Segment information - Revenue by segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item
Revenue	[1]	$ 576,836	$ 560,999	$ 549,824
Owned hotels
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item
Revenue		492,929	485,882	475,374
Part owned trains and hotels
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item
Revenue		13,140	11,924	15,163
Europe
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item
Revenue		238,440
Europe | Owned hotels
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item
Revenue		238,440	212,379	199,251
North America
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item
Revenue		132,326
North America | Owned hotels
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item
Revenue		132,326	149,284	145,868
Rest of world
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item
Revenue		122,163
Rest of world | Owned hotels
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item
Revenue		122,163	124,219	130,255
Owned trains and cruises | Owned trains and cruises
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item
Revenue		70,767	63,193	59,287
Part-owned/managed hotels | Part owned trains and hotels
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item
Revenue		2,363	1,036	4,400
Part-owned/managed trains | Part owned trains and hotels
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item
Revenue		$ 10,777	$ 10,888	$ 10,763

[1] Includes revenue from related parties of $15,783,000, $15,668,000 and $15,458,000, respectively