Property, plant and equipment - Narratives (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciation	$ 13,595,000	$ 12,944,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,089,083,000		$ 1,074,676,000
Impairment of property, plant and equipment	0	0
Interest costs capitalized	$ 0	$ 0
Belmond Road to Mandalay
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairment testing, percentage of excess carrying value	23.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 200,864,000		201,861,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Charleston Center LLC
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 200,864,000		$ 201,861,000