November 28, 2024 • 46 mins
Belmond is a prestigious brand known for its luxurious hotels, trains, river cruises, and safari experiences. Originally established as Orient Express Hotels Ltd. in 1976 with the acquisition of the iconic Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Belmond has since evolved into a global leader in luxury travel, boasting a portfolio of 47 properties across 28 countries and territories as of 2024.
Overview of Belmond Properties Belmond's properties are characterized by their unique locations and exceptional service, each designed to reflect the culture and heritage of their surroundings. The brand emphasizes craftsmanship and design, creating an authentic experience for guests.
Belmond continues to be synonymous with luxury travel, offering guests unforgettable experiences that blend history, culture, and exceptional service.
Join Don Forster from Goway Travel as he talks to Andrea Valente from Belmond as they take a look inside luxury travel with Belmond.
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(00:03):
Hey there everyone, I'm Don, Professor Goethe and welcome to the GoethePro Travel Talepodcast.
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Now today I'd like to introduce or welcome Andrea Valente, who is the account director ofBelmond.
Now, for those who may not know who Belmond is, Belmond was formerly the Orient Expresschain of properties and.
(01:18):
Trains, correct Andrea?
Okay, so before we get into Belmont, now we know where it was or who it was, can you giveus a little background on yourself, who you are, how you came to be representing Belmont
and their product?
Yes, so I am your contractor.
I'm based here in Toronto.
So I previously used to be with the Ritz Carlton for many years.
So I was there about nine years.
(01:39):
That was my introduction into the luxury world of hospitality.
And then just through those connections, luckily I was able to get within the Belmontfamily in right post pandemic.
So it was actually 2021.
The company was really looking to expand the sales team to make Belmont a bit more wellknown in Canada.
(02:00):
especially since we don't physically have any products or hotels here.
So in Canada or Canada, the US, actually only have one now.
It's just in Santa Barbara.
We'll touch on that.
Exactly.
So I was brought in really to bring more awareness to all the Canadians of our amazingcollection here.
So it's been three years with the company.
(02:21):
So from the Ritz Carlton, which is a five star chain, correct?
It is a five star, but it is very different.
So I used to be with the two Canadian ones here and it is a bit more corporate,definitely.
So switching to Belmond, it's much more leisure focused, which has been really fun.
But Belmond, I think most people know if they don't know the name Belmond, Orient Expresswould also suggest that it's a five star.
(02:43):
Definitely five star.
of service and product throughout the world.
Exactly.
OK, so you just mentioned that there is no Belmond property
or otherwise in Canada, but there is one in the US and you mentioned Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara, it's called El Encanto.
So it's kind of tucked up in the hills.
That's a hotel, would assume.
Hotel, yes.
So it almost looks like a collection of cottages.
(03:04):
Yeah, it's a really beautiful spot.
But exactly that's kind of the closest to home for us Canadians to experience it.
Okay, so Belmont is
Fair to say worldwide?
Worldwide.
its offerings?
Okay.
I was going to read something I picked up from your website.
In 2024, the company had 47 properties in 28 countries and territories with 32 hotels, sixtrains, and seven riverboat cruises and two safaris.
(03:32):
Exactly.
Okay.
Something else.
The company was founded in 1976 by an American entrepreneur, James Sherwood, withacquisition of the Hotel Cipriani in Venice.
Exactly.
He then bought some carriages from the original Orient Express train which he restored andused to offer rides from Paris to London to his hotel in Venice.
(03:54):
And it was in 2014 that Orient Express became Bellman.
And I remember working with Orient Express when it was Orient Express and was Bellman.
Now my background is the Latin America area so I'm quite well versed with your products.
I believe it's just in Peru, is that correct?
And we have two in Brazil as well.
yeah, of course you have.
What's the hotel in Rio?
Yes, have Copacabana Palace.
(04:14):
Copacabana Palace, of course.
And then we also have Hotel Das Cataratas, which is out of Guassu Falls.
of course.
I sold those all the time.
How could I forget Das Cataratas?
Yes.
OK, so we'll come back to Latin America.
We'll round up with that.
So that so we have in Peru, there's a hotel, there's a train.
(04:35):
Peru is actually quite a big hub for us now.
So we have six hotels and two trains in Peru.
You have the Monasterio.
Monasterio and Placio Nazarenes are actually, they're right next door to each other inCusco.
That's in Cusco.
And you have the Sanctuary Lodge.
Sanctuary Lodge, is right at the gates of Machu Picchu.
We also have Rio Sagrado, which is in the Sacred Valley.
We also have one in Lima called Miraflores Park Hotel.
(04:59):
And then the last one is Colca Canyon.
So we have hotel, which one's in the Colca?
It's called Las Casitas.
When did Belmont take that one on?
We've had it for quite a bit now.
It's part of the collection.
it's actually, it's quite small.
So it's only about 15 cottages down in the canyon.
But the best part about that is it pairs really nicely with our train, the AndeanExplorer.
(05:23):
Cause that starts in Cusco and goes down to Arequipa.
And there's a stop where you can hop off at Colca Canyon.
Okay.
We'll expand on that in a minute.
Okay.
So would it be fair to say Pru is your biggest center then of properties and...
It's actually Italy.
Italy would be number one in number of so let's go through Italy then.
Yeah, so we have nine hotels now in Italy.
(05:43):
So like you mentioned the whole company once we got the carriages for the Venice SimplonOrient Express, the Cipriani was the first hotel which was in Venice and the Italian
portfolio definitely grew from there.
We have nine now.
