Belmond Limited

Last updated

Belmond Ltd.
FormerlyOrient-Express Hotels Ltd
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Hospitality
Founded1976
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.belmond.com

Belmond Ltd. (formerly Orient-Express Hotels Ltd) is a hospitality and leisure company that operates luxury hotels, train services and river cruises and safaris worldwide. [3] In 2024, the company has 47 properties spread across 28 countries and territories, with 32 deluxe hotels, six tourist trains, seven river cruise boats and two safaris.

Contents

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 original historic carriages from the original Orient Express train, which he restored and used to offer rides from Paris and London to his hotel in Venice to wealthy clients, [4] thus the former name of the company. Much of the history of the company is documented in James 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 Limited partnered with Irish Rail to launch the luxury 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% of Belmond 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 single trading day. [13] The deal closed in April 2019. [14]

Belmond has continued to grow its portfolio in Italy. In September 2021, Belmond completed the transaction to acquire 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 10 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 10-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 luxury trains. In October 2021, Belmond launched a luxury 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 luxury train The Eastern & Oriental Express to service, after the train service was paused during the pandemic. [23] The company also launched a Dior Spa aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express, 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

ContinentCountryCityName
Europe Italy Venice Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel, Venice
Portofino Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino
Splendido Mare, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino
Florence, Tuscany Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence
Casole d’Elsa, Tuscany Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany
Amalfi Coast Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Amalfi Coast
Sicily Villa Sant'Andrea, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina Mare
Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina
Sardinia Romazzino, A Belmond Hotel, Costa Smeralda
Spain Deia, Mallorca La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel, Mallorca
Portugal Madeira Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Madiera
United Kingdom London The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, London
Oxfordshire Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, A Belmond Hotel, Oxfordshire
North America United States Santa Barbara, California El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara
French West Indies St. Martin La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel, St. Martin
British West Indies Anguilla Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel, Anguilla
Mexico Riviera Maya Maroma Resort & Spa, A Belmond Hotel, Rivera Maya
San Miguel de Allende Casa de Sierra Nevada, A Belmond Hotel, San Miguel de Allende
South America Brazil Rio de Janeiro Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
Iguaçu Falls Hotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel, Iguassu Falls
Peru Lima Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel
Cusco Palacio Nazarena, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco [note 1]
Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco [note 1]
Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel, Machu Picchu [note 1]
Sacred Valley Hotel Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel, Sacred Valley
Colca Canyon Las Casitas, A Belmond Hotel, Colca Canyon
Asia Indonesia Bali Jimbaran Puri, A Belmond Hotel, Bali
Thailand Koh Samui Napasai, A Belmond Hotel, Koh Samui
Laos Luang Prabang La Résidence Phou Vao, A Belmond Hotel, Luang Prabang
Cambodia Siem Reap La Résidence d'Angkor, A Belmond Hotel, Siem Reap
Africa South Africa Cape Town Mount Nelson Hotel, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town
Botswana Chobe National Park Savute Elephant Lodge, A Belmond Safari, Botswana
Okavango Delta Eagle Island Lodge, A Belmond Safari, Botswana

Transportation

TypeRouteName
Sleeper trains London-Venice Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, Europe
Scotland Royal Scotsman, A Belmond Train, Scotland
Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand & Laos Eastern and Oriental Express, A Belmond Train, Southeast Asia
Peru Andean Explorer, A Belmond Train, Peru [note 2]
Day trains Great Britain British Pullman, A Belmond Hotel, England
Peru [note 3] Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train, Machu Picchu
River Boats France Les Bateaux Belmond (seven canal and river barges)

Other formerly operated trains

Restaurants

CountryCityName
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

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 All Cusco and Macchu Picchu Hotels are a 50% Joint Venture with Peruvian shareholding company Peru Hotel Macchu Picchu SA (Peru Belmond Hotels SA)
  2. ↑ (since May 2017) In 50% partnership with the Peruvian shareholder company Peruvian Trains and Railways SA
  3. ↑ Belmond has a 50% interest in PeruRail.

