white washed building was cleverly transformed into a hip hideawaywith the help of producer and set designer Shawn Hausman. The 139 rooms feature plenty of post-modern and retro-futurist references: Andy Warhol flower-print curtains, silver beanbag chairs, inflatable sofas and surfboard-shaped coffee tables. The pool deck, outfitted in bright blue Astroturf, offers panoramic views of Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and, in the distance, Catalina Island. The hotel opened in January 1999.

www.designhotels.com/standard_hollywood