The latest was actually just this year.
We have a brand new hotel that opened called Romazzino in Sardinia.
So that was the latest collection and Italy is definitely
(06:05):
very important to Belmont, so it's going to continue to grow.
You're going to see more hotels coming to Italy.
so those who are watching our podcast here on our YouTube channel, so we've got Venice,Sardinia, what other locations?
If we start from top to bottom, Venice would be the most northern, then we have two hotelsnow in Portofino, Splendido and Splendido Mare.
(06:25):
Next, if we head down to Florence, Tuscany area, we have Villa San Michele in Florence, upin the hills of Fiesole.
We also have in Tuscany, Castelladica.
which is on 4200 acres of land, very in the country, it's beautiful.
Heading down to the Amalfi Coast, we're in Ravello, we have Caruso, and then we have twoin Sardinia.
(06:47):
So we have both in Terra Mina, but we have one up in the town called Grand Hotel Tomeo,and then we also have Villa San Andrea, which is your...
essentially your quintessential beach escape in Sicily right on the water.
again for those who watching I would have thrown up a map while you were talking Andrea.
So people will know geographically what we're talking about there.
(07:08):
So Italy is just hotels, no trains, no...
No specific trains however the Venice Simplon Orient Express, one of the biggest hubs isin Venice.
So it's very likely that someone would do the trip and then stay at the Cipriani after.
So that classic Orient Express train ride which people might know from movies and booksruns
from Venice to London or did?
(07:28):
So it still does.
That's one of the best things about Belmont in the past couple years.
We've really expanded our variety of offerings on that train.
So the two hubs would definitely be Venice and Paris.
That's the most common route to do that journey.
and Paris is most common.
But they're all one night journeys.
So now, for example, you can go from Paris to Florence, Paris to Rome, Brussels,Amsterdam.
(07:51):
Our longest journey goes to Istanbul.
That's a five night journey.
Paris.
Paris.
Yeah.
And now we also go to Portofino, Ticcano, you can do the French Alps.
So Paris is the main like?
Paris is normally.
Is it the hub?
Yeah.
Normally it's on one of the legs.
You're either starting or ending in Paris.
Okay.
Yeah.
So you mentioned overnight, again, shorter trip, not Istanbul.
(08:13):
So I would assume that the train run, let's just talk Paris.
Yes.
it's for the sake of conversation.
I would assume that it's sleeper cars.
Sleeper cars.
We have a few different cabin options.
The smallest
would be like your historic cabin, which actually has the upper and lower berths going upto the largest carriage, which would be our grand suite.
(08:35):
Sneak peek actually next year, starting in July, we have a brand new carriage coming out.
So to give you an idea, one carriage would hold nine regular cabins or three grand suites.
The newest suite we're offering is a whole carriage to itself.
it's going to be the most high end.
Yes.
And it's going to be very unique of its
(08:55):
in comparison to any other train journey.
So that's a bucket list.
on the, again we're talking this train.
Now tell me if this sort of rolls out because I know the Peruvian trains.
Yes.
Okay but I don't know any other trains you might run.
Okay.
So if what you're describing is applicable to other trains can you just let us know that?
Yeah.
So you have your sleeper bertha course.
(09:16):
Yes.
I would assume there's dining cars on board.
Is there an observation car on that particular train?
The European one?
The Venice Simplon or Inexpress is the only one that doesn't have
an observation car.
we have multiple dining cars.
have a bar car.
So for instance, in the bar car, there would be a grand piano.
There's live entertainment with like a horn section, a singer.
(09:38):
So the Venice Simplon is kind of a bit different, to be honest, because it's a bit of ait's a one night journey.
The destination is the train.
So really, you're on board the whole time.
Whereas the Andean Explorer, like you mentioned in Peru, or we also have the RoyalScotsman now in Scotland, which runs from
That one is always in and out of Edinburgh, but it could be anywhere almost up to sevennights if you wanted to.
(10:01):
But those are a bit different because they'll have observation cars, they'll have thedining cars, the bar cars.
They also have spa cars on them because you're on them longer.
So the Royal Scotsman, for example, had the first Dior spa ever on a train.
So you could get a really cool treatment going through the countryside there.
But those have a bit more in terms of offerings because you're on for a longer amount ofSo as you say, guess without
(10:25):
cheaping the product, which it's not by any means, but the sort of European excluding theIstanbul is more of a connector.
Whereas the other journeys would be a journey on a train, a journey versus getting frompoint A to point B.
The one, the other one is very much, yeah, you're getting from point A to point B, but youwant to do it in the most grand experience.
It's a formal affair.
We're bringing you back to the twenties and thirties.
(10:46):
That was my next question for, I know this doesn't apply for the Belmont in Peru, but forthe European and when I now say European, I'm talking
The Venice and also the UK.
The Royal Scotsman.
Is the dress code, is it an enforced dress code of formal or Just on the Venice, simple onorange dress.
(11:09):
in that, cause it's a one night, that one is more formal.
So you're basically going out for dinner on a train, starting in one city and ending up inanother.
Exactly.
Whereas the Royal Scottsdon, there's one, we say formal, but it's much more casual.
And we actually do that because one of the experiences on board is you could get the fullScottish dress put in your cabin so that you could be in kiln and everything.
(11:31):
that's kind
of one way we just make one of the evenings a bit more formal so people can enjoy thatway.
but the actual journey, if you were to choose seven days it's casual, with a formal night.
And of course if you wanted to dress up throughout, you course you can.
