Maroma
Resort & Spa Update: Post H u r r i c a n e W i l m a
Hamilton, Bermuda, October 28, 2005 Orient-Express
Hotels Ltd announced today that it expects to be able to reopen its
Yucatan Peninsula property, Maroma
Resort and Spa, in January 2006, following the onslaught of Hurricane
Wilma.
Maroma Resort and Spa was closed for scheduled renovations
when the hurricane started tracking towards the Yucatan and therefore
had only a limited number of staff to evacuate. The hotels hurricane
recovery team has completed an initial inspection of the resort and
while there was damage to the landscape, beach palapas, the outdoor
dining terrace and three beachside villas, only 14 of the 64 rooms
were damaged.
Given the duration and intensity of the storm,
the Riviera Maya was fortunate to experience less damage than Cancun,
said Simon Sherwood, President of Orient-Express Hotels. Playa
del Carmen, which is less than 15 kilometres away, has power restored
and restaurants and shops have re-opened. Maromas staff is already
back and assisting with the clean-up and we anticipate a phased re-opening
beginning in January. The hotel has hurricane insurance cover so any
impact should be limited to the US$500,000 deductible. We are very
grateful to all the employees of the hotel who are working to restore
Maroma.
Prior to the hurricane, the hotel was scheduled to re-open
on November 1st with an expanded restaurant terrace and six new Sian
Nah (House of Heaven) Suites, built to satisfy increasing demand for
suite accommodation, with overall demand up 20 per cent over last
year. These new ocean front suites, which include their own private
pool, massage/spa area, and wellness room plus outdoor dining areas,
will open in the first phase in January.
Maroma has always been known for the service and
friendliness of its staff and regardless of storms, this is something
that will never change. When the first phase re-opens in January our
guests will once again experience the warmth of Maroma and all the
special touches that our guests treasure from the 1000 candles lit
at night to Mexican coffee or tea delivered to their private terrace
at sunrise, Simon Sherwood continued.
Set on a former 500-acre coconut plantation that borders
the Caribbean Sea, this Orient-Express Hotel is amongst the most sought
after places on the Riviera Maya for its unspoiled beach and lush
jungle. Maromas Kinan Spa (Mayan for the source of life)
offers a full range of Maya influenced spa services in unique environments
ranging from treatment rooms with private gardens to a rooftop massage
tower with 360 degree views. More information is available at www.maromahotel.com.
Orient-Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises (www.orient-express.com)
is a hotel and leisure company providing luxury travel experiences
for discerning travelers 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 businesses and operates in 25
countries worldwide.