Related Research Articles

The Orient Express was a long-distance passenger luxury train service created in 1883 by the Belgian company Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) that operated until 2009. The train traveled the length of continental Europe, with terminal stations in Paris in the northwest and Istanbul in the southeast, and branches extending service to Athens, Brussels, and London.

<i>Belmond Royal Scotsman</i> Scottish overnight luxury train service

The Belmond Royal Scotsman is a Scottish overnight luxury train, started in 1985 by GS&WR, and run since 2005 by Belmond Ltd. Its itineraries include 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- or 7-night journeys around the Scottish Highlands, visiting castles, distilleries and historic sites. Once each year, it also makes a 7-night journey around the whole of Great Britain.

<i>Venice Simplon-Orient-Express</i> Private European luxury train service

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) is a private luxury train service from London to Venice and other European cities. It is currently owned by Belmond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belmond Hotel Monasterio</span> Hotel in Cuzco, Peru

The Belmond Hotel Monasterio is a five-star hotel in Cusco, Peru. It is a refurbished Baroque seminary built in the 17th century on Inca foundations. The hotel is located two blocks from the Plaza de Armas, in the former premises of Saint Anthony the Abbot Seminary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PeruRail</span> Peruvian rail service

PeruRail is a railway operator providing tourist, freight, and charter services in southern Peru. It was founded in 1999 by two Peruvian entrepreneurs and the British company Sea Containers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great South Pacific Express</span> Australian train service (1999–2003)

The Great South Pacific Express was a luxury Australian train service, run in by Queensland Rail and Belmond, the operator of the Venice-Simplon Orient Express.

<i>Eastern and Oriental Express</i> Train service in mainland Southeast Asia

The Eastern & Oriental Express is a luxury cruise train that carries passengers between Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belmond Hotel Cipriani</span> Building in Venice, Italy

The Belmond Hotel Cipriani is a deluxe hotel on the island of Giudecca in Venice, northern Italy. It is reached by hotel launch from St Mark's Square, a five-minute journey across the lagoon. Long considered one of the leading luxury hotels of the world, its room rates begin at USD $1,400 per night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belmond Villa San Michele</span> Luxury hotel in Florence, Italy

The Belmond Villa San Michele is a hotel situated on the hill of Fiesole overlooking Florence, Italy. It is named after the church of St Michael the Archangel. Today it is owned by Belmond Ltd. and is operated as a luxury hotel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luxury train</span> Special train, designed for elegance and comfort

A luxury train is a premium passenger rail service. Some luxury trains promote tourism in destinations across a region, while others take passengers on a ride through a single country. Luxury trains include restaurants, bars, bathrooms, and sleeping and seating areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belmond Reid's Palace</span>

Belmond Reid's Palace is a historic hotel located to the west of Funchal Bay in Madeira, Portugal, in an imposing position looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel has sloping gardens. The hotel's complex include more than 40,000 square meters of space designed as a subtropical botanical garden.

Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado is a hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, 46 kilometres from Cusco, Peru. It is built on the banks of the Urubamba River by Urubamba, near the town of Ollantaytambo, which is known for its Inca archaeological site and as a starting point for one of the longer treks to Machu Picchu. The hotels features 11 suites, 10 rooms, and 2 villas. The hotel has extensive gardens constructed with streams reminiscent of Inca water channels.

Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is a small hotel situated at the entrance to the Machu Picchu Inca citadel. It is the only hotel at this World Heritage Site, and can be accessed by foot or by rail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belmond British Pullman</span> Private luxury train service

Belmond British Pullman is a private luxury train that operates day and weekend journeys around Britain. Until 2023, it also served as the British leg of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) service between London and Venice.

The Belmond Hiram Bingham is a luxury train operating day return trips from Poroy station outside Cusco to Aguas Calientes, the station for Machu Picchu in Peru.

<i>Belmond Grand Hibernian</i> Irish luxury train service (2016–2021)

The Belmond Grand Hibernian was a luxury train service in Ireland. The service was operated by Belmond, the operator of several other luxury trains including the Venice Simplon Orient Express. It was officially launched on 30 August 2016 and ceased on 18 February 2021 and the service will run in another European country in the future.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorenzo Sousa Debarbieri</span>

Lorenzo Sousa Debarbieri is an entrepreneur, businessman and author from Lima who oversees large privately held tourism and railway companies in Peru.