So when someone books on, we're talking trains here at the moment, and excluding the PeruUnc which is more of a connector, like a very short connector time-wise, the cost of a
(11:59):
berth includes what?
Is it pretty much standard or varies by journey?
It varies a little bit.
again, always the Venice Simplon Orient Express is a little different.
with every single train of ours, everything is included in terms of food and beverage likethat.
(12:19):
The only difference with the Venice Simplon Orient Express is after your dinner in the barcar, those drinks would be on consumption.
That's the only additional cost involved.
Whereas the Andean Explorer in Peru
the Royal Scotsman in the UK.
We also, didn't mention yet, but we have a train that starts and ends in Singapore andgoes through Malaysia now.
(12:39):
because didn't you used to have one that ran from Bangkok to Singapore?
This is the same, yeah.
So the same train.
Right now we're not including Thailand yet.
We're still, again, post pandemic, there's still some different laws about going into thecountry.
So hopefully eventually one day we'll get back.
Tied to COVID still?
Restrictions that came in after that, yeah, with train travel.
(13:01):
so hopefully we can get back.
But regardless, we have an amazing new journey that goes throughout the heart of Malaysianow.
Okay, so that, so I know we're jumping all over destinations here, but that, okay, so theMalaysian option runs from where to where?
It starts and ends in Singapore, but it will go through Malaysia.
nice.
Yeah.
So those three, like Scotland, Malaysia, and Peru, those three are very similar in thatwhen you book on
(13:24):
line or with our team, everything is included.
All your food and beverage, all your excursions, transfers to and from the hotel to get tothe train station.
So that's very much considered that an all inclusive package.
Entrances to any site you may visit.
If we're going to stay in Scotland, sometimes there's touring castles or if you're goinginto a national park in Malaysia, all that's included.
(13:44):
So basically from hotel pick up to hotel drop off when you buy a Belmond train journey,everything's included.
Exactly.
Wonderful.
Now, so we have trains in the UK, we have trains in Europe, trains in Asia, Malaysia,Singapore.
We've talked in Peru, any other train journeys?
(14:05):
So the only other ones that we have are actually two day trains.
And I do like to bring these up because I kind of feel like if someone is interested in atrain, but maybe they have yet to pull the trigger on booking an overnight journey with
us, a great option is to try a day train just to get a taste of what life on board wouldbe.
So one of them actually is also in Peru.
It takes you from, yes, it takes you from Cusco to Machu Picchu or the reverse trip.
(14:30):
But the other is the British Pullman and that's in and out of London.
in.
variety of different options.
You could be doing a champagne brunch, a four course lunch, we have four course dinner.
We even have a murder mystery one.
So we have live actors on board where you could solve the mystery before getting back toLondon.
And that especially because the UK that's usually a great stopover location.
(14:51):
So maybe don't have time to do the countryside, you could do it in one afternoon, right?
So those are my questions.
So the the UK ones are like a four hour, five hour between four to five hours.
Exactly.
And the hiring being from everything to
depending on where you pick up the train.
Yeah it's a tiny bit longer now it may be about three and a half hours but that one'sequally as great you're usually on the way there you're doing a brunch on the way back
(15:16):
it's a four course dinner and there's again live entertainment in the bar car there's theobservation deck so I've done I've been lucky enough to stay at
Rio Sagrado.
I've done the Hiram Bingham a few times.
Stayed at the sanctuary only twice and I've been to Machu Picchu a million times so it'sonly there twice.
I think that's only, no I stayed at the Miraflores Park in Lima.
(15:40):
so you just had to Kolkka Canyon, really?
No, yeah, I've never, every time we were in the Kolkka Canyon, we camped.
I was a tour guide back in the day.
And I don't think Las Casitas were there when I was tour leading, and we're talking longtime ago.
But I was having me back in the canyon for while, but even then I think we drove by theCasitas and didn't go in.
(16:03):
So I've experienced, I'd say four or five of the products.
yourself, you're throwing them all.
That's your job.
know them all.
Have you been to the mall?
Not the mall yet.
Honestly, quite a bit.
The collection I haven't explored yet are the Safaris.
I have been on Safaris, but that was before I joined the company.
(16:23):
So I need to head to those.
Okay.
So I didn't know that Belmont did Safaris as a product type.
So tell me what a Belmont Safaris versus a normal Safaris for want of a better term.
So we have two really unique ones.
They're both in Northern Botswana and they're a 20 minute flight apart from one another.
And we use a partner in Macier.
(16:44):
So we have a lot of guests.
If they're going to safari with us, they're staying at both.
They usually do three nights, three nights.
But two, the best thing is they're two totally different experiences.
So one would be in Chobie National Park, very much like a desert landscape.
This was totally redone, this hotel for 2020 when it reopened.
(17:04):
it's got an amazing pool deck.
It's ultimate luxury, but there's only 12 tented cabins.
Are both these safari lodges, are they tented camps or like?
They're permanent tented camps.
But they are tented, first solid building so to speak.
Exactly.
Yeah.
So back to the sort of colonial-esque vibe.
And that one, so that one has a great watering hole right out front because that's themore desert landscape.
(17:30):
You actually can do quite a bit of incredible viewing right from your terrace or if you'reat the pool, but they'll do the traditional game drives morning and evening.
Whereas we have that one, then Eagle Island Lodge would be for someone I'd say that'smaybe a bit more adventurous, watch something totally unique because we are on a private
concession there.
We're on an island.
So May through October, the water is right up.
(17:51):
kind of surrounding the property.
That's where you could do the Makoro canoes.
So this one's in the Delta itself?
