Income taxes - Reconciliation of tax charge at statutory tax rate to provision for income taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
(Losses)/earnings before provision for income taxes and earnings from unconsolidated companies, net of tax	$ (28,303)	$ 40,756	$ 25,354
Tax (benefit)/charge at statutory tax rate of 19.25%, 20% and 15%	(5,448)	8,151	3,803
Exchange rate movements on deferred tax	2,400	(1,785)	(1,912)
Notional interest deductions	(960)	(1,812)	(1,867)
Imputed cross border charges	763	995	716
Disallowable goodwill impairment charges	0	0	2,198
Other permanent disallowable expenditure	3,664	483	5,762
Unrecognized tax loss generated on disposal of Hotel Ritz by Belmond	0	0	(16,029)
Change in valuation allowance	2,215	4,876	16,320
Difference in taxation rates	13,874	9,509	12,948
Adjustment to deferred tax for VIE	7,263	0	0
Change in provisions for uncertain tax positions	160	(3,350)	279
Change in tax rates	(19,807)	(643)	(5,121)
Transition tax in U.S.	2,330	0	0
Other	100	(56)	(56)
Provision for income taxes	$ 6,554	$ 16,368	$ 17,041
Statutory tax rate, percentage	19.25%	20.00%	15.00%