Orient-Express Hotels Ltd confirms that it has completed its acquisition of Grand Hotel Timeo and Villa Sant’Andrea in Taormina, Sicily.
Commenting on the transaction, Paul White, President and Chief Executive of Orient-Express Hotels said, “Iconic properties such as the Grand Hotel Timeo rarely become available. Both of these hotels typify Orient-Express Hotels’ core business - established properties with history and personality.”
Our guests can already start to plan their future visits to Grand Hotel Timeo and Villa Sant’ Andrea. The on-line booking engine is up and running for both hotels and accepting reservations for arrivals from the official re-opening date, which is expected to take place on May 27th, 2010, after completion of the first phase of a major renovation plan that will take place over three consecutive winter closures.
Grand Hotel Timeo
The Grand Hotel Timeo nestles adjacent to one of the city’s most famous attractions, the legendary Greek Theatre, dating back to the 2nd century AD. Built in 1873, the Grand Hotel Timeo occupies an excellent position in the historical centre of the city. From the hotel's panoramic terrace, guests can admire spectacular views of Mount Etna and the bay of Naxos. Since the 19th century and the era of the Grand Tour, the hotel has been popular with an elite group of international travellers, who enjoy the hotel’s unique location, swimming pool, wellness centre and the parkland which surrounds it. Each guest room has its own terrace and the hotel's ‘Il Dito e la Luna’ restaurant specialises in regional Sicilian cuisine.
Villa Sant’Andrea
Below the Grand Hotel Timeo and looking out across the blue waters of the Ionian sea, sits Villa Sant’Andrea, built in 1830 right on the beach. The two properties are located approximately five kilometers apart and are linked by a private shuttle. Villa Sant'Andrea is located on the Bay of Mazzarò, the heart of Taormina's seaside district. The atmosphere is that of a private villa, enriched by paintings and antiques and set in lush gardens just steps away from a private beach. Several of the hotel's suites open onto a private terrace. The ‘Oliviero’ restaurant, on a panoramic terrace overlooking the Calabrian coast, is known for its fish and seafood specialties.
Useful information
The websites for both hotels are now live:
www.grandhoteltimeo.com and www.hotelvillasantandrea.com
Both websites contain a wide selection of beautiful images of the hotels, Taormina and Sicily, as well as interesting details about the region's cultural heritage and suggestions about the unique experiences that are available to our guests. As the renovation works progress and the re-opening date approaches, the websites will be constantly enriched with additional information about the two hotels' services and facilities, special offers and exciting programs designed to provide guests with authentic Sicilian experiences.
The on-line booking engine is up and running for both hotels and they are listed in all GDS codes under the OE code.
Grand Hotel Timeo
Amadeus - TFCTIM
Apollo - 06960
Sabre - 3781
Worldspan – CTAHT
Villa Sant’Andrea
Amadeus - TFCVSA
Apollo - 06962
Sabre - 3796
Worldspan - CTASA
Reservations can also be placed through the Orient-Express Centre, Europe, London, UK (T: 0845 077 2222) and our Central Reservations Office, Charleston, USA (T: +1 843 937 9066).
The two hotels can be contacted directly at the following addresses:
Grand Hotel Timeo, Via Teatro Greco 59, Taormina, 98039, Italy
T: +39 09 422 3801
Villa Sant’Andrea, Via Nazionale 137, Loc. Mazzarò Taormina , 98039 , Italy
T: +39 09 422 3125
Taormina
Perched on a 200 metre high rocky spur called Monte Tauro on Sicily’s East coast, Taormina overlooks majestic, sweeping bays and to the South, Mount Etna, often capped with snow despite the mild climate of the region. The city has good transport links and is located 40 minutes from Catania International Airport, which has direct flights to all major European cities and good connections to those serving the USA.
Sicily
Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has been growing in popularity as a tourist destination due to its excellent climate, magnificent scenery and splendid architectural legacy. The island attracts an eclectic mix of tourists from around the world and its history ranges from Greek colony to Roman province and from Arab Emirate to Norman Kingdom.
The Mediterranean gem is becoming an increasingly popular destination for elite leisure travellers, as highlighted in Conde Nast Traveler September issue, where the island scored first rank both in the Island category, preceding Seychelles and Cuba, and in the World Top 100 Overall in front of the likes of Italy as a whole, New York and Australia.
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The successful completion of this transaction brings the number of Orient-Express properties in Italy to eight. These include Hotel Cipriani and Palazzo Vendramin in Venice, Villa San Michele in Florence, Hotel Splendido and Splendido Mare in Portofino and Hotel Caruso in Ravello.
For more information please contact Natascia Vivaldi, Marketing Services Manager, on nvivaldi@oeh.it.
