2024 Hot News from the Legendary World of Belmond

Press release

Our top pick of stories from around the globe

22 November, 2023

1

EASTERN & ORIENTAL EXPRESS, A BELMOND TRAIN, SOUTHEAST ASIA RETURNS TO THE RAILS WITH NEW CULINARY OFFERING BY CHEF ANDRÉ CHIANG​

After a four-year hiatus, Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train, Southeast Asia will make its much-anticipated return to the rails in February 2024.  Offering a reimagined adventure of Southeast Asia in motion, the train will launch two new seasonal journeys departing from Singapore and travelling through Malaysia’s ever-changing landscapes and vibrant cities: the Essence of Malaysia (November to February) and Wild Malaysia (March to October). The iconic train will also unveil a new locally inspired menu by its newly appointed chef, André Chiang. Having worked in some of the most decorated restaurants in the world, Chef André will elevate and devise every aspect of the dining experience including the ambience and atmosphere of the two on board restaurants, Adisorn and Malaya.​

HOW:  For more information or to book please visit ​ www.belmond.com/eastern-and-oriental-express/

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2

125 YEARS OF MOUNT NELSON, A BELMOND HOTEL, CAPE TOWN ​

One of Cape Town’s most iconic hotels, Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel will celebrate its 125th anniversary in March, with a series of cultural moments throughout 2024. The property will be one of the global hosts of the third edition of MITICO - unveiling a large-scale art installation by an internationally renowned conceptual artist in partnership with Galleria Continua, coinciding with the city's annual art highlight, Investec Cape Town Art Fair. Further activations include an exciting design collaboration and the launch of an anniversary product line in collaboration with local artists, including a gin and tea blend range. In November, Confections x Collections will return to the Nellie for the third year running: an annual celebration of African designers showcasing "slow fashion" concepts over designer-inspired confectionery, a first in South Africa. ​

HOW: For more information or to book please visit www.belmond.com/mount-nelson-hotel/

 

3

TWO ICONS MEET: THE VENICE SIMPLON-ORIENT-EXPRESS, A BELMOND TRAIN, EUROPE WILL JOURNEY TO SPLENDIDO, A BELMOND HOTEL, PORTOFINO

Launching this June, the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will embark on a new coastal journey from Paris to Portofino, for the very first time. Leaving Paris on Thursday 20 June, the iconic train will take passengers through the French countryside and along the French and Italian Rivieras, concluding in Santa Margherita Ligure on Friday 21 June. Guests will continue their sojourn at Splendido, where they can experience the newly redesigned saltwater pool, rooms and Suites, by acclaimed designer Martin Brudnizki, followed by a bespoke dinner by Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Chef, Jean Imbert, at La Terrazza. On Saturday 22 June, the final evening, Splendido invites guests to Portofino's open-air cinema, located in the iconic Piazzetta, for a cultural soirée under the stars. This summer, due to popular demand, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will also add a second Paris to Istanbul return journey, in addition to its regular August itinerary.

HOW: For more information or to book the three-night experience, please visit www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express

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4

MAROMA, A BELMOND HOTEL, RIVIERA MAYA UNVEILS NEW SPA BY GUERLAIN & GROUND-BREAKING SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES

Following the opening of Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya in August 2023, the new property will soon welcome the very first Guerlain spa in Latin America: Maroma Spa by Guerlain. The new biophilic spa will feature nine treatment rooms overlooking the jungle, a menu of nature-focused treatments, and an onsite apothecary. Next year will also see Maroma launch brand new sustainability initiatives to further protect the endangered Melipona bee in collaboration with Fundación Selva Maya, such as expanding resident hives, unveiling a new Melipona sanctuary for educational guest experiences, and the introduction of Guerlain’s Bee School and “Women for Bees” initiatives into Yucatán communities. ​

HOW: For more information, please visit www.belmond.com/maroma 

 

5

MITICO ART SERIES BY BELMOND AND GALLERIA CONTINUA PRESENTS NEW SEASON WITH DANIEL BUREN IN RIO, CAPE TOWN, SPAIN AND ITALY​

International art gallery  Galleria Continua and Belmond team up for the third year running, to host large-scale art installations by globally renowned conceptual artist Daniel Buren, kicking off in February 2024 at several of Belmond's legendary properties. These include Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro; Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town; Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel, Venice; La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel, Mallorca; Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence; and Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany. Entitled MITICO, the project first launched in 2022 at four Italian hotels, followed by an expanded line-up in 2023 with works featured in Mallorca, Sicily, Florence, Tuscany, and Oxfordshire. A space to watch as the partnership continues in 2024.​

HOW: Please visit www.belmond.com/mitico for more information on the 2023 MITICO lineup of art installations.