This is in the Okavango Delta.
you've got one in the Delta, one in Choby.
So that one you're like more, could be eye level with the elephants in the water if you'reon the canoes.
We do have larger barges as well to do cruises in the evening and the speed boats.
(18:13):
And there because we're on the private concession, you have more opportunities to dodifferent excursions like helicopters.
You can even do horseback riding there.
Really cool to get very different experiences and game viewing from both locations.
Yeah, and I highly recommend anyone listening or watching that if you're looking atselling or pushing an African Safari
that you consider Botswana and the Delta in particular.
(18:35):
Because it's such, like everyone expects and gets, you know, the classic savanna typesafari, but the Delta is so different.
Because as you're saying Andrea, it's water based primarily in Makoros, which are dug outcanoes.
know, hippos, elephants, all in the water.
If you're a fisherman too, or fisher person, it's a really good spot to go fishing aswell.
(18:56):
So it's a good option.
So you basically, you being Belmont have two camps, tentative camps.
and we do have a hotel in Cape Town.
So we have Mount Nelson Hotel, which is big historic building that was painted pink forpeace over 100 years ago now.
I know the building.
didn't know it was a A lot of people know that building.
(19:17):
It's been frequented by Nelson Mandela.
It's a very historic property.
So that's kind of a nice way to either start or end your journey in Africa before headingto Botswana.
So if an agent is looking at your properties and services, hotels, hang on,
before we get into that.
Boats or river vessels.
are your river vessels?
Yeah, I know the company says river cruisers online.
(19:41):
I personally call them canal cruisers because they're very different.
They are
barges essentially that are for charter only.
So consider this a floating villa.
You have your own cabin crew, private chef, tour guide on board.
could be a family of people, it's not a group tour.
It's no.
It's a chartered vessel.
(20:03):
Yeah.
The smallest is actually only two cabins, four people.
The largest is 12 people, six cabins.
And this similar to the trains, consider it all inclusive.
It's six nights, seven days.
Again, you have the tour guide and everything.
your food and beverage is included, all your excursions.
Chef on board.
So they actually would call the clients or the advisors about two months before, kind ofshow them the planned itinerary, but then say, what do want to change?
(20:30):
What do you like eating?
Fully customize it.
Yeah, exactly.
And where are they sailing?
So go through, it's only in France.
However, we go through Champagne, Canal du Midi, Burgundy or Provence.
So four different regions.
And again,
because they're these smaller boats they go through these really narrow canals that youwouldn't see these towns on a river cruiser right there a bit more unique a bit less
(20:56):
touristy as well a lot of so this will get you off the beaten path because it is Francewhich has a lot of unique quiet areas but it's not on the tourist trail definitely not so
if you're looking to get away from the usual crowds yeah in your own obviously privacyyour own
Chartered vessel.
Yeah, this is the way to do it exactly.
(21:16):
It's a really unique experience We we didn't necessarily touch on it yet, but I do want toremind people that Belmond is owned by LVMH Louis Vuitton, Moet Hennessy so I especially
like to mention that especially for these barges because For example, we go through thechampagne region, right LVMH owns all those historic champagne houses So consider those
(21:36):
experiences we can have a really unique take that a lot of other companies can't get thoseclients in so what way would
be the hub for the cruises Paris again?
so we included in the experience we would include round-trip transfers to and from Pariswherever the clients are staying sometimes if they're doing say a journey more south,
Provence region or somewhere a bit lower we could do round-trip transfers even to Genevaanywhere they're kind of headed afterwards.
(22:03):
They would be add-on costs though for outside of Paris or would that be included?
No we've included.
Included as well okay so you have flexibility in that respect to where they're stuck
or finishing within reason.
Now if a client or an agent out there is looking at all your properties, let's talk theRiver Cruise.
(22:25):
By booking a Belmont hotel in conjunction with the Canal Cruise, are there any discounts,is there any benefit in doing all Belmont from start to finish or within?
There always is for all of our hotels.
I will mention though that for specifically Peru and Africa, we have what's calledJourneys in Peru and Journeys in Africa.
(22:51):
And it's essentially operated as our own in-house DMC.
So we would work with GoAE and we could do everything for you from the tours, transfers,all of that.
And it would come at like a unique price point for you to have all of that included in theexperience.
Yeah.
Again, I knew that for Peru.
That's why I asked the question.
(23:11):
to every just African Peru you get a of a combined price reduction or would that extend toEurope as well?
Europe we don't necessarily have the DMC aspect where we would do all the tours andeverything.
However our hotels absolutely can book transfers and all of that it's more at an ad hocbasis for those.
Yeah so we mentioned at the beginning that this is Belmond being a luxury brand
(23:38):
I think people listening will understand that it is based on the cruising where cancharter your own vessels through the canals.
For those that don't know, I'm use what I know well, Das Cataratas on the Brazilian sideis the only hotel within the national park.
in Iguazu Falls on the opposite side, the Argentinian side, have the Sheraton, is itSheraton still?
(24:04):
Iguazu is the equivalent.
But having been to both these two many times, Das Catarazas is simply stunning.
It's literally a stone's from the fall.
So apart from it being these properties and services being very, very high end, a lot ofthem are also very uniquely located, which segues again to my backyard knowledge of the
(24:26):
sanctuary
Lodge.
for those who may not know Machu Picchu, it's up on a hill.
There's a little town below it, Aguas Calientes, which is slowly being renamed MachuPicchu Pueblo.
And that's where 99 % of the hotels are.
Exactly.
Down in the valley.
