for $30 million.

The 60-room Lodge at Vail and two acres of adjacent development land, all acquired by Sea Containers in 1981, were sold to Vail Associates, Inc., as work proceeded on a 21-room addition to the lodge.

Sea Containers president, James B. Sherwood, said the lodge was recognised as one of the finest ski resorts in North America, but a short high season constrained profits. He conceded Vail Associates was the most logical buyer as it would integrate the property with improvements to ski facilities.

Sea Containers owns hotels, passenger transportation and leases out marine containers. None of the firm's other hotels are on the market now. In fact, their Orient-Express Hotels subsidiary is in negotiation to acquire extra unique leisure properties.

With the departure of Lodge at Vail from the group, Orient-Express now operates 21 leisure properties in Italy, Portugal, Africa, Brazil, Australia, North America, France and French overseas territories. It also operates tourist trains in Britain, the continent and Southeast Asia, a cruise ship in Burma and high profile restaurants in New York and London. Through August, operating profits for the leisure division were running 50 percent above 1996.

BUSINESS BUC