Belmond unveils plans for... | Connecting Travel

The luxury hotel, train and river cruise operator is set to expand

Belmond, the renowned operator of luxury hotels, train services and river cruises, has outlined its blueprint for a “year of transformation” in 2024.

Marking the close of 2023 with the acquisition of a 17th-century estate in Mexico, the brand's plans for 2024 include the "selective expansion and enhancement of its portfolio" with heightened focus on train travel, the development of new experiences and a deeper focus on its environmental and social responsibility.

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Belmond CEO Dan Ruff said: “Long before experiential travel became a buzzword, Belmond, through our diverse portfolio of hotels, trains, boats and safaris, has offered one-of-a-kind experiences that are rooted in authenticity. With our purpose to perpetuate the legendary art of travel, we will continue to push boundaries in 2024, a year of transformation, as we further seek out remarkable properties, exceptional journeys and experiences.”

Ruff added: “We will celebrate local culture, launch new experiences that connect our guests to the art of travel, curate contemporary culture and go even deeper with our environmental and social responsibility efforts.”

Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat,

Belmond will also launch a pilot programme that will create “tailored and actionable roadmaps” to meet the Life 360 sustainability targets created by parent company LVMH. The programme will be initially rolled out at 10 hotels.

Projects across the group will focus on increasing the use of renewable energy and reducing freshwater withdrawal, as well as creating Belmond's Gastronomy Academy to guide a reduction in food and beverage environmental impact.

In addition, under a global partnership with EarthCheck, all eligible Belmond properties are set to receive EarthCheck Silver certification by the first half of 2024. This benchmarking and auditing process will establish baselines that will be used to measure and improve performance across energy, water and waste.

For more information, visit www.belmond.com