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Other intangible assets - Narratives (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 07, 2018
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Additions		$ 6,100,000
Net book value	$ 27,141,000	19,778,000	$ 13,877,000
Amortization expense	1,086,000	600,000
Impairment of intangible assets	468,000	0	0
Continuing operations
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization expense	1,086,000	600,000	561,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2019	1,750,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2020	1,750,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2021	1,750,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2022	1,750,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2023	1,750,000
Governor’s Residence
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Impairment of intangible assets	$ 156,000
Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Percentage fair value in excess of carrying value	7.00%
Trade names
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Net book value	$ 15,017,000	14,001,000	7,579,000
Impairment of intangible assets	0
Trade names \| Cap Juluca
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Net book value	$ 6,100,000	6,100,000
Percentage fair value in excess of carrying value	225.00%
Trade names \| Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Net book value	$ 6,419,000
Percentage fair value in excess of carrying value	31.00%
Trade names \| Castello di Casole
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Net book value	$ 2,498,000
Percentage fair value in excess of carrying value	32.00%
Favorable lease assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Additions	$ 0	0
Net book value	4,816,000	5,468,000	5,865,000
Amortization expense	347,000	434,000
Impairment of intangible assets	468,000
Internet sites
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Additions	1,858,000	0
Net book value	1,818,000	309,000	433,000
Amortization expense	258,000	166,000
Impairment of intangible assets	$ 0
Software
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization period (in years)	10 years
Additions	$ 6,230,000	0
Net book value	5,490,000	$ 0	$ 0
Amortization expense	$ 481,000
Minimum \| Favorable lease assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization period (in years)	19 years
Minimum \| Internet sites
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization period (in years)	5 years
Maximum \| Favorable lease assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization period (in years)	60 years
Maximum \| Internet sites
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization period (in years)	10 years
Castello di Casole
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Other intangible assets				$ 2,676,000
Castello di Casole \| Trade names
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Other intangible assets	$ 2,676,000