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6

CASTELLO DI CASOLE, A BELMOND HOTEL, TUSCANY EXPANDS ITS OFFERING WITH THE OPENING OF TWO NEW PRIVATE VILLAS​

Launching now for the 2024 season, Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany reveals two new private villas. Inspired by the property’s rich Etruscan heritage, Villa Thesan and Villa Usil reflect the codes of the Tuscan tradition interpreted by interior designer Alessandro Moriconi. Just five minutes' walk from the hotel, located on a 10th century 1,200-hectare estate, the villas boast outstanding views of the Tuscan countryside, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Inside the spacious 250m2 villas can accommodate up to seven guests, each hosting a large private garden and terrace with panoramic vistas, as well as an outdoor kitchen with a wood fire oven. Inside, they both comprise three double bedrooms, a comfortable living area and a sunlit dining room seamlessly connected to the well-appointed kitchen. Castello di Casole will also reveal 18 newly restyled suites in 2024.​

HOW: Please visit www.belmond.com/castello-di-casole for more information about the new Villas

 

7

SLOW TRAVEL REIMAGINED WITH THE LAUNCH OF COQUELICOT, A BELMOND BOAT, CHAMPAGNE​

April 2024 will mark the  official launch of Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat, Champagne -- the latest addition to Belmond’s fleet of intimate river boats. Designed by French architects Humbert & Poyet, Coquelicot features three cabins with lavish ensuite facilities; an indoor salon with a bespoke champagne bar; and an extensive deck complete with open-air kitchen and dining area. To elevate the guest journey, Coquelicot will partner with Maison Ruinart to offer exclusive experiences. These includes a four-hand private lunch by Maison Ruinart’s Chef In Residence, Valérie Radou, and Coquelicot’s Head Chef as well as a private guided tour of the historic Taissy vineyard to discover the brand’s latest sustainability and artistic initiatives.​

HOW: Coquelicot's first trip launches 7 – 14 April 2024. For more information or to book, please visit www.belmond.com/boats

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8

NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF JORGE MUNOZ ARRIVES AT MONASTERIO, A BELMOND HOTEL, CUSCO AND ONBOARD HIRAM BINGHAM AND ANDEAN EXPLORER, BOTH BELMOND TRAINS​

Chef Jorge Muñoz will take the culinary helm at Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco; as well as onboard both Hiram Bingham and Andean Explorer, both Belmond Trains, Peru from January 2024. His culinary creations will showcase in the hotel's 16th Century cloisters as well as in the dining carriages of both trains, with exceptional views of the Andes. Muñoz will launch a new menu for each of these legendary properties, highlighting flavours from the coastline, highlands, and rainforest of Peru -  paying homage to seasonality and local produce. Chef Jorge Muñoz was previously at Pakta in Barcelona, where he was awarded a Michelin-star for his fusion of Peruvian and Japanese, followed by the renowned Astrid & Gaston in Lima. With a background in Asian, Peruvian, and European cuisine, the Chef will present traditional dishes with a contemporary vision. ​

HOW: For more about Belmond's Peruvian portfolio please visit https://www.belmond.com/south-america/peru

 

9

CAP JULUCA, A BELMOND HOTEL, ANGUILLA TO LAUNCH NEW SPA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GUERLAIN IN SPRING 2024​

In Spring 2024, Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel, Anguilla will welcome a new haven of wellness and healing to the pristine shores of Maundays Bay. Cap Juluca Spa by Guerlain will draw inspiration from Anguilla’s earliest inhabitants, the Indigenous Arawak tribe, who lived in harmony with nature and looked to each day with a spirit of hope and renewal. The spa menu will offer traditional and innovative treatments that embrace Guerlain’s multisensory and holistic approach, along with a selection of exclusive treatments created with the culture and lifestyle of Anguilla in mind. Designed by renowned design studio, Rottet Studio, the spa will invite visitors to reconnect with nature amid the cerulean sea and a meandering landscape of lush botanicals. A sanctuary for the senses, the private treatment rooms will boast wide ocean views of Cap Juluca’s famed crescent beach paired with cerused and bleached white oak, limestone flooring and basins.​

HOW: For more information, please visit www.belmond.com/capjuluca

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10

BELMOND ADDS FOURTH JEWEL TO ITS MEXICAN CROWN, ACQUIRING KATANCHEL, A BELMOND HOTEL, YUCATAN, OPENING 2027

Reinforcing its cluster in Mexico, Belmond has acquired Hacienda Katanchel, formerly a hacienda dating back to the 17th century situated near Merida, Yucátan – the brand's fourth hotel in the country.  In the Mayan language, Katanchel translates to “‘where one asks for the arch of heaven,” a name that alludes to the site’s past as an astronomic observatory. With an expanse of 220 hectares, the extraordinary estate is home to a cenote (underground river), a sacred well, native flora and fauna, and the remains of an ancient Mayan pyramid, in addition to the historic hacienda. The rich and lush vegetation, the property’s history and the many vivid cultural expressions of the Yucátan peninsula all come together at Katanchel to create the setting for what will become one of Mexico’s  most beautiful hacienda hotels. Katanchel, A Belmond Hotel, is planned to open in 2027 with 35 independent suites upon completing a comprehensive restoration programme.​

HOW: For more information, please read here 












Press Contact

Alexa Withers

Senior Manager - Global Product Communications

alexa.withers@belmond.com

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