Orient Express (Accor)

Last updated

Orient Express SAS
Industry Hospitality
Headquarters Paris, France
Key people
Gilda Perez-Alvarado (CEO)
Services Trains, Hotels, Cruises
Owner
Website orient-express.com

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 late 2026. [2] Orient Express La Dolce Vita began offering journeys around Italy in April 2025. [3]

Contents

Trains

The Orient Express

In 2017, Accor purchased a 50% stake in the Orient Express brand from SNCF for the right to use the name. [4] In 2018, Accor began renovation work on 17 CIWL carriages from the defunct Nostalgie Istanbul Orient Express, which date back to the 1920s and 1930s, to create a modern Orient Express. [1] [5]

Two services will be operated, the Central Europe route (France, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Czechia) and the original route (France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey). [6] The first service will begin in late 2026. [2]

Orient Express La Dolce Vita

A total of six Orient Express La Dolce Vita trains, each accommodating 62 guests, were constructed in Brindisi, Italy. [7] The interiors are inspired by 1960s Italian design. [8] The trains will offer overnight journeys around Italy, with itineraries including Rome, Venice and Portofino. [2] Its inaugural journey embarked on 4 April 2025. [3] Private journeys for up to 62 people can also be reserved, including for weddings and corporate events, with the option to choose custom decor, menus, and itineraries. [9]

Hotels

Logo of Orient Express Hotels Orientexpresshotelslogo.jpg
Logo of Orient Express Hotels

Accor purchased a 50 percent stake in the Orient Express brand from SNCF in 2017 to launch a chain of Orient Express hotels. [10]

In 2019 it was announced that the first Orient Express hotel would open in Bangkok, Thailand at the King Power Mahanakhon skyscraper. [11] It was planned to open in 2020 and would have had 154 rooms. [11] In 2020 Orient Express and King Power mutually agreed to part ways and the Orient Express Hotel Bangkok was cancelled. [12]

In February 2022 Arsenale S.p.A acquired The Grand Hotel de la Minerva  [ it ] in Rome, Italy. [13] In July, the opening of an Orient Express hotel in the space was announced. [13] [14] Also in 2022 the opening of an Orient Express at the Palazzo Dona Giovannelli in Venice was announced. [15] The hotel opened in April 2025. [16]

Orient Express Palazzo Dona Giovannelli will open in April 2026 with the interior re-designed by Aline Asmar d'Amman. [17]

Properties
NameNo. of RoomsCityCountryOpening/OpenedRef.
Orient Express La Minerva 93 Rome Flag of Italy.svg Italy April 2025 [6] [16]
Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli 44 Venice Flag of Italy.svg Italy April 2026 [18] [17]
Orient Express Diriyah Gate 80 Riyadh Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia 2027 [19]
Aqaba Gulf HotelUnknown Aqaba Flag of Jordan.svg Jordan Unknown [19]
Under negotiation
Legend Old Cataract Unknown Aswan Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt Unknown [19]
Winter Palace Unknown Luxor Unknown [19]

Other

Cruises

A superyacht cruise line will also be launched under the Orient Express name. [20] The Orient Express Silenseas will be the largest sailing yacht in the world and services will start in 2028. [21] [22] [23] A second yacht has also been commissioned and both will be built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique. [24]

Products

In 2021 a collection of travel objects called "Steam Dream" launched with pop ups at La Samartaine (a Parisian department store) and the IFC mall in Hong Kong and online. The collection includes items made by Au Départ, Smythson, Cire Trudon, Bernardaud, Duvelleroy and more. [25] [26]

In 2023 in a collaboration with Montblanc they launched a limited edition collection of seven Orient Express themed pens for Montblanc's High Artistry Collection. [27] [28] [29]

Racing Team

CEOs

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Dobrina Zhekova (29 June 2022). "The Original Orient Express Is Returning to Europe in 2024 — With 17 Beautifully Refurbished Carriages". Travel + Leisure.
  2. 1 2 3 "Orient Express La Dolce Vita". The Luxury Train Club. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  3. 1 2 Shollenbarger, Maria (4 April 2025). "Boarding now: a brand new Orient Express". Financial Times. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  4. ↑ Christina Jelski (12 January 2023). "Orient Express will venture into luxury cruising". Travel Weekly.
  5. ↑ Sarah Kuta (1 December 2022). "You Could Soon Ride in Historic Carriages From the Orient Express". Smithsonian .
  6. 1 2 "Orient Express brand pitch 2024" (PDF). Accor . 3 July 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  7. ↑ "Wealthy travelers are reserving seats onboard Italy's new Orient Express train before construction is even complete — see why". Business Insider. 4 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "A First Look at Italy's Gorgeous La Dolce Vita Orient Express Train—And How to Book It". AFAR. 19 March 2024.
  9. ↑ "Events - Privatize La Dolce Vita Orient Express train". Accor. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  10. ↑ Rosenthal, Victoria (4 October 2017). "AccorHotels buys 50-percent stake in Orient Express brand". Hotel Management. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Miss the original? The Orient Express is returning..." Lonely Planet. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  12. ↑ Hamdi, Raini; admin (20 April 2022). "How The Standard Ends up Managing What was to be the World's First Orient Express Hotel in Bangkok". Hotels-Asia. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Rediscover The Glory Of Venice With Orient Express". 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  14. ↑ "Brochure Orient Express" (PDF).
  15. ↑ caitlan (10 May 2022). "Orient Express to Open Second Hotel in Italy at Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice". Hotel Magazine. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  16. 1 2 Hoey, Nicole (11 April 2025). "The Orient Express's First Hotel Just Opened in the Heart of Rome". Robb Report. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  17. 1 2 Celeste, Sofia (23 July 2025). "Orient Express' Venice Hotel With a Noble Past to Open April 1". WWD. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  18. ↑ "Orient Express Brand Presentation" (PDF). Accor. 2 June 2025.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Orient Express brand brochure" (PDF). Accor. 31 January 2025.
  20. ↑ "Orient Express Cruises to Set Sail on World's Largest Superyacht". Bloomberg.com. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  21. ↑ Sturges, Connor (11 January 2023). "This is the future of luxury cruising – an exclusive look at the Orient Express ship". CN Traveller. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  22. ↑ "Orient Express will venture into luxury cruising". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  23. ↑ "Orient Express Hotels Brand Presentation" (PDF).
  24. ↑ "Accor to build super-yachts for Orient Express at Chantiers de l'Atlantique". seatrade-cruise.com. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  25. ↑ Diderich, Joelle (18 September 2021). "Orient Express Launches Collection of Travel Objects". WWD. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  26. ↑ "Orient Express is coming to town at IFC Mall | Things to do in Hong Kong". Time Out Hong Kong. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  27. ↑ Olson, Nancy. "Montblanc's Voyage Of Discovery: High Artistry Pen Collection 2023". Forbes. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  28. ↑ "inkstable.com | Montblanc High Artistry A Journey On The Orient Express". inkstable.com. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  29. ↑ Letonja, Timotej (4 May 2023). "Montblanc High Artistry A Journey On The Orient Express". Numéro Netherlands. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
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