Orient-Express Hotels
Encyclopedia
Orient-Express Hotels Ltd is a hotel and leisure company that operates high end hotels, cruise and train services around the world. As of 2008 it owns or partly owns more than 40 individual deluxe hotels, three restaurants, six tourist trains
and two river cruise businesses in more than 25 countries worldwide.
The company derives its name from the Venice-Simplon Orient Express
, acquired in 1977 by James Sherwood
, its founder. This worldwide known train operates overnight service between London
and Venice
. The company also operates the Royal Scotsman
train service, Northern Belle and 50 percent interest of PeruRail
in Peru. It also operates the Afloat franchise in France
and a river cruise on the Irrawaddy River in Central Burma. The company owns the 21 Club
in New York City
.
Among the European hotels it owns is the Hotel Cipriani
in Venice
(the company sold its 49 percent interest in the London branch of Harry's Bar
in 2006). In 2008 it won a London court order against Cipriani S.A.
ordering the company to discontinue using the Cipriani name in London because Orient-Express owns the Cipriani name.
In South America, it owns the famous Copacabana Palace
in Rio de Janeiro and the Hotel Monasterio
in Cusco, Peru. It also owns the Miraflores Park Hotel and the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. Two of its recent hotels/acquisitions are the Las Casitas del Colca in the Colca Canyon
in Arequipa, Peru, and the Hotel das Cataratas, located right next to the famous Iguazu Falls
.
Hotels and restaurants accounted for 84% of revenue during the year ended December 31, 2006. Tourist trains and cruises accounted for 13% and the remaining 4% coming from “development activities.”
Luxury trains
Luxury trains are special trains designed specifically to offer a sumptuous yet elegant train ride, and evoke a strong sense of association as in history, heritage and decadence of a leisure ride. Luxury trains operate in several countries and offer a luxurious and comfortable traveling option to...
and two river cruise businesses in more than 25 countries worldwide.
The company derives its name from the Venice-Simplon Orient Express
Venice-Simplon Orient Express
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a private luxury train service that travels from London to Venice that is popularly referred to as the Orient Express....
, acquired in 1977 by James Sherwood
James Sherwood
James B. Sherwood is an American-born, British-based businessman.-Early life:Sherwood grew up in Lexington, Kentucky and earned a degree in economics from Yale University. Sherwood learned about shipping first in the U.S. Navy, spending three years as a cargo officer, and then working for U.S...
, its founder. This worldwide known train operates overnight service between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. The company also operates the Royal Scotsman
The Royal Scotsman
The Royal Scotsman is a Scottish luxury charter train run by Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.The train is composed of nine cars; two dining cars, five state cars, one crew car, and one observation car....
train service, Northern Belle and 50 percent interest of PeruRail
PeruRail
PeruRail is a railway operator working tourist, freight, and charter services in southern Peru.The main line between the port of Matarani, Arequipa , Cuzco and Puno on Lake Titicaca was formerly known as the Ferrocarril del Sur , and was for a time owned and operated by the ENAFER state company...
in Peru. It also operates the Afloat franchise in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and a river cruise on the Irrawaddy River in Central Burma. The company owns the 21 Club
21 Club
The 21 Club, often simply 21, is a restaurant and former prohibition-era speakeasy, located at 21 West 52nd Street in New York City.-Environment:...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Among the European hotels it owns is the Hotel Cipriani
Hotel Cipriani
The Hotel Cipriani is a hotel in Venice, northern Italy. On May 26, 1958 Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry’s Bar in Venice and inventor of the Bellini cocktail, opened the Hotel Cipriani on the island of Giudecca....
in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
(the company sold its 49 percent interest in the London branch of Harry's Bar
Harry's Bar
Harry's Bar is a bar and restaurant located in Venice, Italy. It is owned by Cipriani S.A.-History:Harry's Bar was opened in 1931 by bartender Giuseppe Cipriani. According to the company history, Harry Pickering—a rich, young Bostonian--had been frequenting Hotel Europa in Venice, where Giuseppe...
in 2006). In 2008 it won a London court order against Cipriani S.A.
Cipriani S.A.
Cipriani S.A. is a privately owned international corporation based in Luxembourg that owns and operates luxury restaurants and clubs around the world including Harry's Bar in Venice and formerly the Rainbow Room in New York City....
ordering the company to discontinue using the Cipriani name in London because Orient-Express owns the Cipriani name.
In South America, it owns the famous Copacabana Palace
Copacabana Palace
The Copacabana Palace Hotel is the most famous and luxurious hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It's considered South America's premier hotel, having received the rich and famous for the past 80 years. It faces the Copacabana Beach. It consists of an 8-storey main building and a 14-story annex. The...
in Rio de Janeiro and the Hotel Monasterio
Hotel Monasterio
The Hotel Monasterio is a five-star hotel in Cusco, Peru. It is a refurbished Baroque monastery built in the 17th century on Inca foundations.It is located two blocks from the Plaza de Armas....
in Cusco, Peru. It also owns the Miraflores Park Hotel and the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. Two of its recent hotels/acquisitions are the Las Casitas del Colca in the Colca Canyon
Colca Canyon
Colca Canyon is a canyon of the Colca River in southern Peru. Peru's third most-visited tourist destination with about 160,000 visitors annually, it's located about 100 miles northwest of Arequipa...
in Arequipa, Peru, and the Hotel das Cataratas, located right next to the famous Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls, Iguassu Falls, or Iguaçu Falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River located on the border of the Brazilian State of Paraná and the Argentine Province of Misiones. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River originates near the city of Curitiba. It flows...
.
Hotels and restaurants accounted for 84% of revenue during the year ended December 31, 2006. Tourist trains and cruises accounted for 13% and the remaining 4% coming from “development activities.”
External links
- Orient-Express Official Website
- Orient-Express Official Facebook Page
- Orient-Express Official Twitter
- Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Train
- Hotel Cipriani, Venice Italy
- Hotel Monasterio, Cusco Peru
- Las Casitas del Colca, Colca Canyon, Arequipa Peru
- Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, Machu Picchu, Peru
- Hotel Rio Sagrado, Urubamba, Peru
- The Observatory Hotel, Sydney Australia
- The Road to Mandalay Cruise