And they're beautiful.
Some stunning ones down there.
but Belmond grabbed the sanctuary lodge, which literally also sets a stone's throw fromthe entrance to Machu Picchu.
(24:53):
Now, it's not overly posh.
but it's location in this instance, think.
Yeah.
That one's a bit smaller and also because we have some restrictions with that.
It is very nice.
Don't get me wrong.
Yeah.
That one mainly though, cause it's, we're in partnership with the government for that one.
So I definitely, I agree.
I wouldn't say that is our most luxury property by any means, but it's definitely thelocation.
(25:18):
You can get in to the park, the first ones essentially, just cause you're right therebefore the buses can come up.
Cause worth pointing out that,
as Andrea just mentioned, where the hotel is.
During the day it is quite busy because it's where the entrance to the ruins are, whereall the buses come in, et cetera.
And it's worth pointing out on a sort of training point of view here that by staying atthe sanctuary you can get in or be at the front of the line, but you can't get in any
(25:42):
earlier and you can't stay any later.
Right.
Because sometimes we're asked that question.
Yes.
So that is a no to those two questions.
But you are literally...
20 meters from when you walk out of the door to the entrance to Machu Picchu.
Yeah.
And so we do have a really nice garden behind the property that does offer privacy.
(26:03):
So you do, you don't really notice all the buses out front, but absolutely they're rightthere.
And one of the best things about that though, too, is that it makes it not be in a rush.
So if you did want to go out or in and out of Machu Picchu a few times, you could also bethe last one to leave the park because a lot of people are going to catch the buses.
Right.
So there's opportunities to kind of have as much
(26:24):
privacy as you can.
No 100 % and it's definitely from a location point of view is probably one of the bestlocated hotels in the world for what you're located next to and the way I used to sell it
is during the day it's busy it'll be noisy because there's everyone there.
but Aguascalientes at night time, it's not crazy noisy, but there's night clubs and barsand stuff, it's happening at all town if you want that.
(26:45):
But at night time at the Sanctuary Lodge, this is the name comes into play, Sanctuary, itis stunning, because there's no one up there other than the people in the lodge.
And while you can't really see much of a picture, you know it's there, if you're intothis, it's very spiritual, it's mystical.
Yeah, so it's definitely worth it if you're looking for the Sanctuary, which will be atnight, not during the day.
(27:07):
Now, the train, I was gonna jump in
to Latin a bit here because that's where a lot of stuff happens where probably the bulk ofour work with you happens is in Peru.
Right.
So there are two trains there's the Hiram Bingham and that's named after the man whodiscovered rediscovered Machu Picchu and that runs from either Cusco or a town called
Ollantitambo which is halfway down the Shaker Valley to Machu Picchu.
(27:29):
Right.
Most people pick up the train on and off in Ollantitambo.
And this is a beautiful train ride.
Now you say it's about three and a half hours now.
Yeah.
Definitely not your regular commuter train.
Ultra luxury.
It's beautiful for the dining experiences on board, but I definitely loved the liveentertainment aspect.
(27:51):
kind of makes that whole, especially if you're taking the journey to Machu Picchu, you'revery excited to get there and it makes it such a fun experience to kind of take that train
ride there.
Same thing though.
It's definitely a party on the way back.
People are excited after
after a nice day of kind of hiking around to just relax and enjoy and have a beautifuldinner on board.
(28:11):
Yeah.
Now, anyone out there, you can take a train in in the morning, see Machu Picchu and returnsame day.
It's not recommended.
It could be done.
Normally you would overnight, ideally at the sanctuary lodge, of course, then come backthe next day.
And you can combine all the different trains.
You can take one, one way, whatever.
So I believe too that the Belmont was...
Most trains are doing it now, but was the first to have the viewing car on that particularrun.
(28:37):
Observation car, Yeah, and that's awesome because when you go to Machu Picchu, you'regoing down the valley and the valley itself is stunning.
So to be able to stand at the back of the train and look at, get fuel, full panorama.
of the valley is amazing.
believe it has the glass ceilings as well.
it does.
Yeah, okay.
And then you have the Andean Explorer.
(28:57):
Now, back in the day, you used to connect Cusco to Lake Titicaca or Puno with a train, wasreally just, I think it was a prurail train that you just connect.
Right.
And then...
How long ago did Belmont start running the Andean Explorer?
It's been quite a few years now as well.
we still do the same similar route to what you're saying.
(29:18):
So it's Cusco.
You can either do a one or two night journey.
So one night could end in Puno or if you're doing two nights, it goes on to Arequipa andyou can do the reverse trip as well.
But the same thing.
Some of the excursions are at Lake Titicaca where you could go see the floating islands.
We visit the Sunbe Caves at one point.
So there's a few different experiences to kind of hop on and off.
(29:38):
and see different areas that you're going through.
But it is the highest altitude train journey on earth.
So you're getting some quite incredible landscapes that you're through.
I've driven through there a gazillion times.
If you like desert, you'll be in heaven.
But it's a very different type of desert, very different type of landscape.
So I haven't looked at this particular journey for a while.
(30:01):
When you do the two night at Cusco via Puno to Ataquipa,
there is an option to go into the Kalki Canyon, as you mentioned.
So where does the train stop?
Cause it doesn't go into the canyon that I know.
No, doesn't.
We have a very unique point.
It's just kind of a landing dock almost in the middle of the Andes.
(30:22):
It's really in the middle of nowhere.
So when we do that, it's just a stop and our team from Las Casitas meets the client rightthere.
They come up from the canyon to you up.
