Commitments and contingencies - Narratives (Details) R$ in Thousands, $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 02, 2010 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 case	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) installment	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 BRL (R$)	Dec. 14, 2018 USD ($)	Jul. 06, 2018 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 BRL (R$)	Feb. 28, 2013 USD ($)
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 (in years)				1 year
Liabilities subject to compromise, early contract termination fees										$ 3,000
Liabilities subject to compromise, early contract termination fees, payment in case of sale or change in control									$ 92,261	10,000
Liabilities subject to compromise, early contract termination fees, payment in case of sale or change in control, annual decrease										1,000
Contingent consideration, liability										$ 25,000
Expenses and fees for professional services				$ 8,455	$ 0	$ 0
Restructuring and other special items				6,468	6,384	363
Rental expense				13,318	14,805	$ 13,037
Infringement litigation of Cipriani
Commitments
Amount receivable from defendants in installments	$ 9,833
Period for receivable amount from defendants in installments (over) (in years)	5 years
Amount received from defendants	$ 3,947	$ 1,178
Ubud Hanging Gardens
Commitments
Litigation settlement amount		$ 8,500
Number of cases dismissed | case			8
Number of cases appealed | case			5
Impairment of long-lived assets to be disposed of							$ 7,031
Ubud Hanging Gardens | Appellate Court
Commitments
Number of cases dismissed | case			4
Ubud Hanging Gardens | Indonesian Supreme Court
Commitments
Number of cases dismissed | case			2
Ubud Hanging Gardens | Indonesian Supreme Court | Pending
Commitments
Number of cases dismissed | case			2
Copacabana Palace | Unasserted claim
Commitments
Maximum potential fine, not accrued														$ 27,000
Belmond Hotel das Cataratas
Commitments
Proposed change in rent rate											25.00%
Belmond Hotel das Cataratas | Favorable lease assets
Commitments
Estimate of possible loss												$ 4,387	R$ 17,000
Amount reserved				7,554				R$ 29,272
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Commitments
Purchase commitment				21,197	$ 19,464
La Samanna | Owned hotels | North America
Commitments
Restructuring and other special items				$ 14,917