Assets held for sale and discontinued operations - Operating Results (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended						0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Porto Cupecoy	Dec. 31, 2011 Porto Cupecoy	Dec. 31, 2010 Porto Cupecoy	Dec. 14, 2012 The Westcliff	Dec. 31, 2012 The Westcliff	Dec. 31, 2011 The Westcliff	Dec. 31, 2010 The Westcliff	Aug. 08, 2012 The Observatory Hotel	Dec. 31, 2012 The Observatory Hotel	Dec. 31, 2011 The Observatory Hotel	Dec. 31, 2010 The Observatory Hotel	Jun. 01, 2012 Bora Bora Lagoon Resort	Dec. 31, 2012 Bora Bora Lagoon Resort	Dec. 31, 2011 Bora Bora Lagoon Resort	Dec. 31, 2010 Bora Bora Lagoon Resort	Jan. 23, 2012 Keswick Hall	Dec. 31, 2012 Keswick Hall	Dec. 31, 2011 Keswick Hall	Dec. 31, 2010 Keswick Hall	Aug. 01, 2011 Hôtel de la Cité	Dec. 31, 2011 Hôtel de la Cité	Dec. 31, 2010 Hôtel de la Cité	Jan. 29, 2010 Lilianfels Blue Mountains	Dec. 31, 2010 Lilianfels Blue Mountains	May 25, 2010 La Cabana	Dec. 31, 2010 La Cabana	Dec. 31, 2011 Other	Dec. 31, 2010 Other
Operating results
Revenue	$ 26,857	$ 52,925	$ 109,913	$ 8,163	$ 7,871	$ 64,019		$ 9,088	$ 9,523	$ 13,257		$ 9,194	$ 16,429	$ 14,271		$ 0	$ 0	$ 179		$ 412	$ 15,359	$ 11,185		$ 3,743	$ 6,165		$ 856		$ 0	$ 0	$ (19)
Earnings/(losses) before tax, gain on sale and impairment	(7,207)	(9,436)	(5,236)	(5,187)	(6,169)	(3,355)		215	(585)	3,015		(1,080)	(726)	(859)		(166)	(403)	(137)		(989)	(1,330)	(2,152)		(212)	(197)		(132)		0	(11)	(1,419)
Impairment	(3,166)	(65,144)	(30,900)	(3,166)	(38,545)	(24,616)		0	(515)	0		0	0	0		0	(2,150)	1,305		0	(23,934)	(1,600)		0	(5,989)		0		0	0	0
Gain on sale	15,384	2,182	6,723	0	0	0	5,406	5,406	0	0	5,359	5,359	0	0	662	662	0	0	3,957	3,957	0	0	2,182	2,182	0	7,183	7,183	(460)	(460)	0	0
Earnings/(losses) before tax	5,011	(72,398)	(29,413)	(8,353)	(44,714)	(27,971)		5,621	(1,100)	3,015		4,279	(726)	(859)		496	(2,553)	1,168		2,968	(25,264)	(3,752)		1,970	(6,186)		7,051		(460)	(11)	(1,419)
Tax (provision)/benefit	(1,282)	3,635	(4,886)	0	0	266		(1,025)	(87)	(87)		426	0	(6,653)		0	0	0		(683)	4,506	(96)		(784)	1,684		0		0	0	0
Net earnings/(losses) from discontinued operations	$ 3,729	$ (68,763)	$ (34,299)	$ (8,353)	$ (44,714)	$ (27,705)		$ 4,596	$ (1,187)	$ 2,928		$ 4,705	$ (726)	$ (7,512)		$ 496	$ (2,553)	$ 1,168		$ 2,285	$ (20,758)	$ (3,848)		$ 1,186	$ (4,502)		$ 7,051		$ (460)	$ (11)	$ (1,419)