The Belmond Andean Explorer, launched in May 2017, is South America's first luxury sleeper train. It replaces the eponymous Pullman day train, between Cusco and Puno, at Lake Titicaca. By the new train this trip is converted to a one-night journey, and extended from Puno for another overnight ride to Arequipa.

Belmond Las Casitas is a hotel in the Colca Valley, Caylloma Province, Arequipa, Peru, 180 km north of Arequipa and 8 km from the town of Chivay, which is known for its regional market. It is a one-hour hike from the colcas or granaries, hewn into the cliffs just above the river, where inhabitants of the valley dating back to the pre-Inca era would store grain. It is 11.2 km from the Colca Canyon where condors can be seen in flight.

<i>Orient Express</i> (Accor) Luxury hospitality company and train service

The Orient Express is a private luxury train service and luxury hospitality company operated by Accor. It will carry passengers between Paris and Istanbul, like the original Orient Express, beginning in 2025. It will also offer journeys around Italy.

References

  1. ↑ Company 10-Q
  2. ↑ "Belmond revenue". www.craft.co. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  3. ↑ "Belmond Ltd. - SEC". Sec.gov. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "Belmond's founder deserves his place in its history". Ft.com. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  5. ↑ "Interview: Behind Belmond's Rebrand of Iconic Orient-Express Name". Skift.com. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  6. ↑ Vora, Shivani (14 March 2014). "Orient-Express Hotels Gets a New Name". Intransit.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  7. ↑ "Log In". Wsj.com. Retrieved 14 November 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  8. ↑ "Bloomberg". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  9. ↑ "Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. Changes Corporate Name to Belmond Ltd". Hotelnewsresource.com. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  10. ↑ Eoin Burke-Kennedy (22 April 2015). "'Orient Express' company Belmond jumps tracks to Ireland". Irishtimes.com. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  11. ↑ Ravi Teja Sharma (2 July 2016). "Tata-owned India Hotels sells 5.1 per cent stake in Belmond for $49.57 million". Indiatimes.com. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  12. ↑ Rupert Neate (14 December 2018). "Orient Express sold to owner of Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  13. ↑ Travis Hoium (14 December 2018). "Why Belmond Ltd's Shares Jumped 40% Today". Fool.com}. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  14. ↑ "LVMH buys Belmond hotel group for $3.2 bn, including Machu Picchu and Cusco hotels". News from Peru - Peruvian Times. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  15. ↑ "Villa Beatrice a Portofino, il gioiello immerso nel polmone verde del Parco di Portofino". Harper's BAZAAR (in Italian). 7 December 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  16. ↑ Hanson, Eloise (10 February 2023). "LVMH signs management of two Sardinia hotels". Boutique Hotel News.
  17. ↑ Forshaw, Irenie (10 August 2023). "Belmond's Maroma Unveils Extensive Redesign". Elite Traveler. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  18. ↑ Rogers, Cara (27 June 2023). "Milaroca, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Nayarit to open in 2025". Sleeper. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  19. ↑ "2027 Opening Planned for Katanchel, A Belmond Hotel, Mexico". Hospitality Net. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  20. ↑ "Deux nouveaux directeurs de division chez Belmond". Hospitality ON (in French). Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  21. ↑ O'Hare, Maureen (14 October 2021). "Wes Anderson has designed a luxury Belmond train carriage". CNN. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  22. ↑ Ayling, Kim (12 April 2023). "The Royal Scotsman Introduces Dior Spa Carriage". Elite Traveler. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  23. ↑ "How LVMH exhumed luxury rail with the Eastern & Oriental Express". Australian Financial Review. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  24. ↑ Chang, Rachel (12 July 2023). "Belmond's Eastern & Oriental Express Is Launching New Train Routes to Malaysia's Most Uniques Landscapes". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  25. ↑ "Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Unveils an Over-the-Top Sleeper Carriage". AFAR Media. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
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