hotels its owns/manages to 15, the diversified company said.

The Bermuda-registered company's latest additions are located in France and the South Pacific.

Orient-Express will take over management of the Hotel de la Cite in Carcassonne, France and the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort in the South Pacific Society Islands.

An affiliated company, Orient-Express Hotels Properties Ltd., will buy the Hotel de la Cite from Carcassonne businessman Jean-Michel Signoles. He will remain president of the French company holding title to the property. Sea Containers is applying to incorporate Orient-Express Hotels Properties Ltd. in Bermuda.

Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. president Simon Sherwood said Orient-Express Hotel Properties will be spent about $3 million upgrading the Hotel de la Cite.

The Bora Bora Lagoon Resort is owned by the Nara Corporation of Yokohama which owns a Sydney, Australia hotel also managed by Orient-Express.

Carcassonne is the largest mediaeval fortified city in the world. It is surrounded by 50 ancient watch towers and three million visitors tour the city yearly.

The Bora Bora property, located on its own island, opened in 1993 and is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World.

Mr. Sherwood said these two properties are unique, have limited competition, will yield an excellent profit and are capable of expansion.

Sea Containers' hotel division had operating profits of $30 million in 1996.