And they bring you to the hotel from that point.
But rather than going all the way to Arequipa, it actually
saves quite a bit of time from your drive if you were going to head there.
yeah, definitely.
Yeah.
(30:43):
when the experience in the Kulku Canyon is done, do you pick up the train or they justdrive you to Arakipa?
They would take you back to just drive you to Arakipa.
Exactly.
Okay, wonderful.
Okay.
So you've mentioned you have the Singapore through Malaysia train, which is somewhat new.
And you just, I forgot in the hotel you said a new one just opened or you've taken over.
was that?
(31:04):
Romanceino.
So that's in Sardinia.
So the latest to the collection.
So that if anyone is familiar with that region that actually used to be a luxurycollection hotel This is the first year we took it over.
This is the first hotel in our collection that we don't physically own So you wanteverything else?
We own everything else That's one of the biggest benefits of LVMH to definitely keep inmind because there's strong a backing and strong investment to keep these hotels looking
(31:32):
incredible because they're physical assets of ours, but Romancino was an exception.
We really wanted to get in
to Sardinia.
So this was a step that we could do that.
So it's been open from May.
It's actually just closed this past weekend for the season.
It's going to reopen next May and we're going to do some enhancements over this closure toget it even more to Belmont standards next year.
(31:55):
OK, so are there any other new product developments on the horizon?
So that was the latest.
That seems like a pretty big one.
Yeah, that was a big one.
However, there's always expansion.
The one thing I'll note is that because Belmont, like you
you kind of hinted at before too.
It's very important for us to be in a unique location or have a very historic buildingthat we're renovating.
(32:16):
So we don't expand like crazy like a lot of the other luxury brands.
We're very selective and it does take a bit of time to find the property.
However, you will see more coming in Italy that Italy is always a area for us.
they some capacity down there.
It's so busy.
always so busy.
Everyone always wants to go there.
(32:37):
That will definitely be coming.
You also will see Mexico start to.
really?
And kind of.
Whereabouts?
So we have purchased two properties.
can't, one's in Nayarit, I can say.
The other is.
Nayarit.
It's on the Pacific side.
Pacific side, okay.
So.
North or more further south?
I don't know, that off top of my head.
A bit further south.
Further south, okay.
(32:58):
So we just reopened Maroma, which is in the Riviera Maya.
Okay.
That had been closed for almost three years to do a full enhancement.
or just timed for?
Weirdly, good timing for us.
That happened.
it was a good thing about COVID, that was good for you guys.
They were going to do it anyway.
So that was kind of the first.
(33:19):
luxury property that was built in that part of Mexico many years ago.
So we didn't touch the exteriors, but we did a full renovation of it.
And this was the full resort renovation since becoming part of LVMH.
This was the first tackling of that, one of our properties.
So really excited when it reopened end of last summer.
And then I think they kind of want to build out a Mexico a bit more similar.
(33:42):
That's a very common thing for Belmont to have.
Now you could do all of Italy with Belmont, right?
You could do all of Peru with Belmont.
So they like building out areas like that.
OK, so you said there's no one coming, but you can't say where at this stage.
It will still be a couple of years before it opens, to be honest.
But yeah, Mexico's on the horizon, but I'm sure more locations will be coming.
OK, now we never really I never asked the question I've experienced and you'veexperienced, obviously.
(34:09):
Why Belmont?
Why Belmont over another luxury brand?
Well, the trains, I think, speak for themselves.
I think that's they're unique in themselves.
And that's why you go.
because no one else has a train like the Horembingam or the Andean Explorer or does theclassic Orient Express run?
The Scotsman.
What was the Scotsman again?
The Royal.
The Royal Scotsman.
(34:31):
I think the canal crews speak for themselves where you can charter your own floatingvilla, again to quote yourself.
But why would someone, why should someone choose say the Copacabana Hotel over some of theother beautiful luxury hotels in Rio or in Italy or anywhere else?
I think so Belmond really our whole
Bye!
thought process right now.
(34:51):
We like to say we're perpetuating the art of legendary travel, but what that kind of meansis we're focusing on slow travel.
we really want guests to, for example, not jam so many countries in one trip.
We really want people to extend their stay, relax, allow some time for spontaneity.
(35:12):
Also a big thing for Belmond is focusing on the experience on property.
So culinary, wellness, sustainability, those are huge
pillars for us and creating and craftsmanship.
So Moroma, like in the Riviera Maya is, I encourage people, if you have the time to go seethat property, that's really where the whole collection is going.
(35:34):
it took so long because we had local Mexican artisans hand paint every single tile in theproperty.
So there's over 10,000 tiles, the couches in the suites, for example, the whole base iswood that took six months to hand carve.
So, attention to detail.
incredible.
We really want people everywhere you look at one of our properties, there's kind of astory behind it.
(35:56):
There's an educational component and uniqueness of it.
as well.
Yeah.
And there's a, there's ties to the local community.
That's super important for us as well.
So what's, what's Belmont's philosophy on that fact?
you know, particularly when you start talking about, you know, I don't want to usedeveloping countries cause Peru is quite developed, but in people's mind, I might perceive
Peru as developing Mexico has its issues, but
(36:18):
Does Belmond put, like, do you just go in, it doesn't sound like you do, I'm playingdevil's advocate in my question here, do you go in and take over resort and sort of, it's
Belmond's and the finance's all feedback to head office in Italy, or is it investment backinto the respective local communities?
Absolutely.
So a couple things.
Firstly, I'll just say that with Belmond, you'll also never see like a brand new buildingcome up.
