Belmond Limited
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA global luxury hospitality and travel-experience group operating distinctive hotels, trains, river cruises, safaris, and restaurants.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Belmond Limited, marketed primarily as Belmond, is a luxury hospitality and travel-experience company whose portfolio combines hotels, rail journeys, river cruises, safaris, restaurants, and other destination-based experiences. Its identity is built around historic properties and transport services rather than a standardized, mass-market hotel format. The company operates or manages distinctive assets in culturally significant and scenic locations, including the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the Eastern & Oriental Express, the Royal Scotsman, the British Pullman, river cruise vessels, and safari lodges. The business began in 1976 when American entrepreneur James Sherwood acquired the Hotel Cipriani in Venice from the Guinness family. Sherwood subsequently expanded into luxury rail travel by purchasing and restoring carriages associated with the former Orient Express. The resulting Venice Simplon-Orient-Express began operating in 1982, linking Paris and London with Venice and establishing the combination of heritage transport, fine dining, hospitality, and theatrical presentation that became central to the company’s brand proposition. For much of its earlier corporate life, the company was known as Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. The name was changed to Belmond in 2014 as the company sought a broader identity that could encompass hotels, trains, cruises, and safaris without relying exclusively on the Orient Express name. The rebranding also reflected the development of a diversified international portfolio and the need to distinguish the operating group from a single train service or a narrow hotel concept. Belmond’s portfolio has included urban and resort hotels, luxury tourist trains, river cruises, and safari operations. Its experiences generally emphasize heritage architecture, local culture, slow travel, personalized service, elaborate food and beverage programs, and high-touch itineraries. The company has also used design collaborations and wellness concepts to modernize historic assets while retaining their distinctive character. Examples include a train carriage designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson for the British Pullman, Dior Spa concepts on selected trains, and continuing refurbishment programs across its properties. In December 2018, LVMH agreed to acquire Belmond in a transaction valued at approximately $3.2 billion. The acquisition closed in April 2019, taking the company private and integrating it into the LVMH luxury-goods and hospitality portfolio. Under LVMH ownership, Belmond has continued to invest in property renovations, expand in Italy and Mexico, and develop new or reintroduced rail products. The company acquired Villa Beatrice in Portofino in 2021, announced plans connected with Romazzino in Sardinia in 2023, reopened the redesigned Maroma in Mexico in 2023, and announced future projects including Milaroca and Hacienda Katanchel. Belmond announced a ten-year property-upgrade program in 2022. The program followed earlier work such as the renovation of Splendido Mare and has included hotel improvements, train refurbishments, and new onboard experiences. In 2024, the Eastern & Oriental Express returned to service after its pandemic-related suspension. Belmond also introduced a Dior Spa aboard the train and presented a new Venice Simplon-Orient-Express sleeper carriage designed by the French artist JR. As of 2024, the company described its network as comprising 47 properties in 28 countries and territories, including 32 hotels, six tourist trains, seven river-cruise boats, and two safari operations.
History
Belmond traces its origins to 1976, when American entrepreneur James Sherwood bought the Hotel Cipriani in Venice from the Guinness family for £900,000. The acquisition provided the foundation for a hospitality group built around exceptional locations, historic design, and highly personalized service. Sherwood then pursued a related opportunity in luxury rail travel by acquiring carriages associated with the former Orient Express and restoring them for a new service. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express began carrying guests in 1982 on routes from Paris and London to Venice. Rather than functioning as ordinary transportation, the train was conceived as a complete luxury experience combining heritage interiors, formal dining, destination travel, and theatrical service. Its success helped establish a broader business model in which Belmond used historic transport and properties as the central components of curated journeys. The company expanded into hotels, tourist trains, river cruises, safari operations, and restaurants in multiple regions. For much of this period its corporate identity was Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. On 10 March 2014, the operating brand was renamed Belmond, and on 1 July 2014 the holding company also adopted the Belmond name. The rebranding separated the wider portfolio from the Orient Express name and allowed the company to present itself as a diversified luxury travel group. Belmond continued developing rail products during the 2010s. In 2015 it partnered with Irish Rail to launch the Belmond Grand Hibernian, a luxury touring train in Ireland. The service later ceased operation, and its carriages were transferred to other Belmond projects. Other former services included the Great South Pacific Express in Australia and the Northern Belle in Great Britain. The company also developed a wider collection of hotels, river cruises, safaris, and restaurants, with the portfolio varying over time. In December 2018, LVMH agreed to acquire Belmond in a transaction valued at approximately $3.2 billion. The