Belmond Ltd. (formerly Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.) is a hospitality and leisure company that operates hotels, train services and river cruises and safaris worldwide. In 2024, the company has 47 properties in 28 countries and territories, with 32 hotels, six tourist trains, seven river cruise boats and two safaris.
History The company was founded in 1976 by American entrepreneur James Sherwood, who acquired the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy, from the Guinness family for £900,000. Sherwood then bought a number of carriages from the defunct Orient Express, which he restored as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which began offering rides in 1982 from Paris and London to his hotel in Venice. Much of the history of the company is documented in Sherwood's memoir Orient Express: A Personal Journey.
On 10 March 2014, Orient-Express Hotels Ltd was renamed Belmond, and on 1 July 2014, Belmond's holding company was also renamed Belmond Ltd.
In April 2015, Belmond partnered with Irish Rail to launch the train Belmond Grand Hibernian in Ireland. In July 2016, Indian Hotels Company Limited sold most of its 5.1% stake in Belmond, retaining only 0.44% after the sale.
In December 2018, the company agreed to be acquired by LVMH in a $3.2 billion transaction which would delist the company from the New York Stock Exchange and make it 100% privately owned. The announcement of the sale led Belmond's share price to increase by 40% in a day. The deal closed in April 2019.
Belmond has continued to grow its portfolio in Italy. In September 2021, it acquired Villa Beatrice in Portofino. In February 2023, the company announced an agreement with Sardegna Resorts S.r.l to manage Romazzino in Sardinia.
It has also added a cluster of new properties in Mexico. In August 2023, Belmond re-opened Maroma following a redesign, in which ten beachfront suites were added. In June 2023 it entered into an agreement with Cora Pacific Development to open Milaroca, a hotel on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, in 2025. In December 2023, the company announced that it had acquired Hacienda Katanchel in Mexico, with a planned opening in 2027.
In December 2022, Belmond announced a ten-year plan to upgrade its properties, which it had already begun with the renovation of Splendido Mare in 2021. Upgrades have included renovations and refurbishments to its trains. In October 2021, Belmond launched a train carriage designed by film director Wes Anderson on the British Pullman train. In 2023, the company also launched a Dior Spa on The Royal Scotsman.
In 2024, the company returned the Eastern & Oriental Express to service, after the train service was paused during the pandemic. The company also launched a Dior Spa aboard, and unveiled a sleeper carriage for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, designed by French street artist JR. The carriage was presented at the 2024 Venice Biennale.
Properties Hotels
Continent Country City or locality NameEuropeItaly Portofino SplendidoSplendido MareVilla Beatrice Florence, Tuscany Belmond Villa San Michele Casole d'Elsa, TuscanyCastello di Casole Amalfi Coast Caruso Sicily Belmond Villa Sant'Andrea Belmond Grand Hotel TimeoSardinia Romazzino Spain Deia, Mallorca Belmond La Residencia Portugal Madeira Belmond Reid's Palace United Kingdom London The Cadogan OxfordshireLe Manoir aux Quat'Saisons North America French West Indies St. Martin Belmond La Samanna British West Indies Anguilla Belmond Cap Juluca Mexico Riviera Maya Belmond Maroma Resort & SpaSan Miguel de AllendeCasa de Sierra Nevada South America Brazil Rio de Janeiro Copacabana Palace Iguaçu Falls Belmond Hotel das Cataratas Peru Lima Belmond Miraflores Park Cusco Belmond Palacio NazarenasAll Cusco and Macchu Picchu Hotels are a 50% Joint Venture with Peruvian shareholding company Peru Hotel Macchu Picchu SA (Peru Belmond Hotels SA) Belmond Hotel Monasterio Machu Picchu Belmond Sanctuary Lodge Sacred Valley Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado Colca Canyon Belmond Las Casitas Asia Indonesia Bali Belmond Jimbaran Puri Africa South Africa Cape Town Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel Botswana Chobe National Park Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge Okavango Delta Eagle Island Lodge
Transportation
Type Route Name Sleeper trains London-Venice Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Scotland Belmond Royal ScotsmanEngland - Wales Britannic Explorer Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand & Laos Eastern & Oriental Express Peru Belmond Andean Explorer(since May 2017) In 50% partnership with the Peruvian shareholder company Peruvian Trains and Railways SA Day trains Great Britain Belmond British Pullman PeruBelmond has a 50% interest in PeruRail. Belmond Hiram Bingham River Boats France Les Bateaux Belmond (seven canal and river barges)
Other formerly operated trains
Great South Pacific Express (1999-2003) in Australia between Kuranda, Queensland and Sydney. Its carriages were transferred to the Belmond Andean Explorer after its demise. Belmond Northern Belle (2000-2017) in the Central and Northern regions of Great Britain. Sold to West Coast Railways as a new operator. Belmond Grand Hibernian (2016-2021) in Ireland. Its carriages were transferred to the Britannic Explorer.
Restaurants
Country City Name United States New York City 21 Club United Kingdom Oxfordshire The Restaurant at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons London The Lalee Portugal Madeira William Restaurant Italy Venice Oro Restaurant Taormina Otto Geleng Restaurant Florence La LoggiaSpainDeiaEl Olivo Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mee Rio de Janeiro Ristorante Hotel Cipriani
Notes and references Notes
References
External links