LANGHAM HOTELS INTERNATIONAL RECOGNISED IN GOVERNMENT’S INAUGURAL MANPOWER DEVELOPER SCHEME
Top Accolade Underlines Hotel Operator’s Commitment to Excellence

For further information contact:

Sherona Shng Vice President - Communications Langham Hotels International Tel: (852) 3552 3938 Fax: (852) 3552 3902 Email: sherona.shng@langhamhotels.com

Ainslie Cheung Director of Public Relations (International) Langham Hotels International Tel: (852) 3552 3823 Fax: (852) 3552 3902 Email: ainslie.cheung@langhamhotels.com

April 28, 2010

Langham Hotels International has been honoured with the “MD 1st” accolade in the Hong Kong’s government’s inaugural Employees Retraining Board (ERB) Manpower Developer Award Scheme. The success underlines the luxury hotel operator’s ongoing commitment to total quality management and excellence.

The ERB Manpower Developer Award Scheme was designed to assess, promote and recognise best practice in organisations and their manpower development strategies. The criteria endorses a total quality management approach and includes promotion of a corporate culture based on manpower development, driving public awareness of on-the-job training, and promotion of lifelong learning and encouragement of employee participation.

Under the new scheme, Langham Hotels International and its three hotels in Hong Kong – The Langham, Langham Place and Eaton underwent a rigorous independently-audited assessment to become the only hotel group in the city to be honoured. The scheme recognised the group’s outstanding performance in manpower development with the permanent title of “MD 1st”. The prestigious accolade identifies Langham Hotels International as one of the first to forge a strategic partnership with the ERB.

Brett Butcher, Chief Executive Officer of Langham Hotels International said: “Hospitality is a manpower intensive business which means we need to attract, develop and retain a lot of exceptional talent to deliver the service our guests expect.”

“Under our group’s Total Quality Management, we send a very clear message about our commitment to our people and their careers. They are the cornerstone of our success,” he explained.

“Our colleagues are laying a foundation that will grow our brand footprint and ultimately contribute towards driving the company’s economic, social and environmental sustainability. We’re delighted to be honoured with “MD 1st” which recognises we give our professionals the edge they need to face the challenges and developments in today’s world of hospitality,” he said.

Langham Hotels International is the first hotel operator to achieve the “MD 1st” status amongst the 80 companies recognised by the ERB Manpower Award Scheme and designated “MD 1st”.


Langham Hotels International CEO Brett Butcher receiving the MD 1st award from Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Secretary for Labour and Welfare

About Langham Hotels International & Its Affiliates

Langham has a legendary hotel heritage dating back to 1865 when The Langham in London originally opened as Europe’s first Grand Hotel. For over 140 years, this flagship hotel has been at the forefront of sophisticated and gracious hospitality. Today, all Langham Hotels worldwide inherit the same philosophy that reflects elegance in design, innovation in hospitality, genuine service and captivation of the senses creating a truly unique hotel experience.

The group is pursuing an aggressive portfolio growth strategy using its distinctive brands and affiliate – The Langham, Langham Place and Eaton. Currently 20 hotels, including affiliates, are open or in the pipeline across four continents.

Eaton, a premium affiliate brand, aims to surprise and delight our guests with a value-for-money proposition that delivers a stylish, modern level of comfort with spirited, can-do service.

Langham Hotels International is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eagle Holdings (Stock Code: 0041) which was founded in 1963 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1972.

Reservations for Langham hotels can be made by logging onto langhamhotels.com or for Eaton Hotels log onto eatonhotels.com

Our Properties

EUROPE: The Langham, London INDIA: Langham Place, Koregaon Park, Pune (opening soon)	ASIA: Hong Kong The Langham, Hong Kong Langham Place, Mongkok, Hong Kong Eaton Hong Kong
NORTH AMERICA & CARIBBEAN: The Langham, Boston The Langham, Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles Langham Place, Resort + Spa, Port St. George, Bahamas (opening soon)	China The Langham, Yangtze Boutique, Shanghai Langham Place, Beijing (opening soon) Langham Place, Beijing Capital Airport (opening 2010) Langham Place, EDZ, Guangzhou (opening soon) Eaton Luxe, Nanqiao, Shanghai
PACIFIC: The Langham, Auckland The Langham, Melbourne	Thailand Langham Place Samui at Lamai Beach Langham Place Miora Resort + Spa, Kalim Bay, Phuket (opening soon) The Langham, Sukhumvit, Bangkok (opening soon) Langham Place, Phayathai, Bangkok (opening soon)