Investments in unconsolidated companies - Unconsolidated companies summarized financial data (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	May 21, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated companies		$ 79,327	$ 71,724
Summarized financial data for OEH's unconsolidated companies
Current assets		96,247	59,372
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation		295,662	207,469
Other non-current assets		29,442	30,643
Non-current assets		325,104	238,112
Total assets		421,351	297,484
Current liabilities, including $21,021 and $19,171 current portion of third-party debt		89,785	86,092
Long-term debt		153,876	48,681
Other non-current liabilities		27,545	26,540
Non-current liabilities		181,421	75,221
Total shareholders’ equity		150,145	136,171
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		421,351	297,484
Current portion of long-term debt and obligations under capital leases		5,284	5,349
Revenue		191,551	160,614	$ 172,793
Gross profit		135,000	104,708	105,333
Net earnings		21,720	17,723	$ 19,622
Hotel Ritz, Madrid
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Receivables due from unconsolidated companies	$ 29,679
Investments in unconsolidated companies	0
Net assets	29,679
Transfer of foreign currency translation gain	(5,613)
Net assets after adjustments	24,066
Cash	42,197
Less: Costs to sell	(747)
Plus: Management contract termination fee	2,292
Net Sales Proceeds	43,742
Gain on sale	$ 19,676
Third-party Debt
Summarized financial data for OEH's unconsolidated companies
Current portion of long-term debt and obligations under capital leases		$ 21,021	$ 19,171