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Le Méridien
Hotels & Resorts has reported that its new hotel in Khao Lak, near
Phuket, has
suffered damage and is to remain closed until further
notice. A team has flown to Khao Lak to access the situation.
The
ground floor, villas, and the properties prized and extremely luxurious
private beach villas all suffered severe damage. A spokesperson for the
resort said that the hotels main structure has not been severely damaged
but the full assessment is expected to take weeks.
The
hotels most expensive rooms were the Beach Front Villas. These villas
could not have been any closer to the shoreline, during high tide the
water would come within a few feet from the villas private gardens,
during the Tsunami attack these havens of luxury would have been the
first to be hit.
Khao
Lak is one of the worst affected areas in Thailand and communication with
Khao Lak remains very difficult. Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts has however confirmed that its
staff there are working with the local authorities and tour operators to arrange for guests to be transferred to alternative hotels and returned home as quickly as possible.
The hotel group is also arranging to provide assistance to its staff members and their families living in the affected coastal areas around Phuket and Khao
Lak.
The
following is the official status of other Le Meridien Hotels in the
region:
Le Royal Méridien Phuket Yacht Club - Guests sustained no serious injuries and there is no major structural damage to the property. The hotel remains operational.
Le Méridien Beach Resort, Phuket - Guests have been evacuated to safe areas. Arrangements are now underway for guests, if they wish, to be flown home. A full
inspection of the hotel is taking place to ascertain the damage to the property.
Le Méridien Khao Lak, Thailand -
Many guests have been
moved to alternative hotels in Phuket or transferred to hotels in Bangkok. The hotel will remain closed until a detailed inspection has been completed.
Le Méridien Baan Taling Ngam, Koh Samui - Is unaffected.
At Le Méridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort, Bali and Le Méridien Fisherman’s Cove, Seychelles guests are safe and no damage to the hotels has been reported. (Le
Méridien Barbarons, also in Seychelles, is closed for refurbishment.)
Le Méridien Ile Maurice, Mauritius also reports no injuries to guests and no serious damage to the hotel.
Le Méridien properties in India have not been affected.
See
other recent news from:
Le
Meridien, Khao
Lak, Tsunami
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