American Orient Express is changing its name to GrandLuxe Rail Journeys, effective immediately. GrandLuxe Rail Journeys' itineraries, which are often a week long, are very different from the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express' two-day tours, yet the similar company names did not communicate these differences to the marketplace, the private rail company said. It believes the new name, GrandLuxe Rail Journeys, will help better distinguish the in-depth, experiential itineraries through the United States, Mexico and Canada. The company itself and its staff remain the same, and all passengers who have already booked will be unaffected by the change. GrandLuxe Rail Journeys will continue to operate all itineraries advertised with departures through October; starting Oct. 29, though, a new itinerary called GrandLuxe Mexico, will debut. This nine-day journey from El Paso, Texas, to Mexico City has dates scheduled through April 2007. Information regarding schedules can be found on the new web site, [www.GrandLuxeRail.com], or on the former web site [www.AmericanOrientExpress.com], which will remain active through 2006. In addition, GrandLuxe Rail Journeys plans to educate the trade about the new name through seminars, trade shows and advertising.