announcement was followed by a substantial increase in Belmond's share price, and the transaction was completed in April 2019. Belmond consequently became privately owned and part of LVMH's luxury portfolio. The change gave Belmond access to the resources and brand ecosystem of a major luxury group while preserving its focus on distinctive hospitality and travel assets. After the acquisition, Belmond continued to expand and renovate its portfolio. In 2021 it acquired Villa Beatrice in Portofino and undertook renovation work including the redevelopment of Splendido Mare. It also pursued creative collaborations, such as a British Pullman carriage designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson in 2021. In 2022 the company announced a ten-year plan to upgrade its properties, trains, and related assets. In 2023 it announced plans connected with Romazzino in Sardinia, reopened the redesigned Maroma in Mexico with ten additional beachfront suites, entered an agreement for the planned Milaroca property on Mexico's Pacific Coast, and announced the acquisition of Hacienda Katanchel, with a planned opening in 2027. Belmond also expanded its wellness and design offering. A Dior Spa was introduced on The Royal Scotsman in 2023, and a further Dior Spa was launched aboard the returning Eastern & Oriental Express in 2024. The Eastern & Oriental Express resumed service after a pandemic-related suspension. In the same year, Belmond presented a JR-designed sleeper carriage for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at the Venice Biennale. These projects illustrate the company's continuing strategy of combining historic travel formats with contemporary design, luxury partnerships, and premium onboard services. In 2024, Belmond reported a network of 47 properties in 28 countries and territories, consisting of 32 hotels, six tourist trains, seven river-cruise boats, and two safari operations. Its contemporary position is therefore broader than that of a hotel chain: it is a collection of luxury destinations and journeys unified by heritage, exclusivity, local character, and slow, experience-led travel.
- 2024
Eastern & Oriental Express returns
[1]The train returned to service after its pandemic-related suspension, with new onboard wellness and design elements.
- 2022
Ten-year upgrade program announced
[1]The company announced a long-term investment program covering properties, trains, and related experiences.
- 2021
Villa Beatrice acquired
[1]Belmond acquired Villa Beatrice in Portofino, expanding its Italian portfolio.
- 2019
Acquisition completed
[1]LVMH completed its acquisition, making Belmond privately owned.
- 2018
LVMH agrees to acquire Belmond
[1]LVMH announced a proposed acquisition valued at approximately $3.2 billion.
- 2015
Grand Hibernian announced
[1]Belmond partnered with Irish Rail on a luxury touring train in Ireland.
- 2014
Corporate rebrand to Belmond
[1]Orient-Express Hotels changed its operating and holding-company names to Belmond.
- 1982
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express begins service
[1]Restored historic carriages began operating luxury journeys between Paris and London and Venice.
- 1976
Hotel Cipriani acquired
[1]James Sherwood acquired the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, establishing the foundation of the future hospitality group.
Products and positioning
Ultra-luxury hospitality and experiential travel centered on heritage, exclusivity, craftsmanship, cultural immersion, and slow travel.
Hospitality
Luxury hotels
Belmond operates a collection of luxury hotels and resorts in urban, coastal, rural, and culturally significant destinations. The properties are generally differentiated by historic architecture, local identity, destination dining, and individualized service rather than by a uniform room design. Examples include Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Splendido and Splendido Mare in Portofino, and Maroma in Mexico. The portfolio is periodically renovated or expanded as part of Belmond's long-term investment strategy.
Luxury rail travel · 1982
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is Belmond's best-known rail experience. It uses restored historic carriages and presents journeys as immersive luxury events, with formal dining, period-inspired interiors, attentive service, and routes connecting major European destinations. The service is positioned around heritage, romance, craftsmanship, and slow travel rather than practical point-to-point transportation. Belmond has continued to refresh the product through new suites, refurbished carriages, and contemporary artistic collaborations.
Luxury rail travel
Eastern & Oriental Express
The Eastern & Oriental Express is a luxury tourist train associated with journeys through Southeast Asia. It combines decorated sleeping and dining cars with guided destination experiences and high-end hospitality. After a pandemic-related pause, Belmond returned the service to operation in 2024 and added a Dior Spa, extending the product beyond rail accommodation into wellness and lifestyle programming.
Luxury rail travel
Royal Scotsman
The Royal Scotsman is a small-capacity luxury train experience in Scotland, emphasizing scenic rail travel, country-house-style hospitality, regional food and drink, and excursions. Its intimate format and connection with Scottish landscapes complement Belmond's wider strategy of using historic trains to deliver destination-based journeys rather than conventional transportation.
Luxury rail travel
British Pullman
The British Pullman provides premium day trips and special-event rail journeys in Britain using heritage carriages. Belmond has used the service as a platform for creative and hospitality collaborations, including a carriage designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson. The product combines luxury dining, distinctive interiors, and curated excursions with the visual appeal of historic rail travel.
