Goodwill - Changes in carrying amount of goodwill (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill
Gross goodwill amount	$ 157,466,000	$ 158,119,000	$ 166,971,000
Accumulated impairment	(44,123,000)	(44,123,000)	(34,327,000)
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	113,996,000	132,644,000
Impairment	0	(9,796,000)	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(653,000)	(8,852,000)
Balance at the end of the period	113,343,000	113,996,000	132,644,000
Owned Hotels | Segment: Owned hotels - Europe
Goodwill
Gross goodwill amount	64,459,000	64,263,000	71,292,000
Accumulated impairment	(14,202,000)	(14,202,000)	(10,104,000)
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	50,061,000	61,188,000
Impairment	0	(4,098,000)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	196,000	(7,029,000)
Balance at the end of the period	50,257,000	50,061,000	61,188,000
Owned Hotels | Segment: Owned hotels - North America
Goodwill
Gross goodwill amount	66,101,000	66,101,000	66,101,000
Accumulated impairment	(16,110,000)	(16,110,000)	(16,110,000)
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	49,991,000	49,991,000
Impairment	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Balance at the end of the period	49,991,000	49,991,000	49,991,000
Owned Hotels | Segment: Owned hotels - Rest of world
Goodwill
Gross goodwill amount	20,581,000	19,975,000	21,705,000
Accumulated impairment	(13,149,000)	(13,149,000)	(8,113,000)
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	6,826,000	13,592,000
Impairment	0	(5,036,000)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	606,000	(1,730,000)
Balance at the end of the period	7,432,000	6,826,000	13,592,000
Owned Trains and Cruises
Goodwill
Gross goodwill amount	6,325,000	7,780,000	7,873,000
Accumulated impairment	(662,000)	(662,000)	0
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	7,118,000	7,873,000
Impairment	0	(662,000)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(1,455,000)	(93,000)
Balance at the end of the period	$ 5,663,000	$ 7,118,000	$ 7,873,000