The story began in 1976 with the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, followed by the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express which transports passengers to La Serenissima in style. Today, Belmond has 45 hotels, trains, cruise ships, and safari lodges, all offering memorable travel experiences.
Arriving by the hotel’s motorboat, enjoying the view over the lagoon, spending a relaxed afternoon at the Olympic-sized pool, having a Bellini served on a silver tray – the dolce vita doesn’t get much better than this. Here, every moment, every detail, not to mention the 270-degree panoramic vista from the Doge’s Palace to the Church of San Giorgio, radiates Italian joie de vivre. The décor, with its valuable antiques and beautiful local handcrafts, lends the legendary Hotel Cipriani a unique ambiance. It also tempts you to enjoy an irresistible cocktail in the "Oro" Michelin-starred restaurant with the city of Venice as your backdrop. The exclusive oasis in the lagoon city was the birthplace of the Belmond Group and remains the luxury tour operator’s flagship hotel.
The Belmond success story began in 1976 when American entrepreneur James Sherwood acquired the Cipriani from the Guinness family. The following year, he began restoring historic carriages from the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits with the intention of reviving the tradition of luxury train travel. Five years later, the work was finished. In 1982, The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express began operating on the historic routes of its predecessors, offering stylish rail trips to Venice as well as through Eastern Europe to Istanbul.
This spirit of adventure together with an appreciation of the past and a sense of romance would shape the company’s future. Today, its portfolio includes hotels in iconic locations around the world, romantic river cruise ships and exclusive safari lodges – some 50 destinations in all. The brand caters to a clientele who have an affinity for beauty and the good life, and who appreciate that good taste always costs a little more. In April 2019, Belmond became a subsidiary of LVMH, the global leader in the luxury goods industry, in a move that strengthened Belmond’s position as an international provider of luxury travel.
Heuer bietet der 100. Geburtstag des Hotels „Copacabana Palace“ in Rio de Janeiro ebenso Anlass zum Feiern wie zahlreiche Neuerungen. Dazu gehört das im Mai in Dienst gestellte „Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat“ – mit drei Kabinen, Champagner-Bar und Art Nouveau-Design eine Art schwimmende Villa. Neues gibt es auch in Italien. Bereits Grace Kelly, Maria Callas, Charlie Chaplin und Winston Churchill liebten das „Hotel Splendido“ in Portofino – auch heute genießen Stars hier zum Meerblick unantastbare Privatsphäre. Dem ehemaligen Benediktinerkloster wird jetzt über mehrere Jahre behutsam „zeitgenössische Relevanz injiziert“, so ein Sprecher Belmonds. In diesem Sommer wird der erste Teil präsentiert. Die Interieurs der 61 Zimmer und Suiten fügen sich mit zarten Fresken, frischen Pastellfarben und üppigen Textilien sowie Elementen aus den 50er – und 60er Jahren perfekt in die Italienischen Riviera. Die „La Dolce Vita Suite“ mit ihrem Blick auf die Bucht und Zugang zu einem privaten Garten ist ein besonderes Highlight.
From August, the Maroma, a Belmond Hotel located in 80 hectares of tropical paradise overlooking the pristine white beach of the Riviera Maya, will offer even more reasons for exploring Mexico. Highlights include ten new water villas, a spa concept crafted in collaboration with Guerlain, and a new gastronomic era under chef Daniel Camacho. The Maroma is Belmond’s third property in the Caribbean. The company already has a hotel on Anguilla and another on St. Martin, which reopened in 2018 after a full renovation. Guests at the Maroma can explore archaeological sites and the fascinating Mayan culture while enjoying the benefits of a beach vacation. The resort embraces the natural aesthetics of its environment and features the work of local artists and artisans. The concept of authenticity, regionality and sustainability continues in the restaurants, where local influences are clearly in evidence.
Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” and Ian Fleming's “From Russia with Love” all rely on the glamour of the golden era of travel that the Orient Express so perfectly embodies. Sadly, the journey from London to Paris is being withdrawn until further notice in 2024 due to Brexit – the amount of red tape required to transport passengers in style over the Channel, makes the trip unfeasible, as the company explained in April. A trip on the European mainland with the grande dame of luxury trains, however, will be particularly worthwhile this summer: The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is adding eight new suites in a third, new luxury cabin category. These new suites, feature marble bathrooms and elegant living areas that transform into comfortable sleeping compartments, as well as the services of a personal cabin steward, who is available around the clock. You could almost regret arriving in Venice ...
