Commitments and contingencies (Details) BRL in Thousands, $ in Thousands			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 26, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 02, 2010 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) installment	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 BRL	Aug. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 BRL	Feb. 28, 2013 USD ($)
Commitments
Operating leases, future minimum payments due, next 12 months				$ 12,028
Term of Concession			10 years
Rental expense				$ 13,037	$ 10,675	$ 13,007
Percentage of purchase price to be paid for purchase of Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy by James Sherwood on exercise of first refusal right				80.00%
Percentage of purchase price to be paid for purchase of Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy by James Sherwood on exercise of purchase option by non-recourse promissory note				100.00%
Number of installments for payment of purchase price for Hotel Cipriani in Venice Italy by James Sherwood on exercise of purchase option by non-recourse promissory note | installment				10
Significant acquisitions and disposals, length of time before expiry of former director's right of first refusal and purchase option after his death (in years)				1 year
Infringement litigation of Cipriani
Commitments
Amount received from defendants		$ 3,947
Amount receivable from defendants in installments		$ 9,833
Period for receivable amount from defendants in installments (over) (in years)		5 years
Amount receivable from defendants not yet recognized											$ 1,178
Ubud Hanging Gardens
Commitments
Litigation settlement amount	$ 8,500
Impairment of long-lived assets to be disposed of							$ 7,031
Copacabana Palace | Unasserted claim
Commitments
Maximum potential fine, not accrued														$ 27,000
Belmond Hotel das Cataratas | Favorable lease assets
Commitments
Amount reserved				$ 6,583				BRL 21,461
Estimate of possible loss												$ 5,215	BRL 17,000
Proposed change in rent rate									25.00%
Porto Cupecoy | Settlement with Taxing Authority
Commitments
Estimate of possible loss										$ 16,500
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Commitments
Purchase commitment				$ 7,772	$ 8,662