Commitments and contingencies - Narratives (Details) BRL in Thousands, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) installment	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 BRL	Aug. 31, 2016	Mar. 20, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 20, 2015 BRL	Feb. 28, 2013 USD ($)
Commitments
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					1 year
Rental expenses			$ 3,747	$ 3,493	$ 7,244	$ 6,113
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Commitments
Amount of outstanding contracts					15,004		$ 7,772
Infringement litigation of Cipriani
Commitments
Amount received from defendants	$ 1,178	$ 3,947
Amount receivable from defendants in installments		$ 9,833
Period for receivable amount from defendants in installments (in years)		5 years
Ubud Hanging Gardens
Commitments
Litigation Settlement, Amount	$ 8,500
Impairment								$ 7,031
Belmond Hotel das Cataratas
Commitments
Proposed change in rent rate										25.00%
Unasserted claim | Copacabana Palace
Commitments
Loss contingency, possible loss, amount not accrued													$ 27,000
Lease agreements | Belmond Hotel das Cataratas
Commitments
Aggregate amount due per Ministry											$ 5,365	BRL 17,000
Loss contingency accrual (more than for the $200,000)			$ 7,317		$ 7,317				BRL 23,182