Belmond, Owner of Luxury Hotels, Orient Express, River Cruise Properties, to be Acquired by LVMH

Venice, Italy, where 40 years ago, Belmond was established with the acquisition of the iconic Hotel Cipriani, Belmond is being acquired by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, one of the leading luxury groups in the world, and Belmond Ltd., owners, part-owners or managers of 46 luxury hotel, restaurant, train and river cruise properties, jointly announced they have entered into an agreement for LVMH to acquire Belmond.

Established over 40 years ago with the acquisition of Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Belmond owns and operates a global collection of exceptional hotel and luxury travel adventures in some of the world’s most inspiring and enriching destinations. The company operates in 24 countries with its unique and distinctive portfolio of 46 hotel, rail and river cruise experiences.

Belmond’s iconic properties include hotels like Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Hotel Splendido in Portofino, Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire, Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg, Maroma Resort & Spa in Mexico, Hotel das Cataratas in the Iguassu National Park in Brazil, and Cap Juluca in Anguilla.  Legendary trains, such as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and Belmond Royal Scotsman and exceptional cruises such as Belmond Afloat in France fleet and Belmond Road to Mandalay, complete a portfolio that offers extraordinary experiences with curated activities and an understated personal service to a globally-diverse, highly refined customer.

Through this acquisition, LVMH will significantly increase its presence in the ultimate luxury hotel world. Synonymous with history, heritage and timeless experiences, Belmond has a seasoned management team and is an ideal complement to the Cheval Blanc masions, renowned for their exceptional service, architecture and unique gastronomy.

Bernard Arnault, Chairman and Chief Executive Offer of LVMH, added: “Belmond delivers unique experiences to discerning travelers and owns a number of exceptional assets in the most desirable destinations. Its heritage, its innovative services, its excellence in execution and its entrepreneurship resonates well with the values of the Group and is complementary to our own Cheval Blanc maisons and the Bvlgari hotels activities. This acquisition will significantly increase LVMH’s presence in the ultimate hospitality world.”

For more information, visit Belmond.com.

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Book The Royal Scotsman, UK luxury train, and get free roundtrip flight from US

The Royal Scotsman is offering guests who book either a four-night Classic Journey or seven-night Grand North Western journey a complimentary, round-trip economy-class flight from New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Miami, or Chicago into Edinburgh for any 2012 departure date.

Bagpipes, whiskey, Andy Murray – the thought of Scotland conjures a variety of images. There is no better way to see and experience all that the country has to offer than onboard Orient-Express’ The Royal Scotsman, the UK’s only luxury sleeper train. With the feel of a country house party and accommodating just 36 guests per voyage in comfortable, Edwardian-style carriages, it journeys through the heart of the Highlands. The train glides past sweeping glens, towering peaks, and black-mirrored lochs as the welcoming staff serves critically-acclaimed dishes showcasing the finest local ingredients and hand-selected wines.

Now there’s even more incentive to travel on the train: The Royal Scotsman is offering guests who book either a four-night Classic Journey or seven-night Grand North Western journey a complimentary, round-trip economy-class flight from New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Miami, or Chicago into Edinburgh for any 2012 departure date.

For more information on these journeys, please see below. The offer is valid until September 30, 2012. For full details, please visit http://www.royalscotsman.com/web/rs/special_offers.jsp. To book, contact Orient-Express Centre, The Americas, Trains & Cruises at 800-524-2420 or email greatjourneys@oeh.com.

The Classic Journey

• Duration: 4 nights
• Highlights: In addition to visiting the most celebrated cities and historic sites of the Scottish Highlands, take part in a range of optional outdoor activities that include fishing, clay pigeon shooting, golf, woodland walks, and boat trips.
• Price: Rates start at $7,370 per person in a twin cabin.

The Grand “North Western Journey”

• Duration: 7 nights
• Highlights: With magnificent vistas of the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness, the Grand North Western Journey boasts some of the most beautiful views in Scotland. Travel through the quaint towns of the Scottish countryside while pausing for tours of historic castles, distilleries, and glens along the way. Places of interest include the Bridge of Orchy, Glen Ord Distillery, Glamis Castle, and the renowned gardens of Ballindalloch Castle.
• Price: Rates start at $11,890 per person in a twin cabin.

Journeys on The Royal Scotsman

Journeys range from a quick two-night trip to a seven-night grand tour of Scotland. Highlights include visits to distilleries such as Dalwhinnie and to historic sites such as Mount Stuart House (Britain’s most spectacular Victorian Gothic house). Itineraries include The Highland Journey, The Western Journey, The Classic Journey, The Grand West Highland Journey, The Grand North Western Journey, and the Grand Tour of Great Britain.

About Orient-Express:

Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. is a luxury hotel company and sophisticated adventure travel operator which seeks to deliver memorable experiences that are the ultimate expression of each destination’s authentic culture. The Company has offered exceptional luxury travel experiences since 1976, when it purchased Hotel Cipriani in Venice and then shortly thereafter recreated the celebrated Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, linking London, Paris and Venice, along with other European cities. Today the Orient-Express brand embraces 46 hotel, cruise and luxury rail businesses in 23 countries, including distinctive properties such as Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Grand Hotel Europe in St Petersburg, Hotel Ritz Madrid, Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro and Maroma Resort and Spa on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. The Company also operates six luxury tourist trains, two river cruise operations and the ‘21’ Club, one of New York’s most iconic restaurants and watering holes. www.orient-express.com

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