(36:42):
We do, you'll see it's very popular for us to have former monasteries or former palaces.
So we want to take these historic buildings and kind of repurpose them to be a hotel.
So that's, that's one aspect of it.
The second aspect, for example, like if we keeping in Moroma, sustainability is a hugefocus for us there.
So we actually just partnered with a company called Parley for the ocean.
(37:04):
So now we have this whole plan in place to kind of preserve some of the coral reefs thereand to kind of help the sustainability of the ocean.
So, so it's beyond the four walls in the room.
Beyond.
And for example, even I was chatting with our team,
they have an activity for the staff that they could do whenever they like.
So they have a whole team where they can go out and kind of use cameras that Parleyprovides to coral map the ocean to send them the footage.
(37:29):
it's kind of on their days off when they want to go snorkeling, they can do this and itkind of just helps.
preserve that area.
that same philosophy extends to all your properties and services over to Sherpa.
My favorite one, unfortunately we still have a hotel and a big river cruiser boat inMyanmar, but we haven't been able to reopen just given the conflict there.
(37:51):
But my favorite thing was with that hotel that we had an actual clinic, like a healthclinic with doctors that was all Belmont owned that kind of helped the country there.
So we still actually have it.
Hopefully everything will be up
been operating soon but yeah it's super important for us.
in short Belmont's putting back into the communities in which it works and has establisheditself.
(38:16):
In the world of luxury travel is Belmont the most expensive?
Is it on par with other competitive products?
When an agent wants to pitch this because it's not an at a cost there is a cost to it butyou get what you pay for and we often have travel agents have trouble
not pitching prices, but justifying a cost of a service, be it a hotel, be it a train, beit Belmond Beach, someone else's.
(38:42):
So in your mind, what's the easiest way, the best way to get around that pushback from anend user?
Well, that's really expensive.
Yeah, I we are on the higher end.
That's for sure.
I will encourage people to either have a login on our Belmont Pro, which is our advisorportal, or just also to make sure you have my contact handy, because I'm happy to put all
(39:03):
that on the screen for those watching.
And the main thing is we we understand that like people are spending a lot to stay withus.
And this is their
their personal time, their vacations.
So one of the main things Belmont does is we do include a lot of value adds that might notbe necessarily top of mind when you think about it.
So for Italy, for example, our hotel in the Amalfi Coast, which is up in Ravello, we're upin the hills.
(39:29):
But if you actually look, we include a complimentary boat tour for every guest.
They have access to a complimentary beach club that's like fully Dior'd out to Dior isdoing a lot of big partnerships with us.
So there's a lot
of additional inclusions where normally if you're going to that part of the country youare going to be doing those things anyways but you're getting it complimentary with us.
(39:50):
it would be fair to say that the hotels beyond just again the four walls of the roomthere's I don't want to say it's resort-esque with included but there are inclusions in
most of the properties in the Belmont family.
Absolutely.
Yeah, so here at Go Way 2, again, we are here talking about Belmont.
We also have other luxury products and places where Belmont aren't, so it's a natural.
(40:15):
And cost is a factor in any form of travel, right?
People are very budget conscious, particularly these days.
So if you do have those questions about, I'm talking to our agents out there now about whyis that so expensive?
Just speak to Go because we have ways to explain it and...
Again, people have to do some research as well.
can't just say, here's a hotel at Machu Picchu or here's a hotel in Venice and just notlook into why it may be worth it.
(40:42):
And of course, as Andrea mentioned just then,
when a property puts that much effort into the one in Mexico, I've forgotten its namealready, sorry.
Maroma.
Maroma.
Like, where you have hand-carved furniture and individually painted tiles, which in Mexicocan be, I'm assuming it's a rather large property as well, or a decent sized property.
Yes, it's 72 rooms, but it's a sprawling property.
(41:04):
Yeah, so that translates to a lot of tiles in Mexico, having them all hand-painted.
Yeah, and it's also for a certain type of client.
It's not for everyone.
It's a discerning client.
It's the clients who do have that type of budget.
So have no fear, speak to go away or again, we will put up Andrea's information here ifyou want to go to her directly, which we have no problems with as well speaking to our
(41:27):
partners out there because we know it, but Andrea knows it better than I do for sure.
And she's been to almost all of them.
Almost all.
Got to hit the safaris.
OK, so we've covered any new stuff coming up.
So Mexico is probably the next one on the horizon.
It's happened.
The new hotel in Sardinia.
Hopefully Miramar will open up when political things settle down.
(41:47):
Is there anything else you'd to leave our listening audience, our trade partners out therewith about the Belmond line of properties and services?
Yeah, just to thank everyone for their support and just to keep us top as mind aspossible.
I know Belmond sometimes all of our properties have their own unique names.
People might not be familiar with Belmond as a brand, but they actually might be familiarwith the Cipriani or things like that.
(42:11):
So I'm always here to assist and kind of help more Canadians and anyone kind
of experience the brand.
(42:47):
luxury lodge booked out well in advance.
So in general, what would be your most, well not in general, talking specifically, whatwould be your most popular properties and or services?
And in general, how far ahead should an agent be advising their clients to book?
Yeah, I think...
Arguably probably the most popular collection would be the Italy hotels.
(43:11):
Those definitely need a few months in advance.
Just a few months?
Yeah, because you know what's strange is we're noticing a lot of different patterns in thepast couple of years.
Like for example, Italy used to always July, August be sold out.
it's kind of changed now.
We had that happen in May, June.
