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Arriving by the hotel’s motorboat, enjoying the view over the lagoon, spending a relaxed afternoon at the Olympic-sized pool, having a Bellini served on a silver tray – the dolce vita doesn’t get much better than this. Here, every moment, every detail, not to mention the 270-degree panoramic vista from the Doge’s Palace to the Church of San Giorgio, radiates Italian joie de vivre. The décor, with its valuable antiques and beautiful local handcrafts, lends the legendary Hotel Cipriani a unique ambiance. It also tempts you to enjoy an irresistible cocktail in the "Oro" Michelin-starred restaurant with the city of Venice as your backdrop. The exclusive oasis in the lagoon city was the birthplace of the Belmond Group and remains the luxury tour operator’s flagship hotel.

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SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE AND ROMANCE

The Belmond success story began in 1976 when American entrepreneur James Sherwood acquired the Cipriani from the Guinness family. The following year, he began restoring historic carriages from the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits with the intention of reviving the tradition of luxury train travel. Five years later, the work was finished. In 1982, The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express began operating on the historic routes of its predecessors, offering stylish rail trips to Venice as well as through Eastern Europe to Istanbul.

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This spirit of adventure together with an appreciation of the past and a sense of romance would shape the company’s future. Today, its portfolio includes hotels in iconic locations around the world, romantic river cruise ships and exclusive safari lodges – some 50 destinations in all. The brand caters to a clientele who have an affinity for beauty and the good life, and who appreciate that good taste always costs a little more. In April 2019, Belmond became a subsidiary of LVMH, the global leader in the luxury goods industry, in a move that strengthened Belmond’s position as an international provider of luxury travel.

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This year, the Group will celebrate the 100th birthday of the Copacabana Palace hotel in Rio de Janeiro – as well as many other new offerings. These include the luxury barge Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat, a floating villa that entered service in May with three cabins, a champagne bar and an art nouveau interior. The Group has also been busy in Italy. In the past, famous names such as Grace Kelly, Maria Callas, Charlie Chaplin and Winston Churchill loved staying at the Hotel Splendido in Portofino, and today stars continue to be enamored by the hotel’s sea view and unbeatable privacy. Originally a Benedictine monastery, this Belmond property is now undergoing a multiphase renovation. According to a company spokesperson, the restoration will “sensitively inject contemporary relevance”. The first stage of the renovation, expected to be completed this summer, will give the hotel a new look. The interior of the 61 rooms and suites will be decorated with delicate frescoes, fresh pastel colors and luxury textiles as well as with design cues from the 50s and 60s, all perfectly reflecting the atmosphere of the Italian Riviera. The view of the bay and private garden of the La Dolce Vita suite add an extra touch of exclusivity.

THE FAIRY-TALE WORLD OF THE MAYA

From August, the Maroma, a Belmond Hotel located in 80 hectares of tropical paradise overlooking the pristine white beach of the Riviera Maya, will offer even more reasons for exploring Mexico. Highlights include ten new water villas, a spa concept crafted in collaboration with Guerlain, and a new gastronomic era under chef Daniel Camacho. The Maroma is Belmond’s third property in the Caribbean. The company already has a hotel on Anguilla and another on St. Martin, which reopened in 2018 after a full renovation. Guests at the Maroma can explore archaeological sites and the fascinating Mayan culture while enjoying the benefits of a beach vacation. The resort embraces the natural aesthetics of its environment and features the work of local artists and artisans. The concept of authenticity, regionality and sustainability continues in the restaurants, where local influences are clearly in evidence.

Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” and Ian Fleming's “From Russia with Love” all rely on the glamour of the golden era of travel that the Orient Express so perfectly embodies. Sadly, the journey from London to Paris is being withdrawn until further notice in 2024 due to Brexit – the amount of red tape required to transport passengers in style over the Channel, makes the trip unfeasible, as the company explained in April. A trip on the European mainland with the grande dame of luxury trains, however, will be particularly worthwhile this summer: The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is adding eight new suites in a third, new luxury cabin category. These new suites, feature marble bathrooms and elegant living areas that transform into comfortable sleeping compartments, as well as the services of a personal cabin steward, who is available around the clock. You could almost regret arriving in Venice ...