The management & staff at Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts extends their condolences to all those throughout the coastal areas of South East Asia, extending to countries across the Indian Ocean who have lost family and friends following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami on 26 December 2004.

The Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort and Le Méridien Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort are the only two Le Méridien properties in Thailand to be substantially affected by this tragedy. We are arranging to provide assistance to our staff members and their families living in the affected coastal areas around Phuket and Khao Lak. A relief fund for staff and their families affected by this tragedy has been established from London. Our hotel teams on site are continuously working with local authorities and tour operators to arrange for guests to return to their homes as quickly as possible.

We are pleased to report that all guests at Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort were evacuated to safe areas and have all been accounted for. Damage has been sustained to the swimming pools and other recreational areas externally, and to a limited extend the restaurants and other public areas on the ground floor. The lower ground floor operational areas remain under water, preventing the restoration of key services to the hotel. The General Manager, Philippe Seigle and his team are working to ensure the safe and rapid restoration of the property.

Communications with Le Méridien Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort, Thailand is improving and we can confirm that all guests have been evacuated to alternative hotels in Phuket or transferred to hotels in Bangkok. The hotel will remain closed until damage assessments and repairs have been completed.

It is with our deepest regret that we report that 2 guests are still missing and 7 guests and 12 staff succumbed to the tidal wave.

The General Manager of the hotel, Jean-Louis Ripoche remains at the hotel, working with local authorities to re-establish communications and assist guests and staff affected in this catastrophe.

Le Royal Méridien Phuket Yacht Club sustained no damage to the property and all guests are accounted for. The hotel is fully operational.

Our other hotels in locations affected across the region reported no injuries or damage, namely Le Royal Méridien Baan Taling Ngam, Koh Samui, Le Méridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort, Bali, Le Méridien Fisherman's Cove, Seychelles and Le Méridien Ile Maurice, Mauritius. Le Méridien properties in India have not been affected.

Up-to-date information on the status of our hotels will continue to be posted on www.lemeridien.com.

Our worldwide call centres and sales teams are in the process of advising customers of the status regarding hotels in the region, to ensure that everything within our control is done to inform, help and advise people as best we can.

Anyone wishing to obtain details of their family and friends can obtain the emergency helpline numbers from Le Méridien reservations centres. The following numbers issued by Foreign Office as follows:-

UK – 020 7008 0000

Thailand – 00 (66) 7639 6433

Singapore – (65) 6332 0000

France: 00(33) 145 5034 60 (Le Quai d'Orsay Office in Paris)

Germany: 00 (49) 30 5000 1000

Spain: 00 (34) 9137 91627 /28

Italy: 00 (39) 0636911

Russia: 00 (66) 9 699 0919 (Russian Embassy in Thailand)

Information can also be obtained from major tour operators. Guests due to travel to the affected areas should also contact their tour operator or travel agent and NOT the emergency helpline numbers.