Cruise travel
River cruises
Belmond's river-cruise business consists of small-scale luxury vessels designed for leisurely itineraries, local excursions, and highly personalized service. The cruises extend the company's slow-travel model onto waterways and typically combine destination discovery with refined accommodation, dining, and onboard hospitality.
Luxury adventure travel
Safari experiences
Belmond's safari operations provide luxury accommodation and guided wildlife or wilderness experiences. They form part of the company's broader collection of destination-led travel products, applying the Belmond model of premium lodging, personal service, and curated access to remote natural environments.
Wellness · 2023
Dior Spa experiences
Belmond has introduced Dior Spa concepts on selected rail services, including The Royal Scotsman and the Eastern & Oriental Express. These collaborations add branded wellness treatments and beauty services to the onboard luxury proposition while connecting Belmond's travel products with LVMH's wider luxury ecosystem.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024JR sleeper carriage for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Europe · International luxury-travel market
Belmond worked with French street artist JR on a new sleeper carriage for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and presented the carriage at the Venice Biennale.
Outcome. The collaboration connected the historic train with contemporary art and reinforced Belmond's strategy of using design and cultural partnerships to refresh heritage assets.
- 2021Wes Anderson British Pullman carriage
United Kingdom · International luxury-travel market
Belmond collaborated with filmmaker Wes Anderson on a carriage for the British Pullman. The initiative used a recognizable creative voice and highly visual design to make a heritage rail product relevant to contemporary culture and premium leisure audiences.
Outcome. The carriage became a distinctive branded experience within the British Pullman offering.
Brand decisions
2022
Launch a ten-year property-upgrade programStrategyBackground
Belmond's historic properties and transport assets required continuing refurbishment while retaining their heritage character.
Action taken
The company announced a ten-year plan to upgrade properties, trains, and related guest experiences.
Aftermath
The program supported renovations, carriage improvements, and new wellness and design concepts across the portfolio.
2018
Agree to LVMH acquisitionM&ABackground
Belmond operated a global portfolio of luxury hotels, trains, cruises, and safaris and was publicly traded in the United States.
Action taken
Belmond agreed to be acquired by LVMH in a transaction valued at approximately $3.2 billion.
Aftermath
The transaction closed in April 2019, delisted Belmond from the New York Stock Exchange, and made the company wholly privately owned.
Transaction value. $3.2 billion (Announced December 2018; completed April 2019)
2014
Adopt the Belmond identityStrategyBackground
The group had expanded beyond hotels associated with the Orient Express name into trains, cruises, safaris, and other travel experiences.
Action taken
The operating brand and holding company were renamed Belmond.
Aftermath
The new identity provided a single umbrella for the diversified luxury travel portfolio.
Recent events
- 2024
Eastern & Oriental Express returns to service[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Belmond returned the Eastern & Oriental Express to operation after a pandemic-related pause and introduced a Dior Spa aboard the train.
- 2024
JR-designed sleeper carriage unveiled for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express[1]
Product launch · Campaign
Belmond unveiled a sleeper carriage for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express designed by French street artist JR. The carriage was presented at the Venice Biennale.
- 2023
Belmond announces plans connected with Romazzino in Sardinia[1]
Other
Belmond announced an agreement with Sardegna Resorts S.r.l. concerning the management of Romazzino in Sardinia.
- 2023
Belmond reopens redesigned Maroma in Mexico[1]
Product generation
Belmond reopened Maroma after a redesign that added ten beachfront suites and renewed the property's luxury-resort offering.
- 2023
Belmond announces the Milaroca project in Mexico[1]
Product launch
Belmond entered an agreement with Cora Pacific Development to open Milaroca on Mexico's Pacific Coast, with the planned opening stated as 2025.
- 2023
Belmond acquires Hacienda Katanchel[1]
M&A · Product launch
Belmond announced the acquisition of Hacienda Katanchel in Mexico and identified a planned opening in 2027.
- 2022
Belmond announces a ten-year property investment and upgrade plan[1]
Other
Belmond announced a long-term program to renovate and upgrade its properties, trains, and other assets, building on work that included the renovation of Splendido Mare.
- 2021
Belmond acquires Villa Beatrice in Portofino[1]
M&A
Belmond expanded its Italian presence through the acquisition of Villa Beatrice in Portofino.
- 2021
Belmond introduces a Wes Anderson-designed carriage[1]
Product launch · Campaign
The company launched a carriage designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson for the British Pullman, using a creative collaboration to refresh the heritage-travel proposition.
- 2019
LVMH completes acquisition of Belmond[1]
M&A
The acquisition of Belmond by LVMH closed in April 2019, ending Belmond's public-company status and bringing the luxury travel group into the LVMH portfolio.
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