Belmond Ltd. (formerly Orient-Express Hotels Ltd) is a hospitality and leisure company that operates hotels, train services and river cruises and safaris worldwide.[3] 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.
 | This article contains promotional content. (September 2024) |
 | |
| Formerly | Orient-Express Hotels Ltd |
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Headquarters | Hamilton, Bermuda[1] |
Key people | Roeland Vos (Chairman) Dan Ruff (CEO) |
| Services | Hotels, trains, cruises, restaurants |
| Revenue | US$ 576.84 million (2018)[2] |
| Parent | LVMH |
| Website | www |
History
The company was founded in 1976 by the American entrepreneur James Sherwood with the acquisition of the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy, from the Guinness family for £900,000. Sherwood then bought a number of carriages from the original Orient Express train, which he restored and used to offer rides from Paris and London to his hotel in Venice,[4] thus the former name of the company. 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,[5][6][7][8] and on 1 July 2014, Belmond's holding company was also renamed Belmond Ltd.[9]
In April 2015, Belmond partnered with Irish Rail to launch the train Belmond Grand Hibernian in Ireland.[10] In July 2016, Indian Hotels Company Limited sold most of its 5.1% stake in Belmond, retaining only 0.44% after the sale.[11]
In December 2018, the company agreed to be acquired by LVMH[12] in a $3.2 billion transaction which would delist the company from the New York Stock Exchange and make it 100% privately owned.[citation needed] The announcement of the sale led Belmond's share price to increase by 40% in a day.[13] The deal closed in April 2019.[14]
Belmond has continued to grow its portfolio in Italy. In September 2021, it acquired Villa Beatrice in Portofino.[15] In February 2023, the company announced an agreement with Sardegna Resorts S.r.l to manage Romazzino in Sardinia.[16]
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.[17] 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.[18] In December 2023, the company announced that it had acquired Hacienda Katanchel in Mexico, with a planned opening in 2027.[19]
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.[20] 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.[21] In 2023, the company also launched a Dior Spa on The Royal Scotsman.[22]
In 2024, the company returned the Eastern & Oriental Express to service, after the train service was paused during the pandemic.[23] 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.[24] The carriage was presented at the 2024 Venice Biennale.[25]
Properties
Hotels
Transportation
| Type | Route | Name |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeper trains | London-Venice | Venice Simplon-Orient-Express |
| Scotland | Belmond Royal Scotsman | |
| Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand & Laos | Eastern and Oriental Express | |
| Peru | Belmond Andean Explorer[note 2] | |
| Day trains | Great Britain | Belmond British Pullman |
| Peru[note 3] | 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.
Restaurants
| Country | City | Name |
|---|---|---|
| United States | New York City | 21 Club |
| United Kingdom | Oxfordshire | The Restaurant at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons |
| London | The Lalee | |
| Portugal | Madeira | William Restaurant |
| Italy | Venice | Oro Restaurant |
| Taormina | Otto Geleng Restaurant | |
| Florence | La Loggia | |
| Brazil | Rio de Janeiro | Mee |
| Rio de Janeiro | Ristorante Hotel Cipriani |
Notes and references
External links
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