Segment information Reconciliation of total segment profit/(loss) to consolidated (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment profit/(loss)	$ 148,088,000	$ 135,752,000	$ 131,582,000
Gain on disposal	0	1,514,000	16,544,000
Impairment of goodwill	0	(2,055,000)	(11,907,000)
Impairment of other intangible assets, other assets and property, plant and equipment	(36,430,000)	(3,837,000)	(8,153,000)
Impairment of property, plant and equipment in unconsolidated company	0	0	(626,000)
Central overheads	(30,647,000)	(32,140,000)	(30,343,000)
Share-based compensation	(10,388,000)	(6,834,000)	(6,752,000)
Depreciation and amortization	(48,740,000)	(43,753,000)	(43,633,000)
Gain on extinguishment of debt	3,517,000	0	0
Interest income	1,067,000	1,065,000	2,365,000
Interest expense	(34,326,000)	(30,862,000)	(42,549,000)
Foreign currency, net	1,000,000	(2,854,000)	(4,538,000)
Provision for income taxes	(17,628,000)	(21,651,000)	(19,611,000)
Share of provision for income taxes of unconsolidated companies	(1,691,000)	(5,771,000)	(2,270,000)
Losses from continuing operations	(26,178,000)	(11,426,000)	(19,891,000)
Net earnings/(losses) from discontinued operations	(5,318,000)	4,538,000	(67,705,000)
Net losses	(31,496,000)	(6,888,000)	(87,596,000)
Subtotal: Total hotels
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment profit/(loss)	125,231,000	113,517,000	110,634,000
Subtotal: Owned hotels
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment profit/(loss)	122,958,000	110,699,000	105,373,000
Segment: Owned hotels - Europe
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment profit/(loss)	63,767,000	56,289,000	60,264,000
Impairment of goodwill	0	(2,055,000)
Segment: Owned hotels - North America
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment profit/(loss)	23,233,000	21,684,000	13,485,000
Impairment of goodwill	0	0
Segment: Owned hotels - Rest of world
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment profit/(loss)	35,958,000	32,726,000	31,624,000
Impairment of goodwill		0
Segment: Hotels - part-owned/ managed
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment profit/(loss)	2,273,000	2,818,000	5,261,000
Subtotal: Total trains and cruises
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment profit/(loss)	22,857,000	22,235,000	20,948,000
Segment: Owned trains and cruises
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment profit/(loss)	8,467,000	9,689,000	11,014,000
Impairment of goodwill	0	0
Segment: Trains - part-owned/ managed
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment profit/(loss)	$ 14,390,000	$ 12,546,000	$ 9,934,000