Assets held for sale and discontinued operations (Details) 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
	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2013 Porto Cupecoy USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Porto Cupecoy USD ($) Condominium	Dec. 31, 2012 Porto Cupecoy USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Porto Cupecoy USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Porto Cupecoy Real estate USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Porto Cupecoy Real estate USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Porto Cupecoy Property, plant and equipment USD ($)	Dec. 14, 2012 The Westcliff USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 The Westcliff USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 The Westcliff USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 The Westcliff USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 The Westcliff Goodwill USD ($)	Aug. 08, 2012 The Observatory Hotel USD ($)	Aug. 08, 2012 The Observatory Hotel AUD	Dec. 31, 2012 The Observatory Hotel USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 The Observatory Hotel USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2012 Bora Bora Lagoon Resort USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Bora Bora Lagoon Resort USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Bora Bora Lagoon Resort USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Bora Bora Lagoon Resort Property, plant and equipment USD ($)	Jan. 23, 2012 Keswick Hall USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Keswick Hall USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Keswick Hall USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Keswick Hall USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Keswick Hall Property, plant and equipment USD ($)	Aug. 01, 2011 Hôtel de la Cité USD ($)	Aug. 01, 2011 Hôtel de la Cité EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2011 Hôtel de la Cité USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Ubud Hanging Gardens USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Ubud Hanging Gardens USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Ubud Hanging Gardens USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Ubud Hanging Gardens Fair value USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Discontinued operations, tax (benefit)/provision	$ (3,911)	$ 1,618	$ (3,166)		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0					$ (1,425)	$ 1,025	$ 87				$ (426)	$ 0		$ 0	$ 0			$ (648)	$ 683	$ (4,506)				$ 784	$ (1,838)	$ 336	$ 469
Number of condominiums held for sale					1
Cash				19,000							26,000					30,895	29,350			3,000				12,000					12,933	9,000
Gain on sale	439	15,384	2,182	439	439	0	0				5,406	0	5,406	0		5,359		5,359	0	662	662	0		3,957	0	3,957	0		2,182		2,182	0	0	0
Gross proceeds from divestiture of businesses, including reduction in debt facility on sale of asset																42,106	40,000							22,000
Reduction in debt facility on sale of hotel				0							0					11,211	10,650			0				10,000					0
Transfer of foreign currency translation amounts from accumulated other comprehensive loss				0							(1,308)					12,147				13,074				0					3,018
Non-cash impairment charge	7,031	3,166	65,144		0	3,166	38,545	3,166	36,868	1,677		0	0	515	515			0	0		0	2,150	2,150		0	0	23,934	23,934			0	7,031	0	0
Carrying value of long-lived assets to be abandoned																																			$ 0