A lot of people are going off season and we did have some space in July, August.
(43:31):
So don't want to deter anyone to say we're sold out, but definitely Italy needs a fewmonths.
I would say, or if you're flexible on dates, then we can usually find something.
Similarly with the Royal Scotsman, that's a super popular train for us.
So you definitely want, I would say six months in advance if you're looking for a specificdates or a specific cabin type, especially.
(43:56):
But usually we can make something work if you have a bit of flexibility.
That's good to know because Goa over the last couple of years has run into, I don't wantto say it's a problem for people wanting to book, but it's a good thing for Italy that
we've had to actually stop sell Italy in general.
Okay.
Right.
Because it's become so, so busy.
Yeah.
I was expecting you to say something similar, but you're saying for your properties inItaly within reason, within reason.
(44:21):
There's a few exceptions.
Like Splendido Mare, for example, which is in
Portofino we have two there but San Dino Mari is 14 rooms so if you want that one that onedefinitely more in advance but yeah usually if someone is saying we want to go to Italy
we're a bit flexible we can put something together for them.
Well that's good from the Belmont property point of view but for those listening don'tthink that applies to all of Italy.
(44:47):
We strongly suggest for Europe in general that you're
now for next year.
So six to eight months ahead would be good.
It's starting to come in.
Yeah, definitely.
And obviously though for Belmont, at Seam in Italy, they have a little bit more, I don'twant say flexibility, but a little more space at the expected high season.
So keep that in mind as well.
And always flexible.
(45:08):
Be, or not you, travel partners, your clients.
Ask them to be somewhat flexible, particularly if they're coming in with late requests foranywhere in the world, but particularly Europe and also because of Italy.
Okay.
So on that note, I'd like to thank
Andrea for her time today, was really fascinating.
learned some stuff.
again, I knew my Peru stuff, but I didn't know a lot of the other stuff.
(45:28):
The floating villas, cruises sound really cool.
They're incredible.
And the train in Europe is what I expected it to be very, very nice.
So I wish you luck in getting down to Botswana to hit those.
Yes, hopefully next year.
Those remaining two bits of Belmont property.
Everyone else are there.
Thank you for listening today.
Really appreciate your time.
(45:48):
And Andrea, thank you again from Belmont.
Awesome.
Hey there everyone, I'm Don, Professor Goethe and welcome to the GoethePro Travel Talepodcast.
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(00:30):
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Now today I'd like to introduce or welcome Andrea Valente, who is the account director ofBelmond.
Now, for those who may not know who Belmond is, Belmond was formerly the Orient Expresschain of properties and.
(01:18):
Trains, correct Andrea?
Okay, so before we get into Belmont, now we know where it was or who it was, can you giveus a little background on yourself, who you are, how you came to be representing Belmont
and their product?
Yes, so I am your contractor.
I'm based here in Toronto.
So I previously used to be with the Ritz Carlton for many years.
So I was there about nine years.
(01:39):
That was my introduction into the luxury world of hospitality.
And then just through those connections, luckily I was able to get within the Belmontfamily in right post pandemic.
So it was actually 2021.
The company was really looking to expand the sales team to make Belmont a bit more wellknown in Canada.
(02:00):
especially since we don't physically have any products or hotels here.
So in Canada or Canada, the US, actually only have one now.
It's just in Santa Barbara.
We'll touch on that.
Exactly.
So I was brought in really to bring more awareness to all the Canadians of our amazingcollection here.
So it's been three years with the company.
(02:21):
So from the Ritz Carlton, which is a five star chain, correct?
It is a five star, but it is very different.
So I used to be with the two Canadian ones here and it is a bit more corporate,definitely.
So switching to Belmond, it's much more leisure focused, which has been really fun.
But Belmond, I think most people know if they don't know the name Belmond, Orient Expresswould also suggest that it's a five star.
(02:43):
Definitely five star.
of service and product throughout the world.
Exactly.
OK, so you just mentioned that there is no Belmond property
or otherwise in Canada, but there is one in the US and you mentioned Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara, it's called El Encanto.
So it's kind of tucked up in the hills.
That's a hotel, would assume.
Hotel, yes.
So it almost looks like a collection of cottages.
(03:04):
Yeah, it's a really beautiful spot.
But exactly that's kind of the closest to home for us Canadians to experience it.
Okay, so Belmont is
Fair to say worldwide?
Worldwide.
its offerings?
Okay.
I was going to read something I picked up from your website.
In 2024, the company had 47 properties in 28 countries and territories with 32 hotels, sixtrains, and seven riverboat cruises and two safaris.
(03:32):
Exactly.
Okay.
Something else.
The company was founded in 1976 by an American entrepreneur, James Sherwood, withacquisition of the Hotel Cipriani in Venice.
Exactly.
He then bought some carriages from the original Orient Express train which he restored andused to offer rides from Paris to London to his hotel in Venice.
(03:54):
And it was in 2014 that Orient Express became Bellman.
And I remember working with Orient Express when it was Orient Express and was Bellman.
Now my background is the Latin America area so I'm quite well versed with your products.
I believe it's just in Peru, is that correct?
And we have two in Brazil as well.
yeah, of course you have.
What's the hotel in Rio?
Yes, have Copacabana Palace.
(04:14):
Copacabana Palace, of course.
And then we also have Hotel Das Cataratas, which is out of Guassu Falls.
of course.
I sold those all the time.
How could I forget Das Cataratas?
Yes.
OK, so we'll come back to Latin America.
We'll round up with that.
So that so we have in Peru, there's a hotel, there's a train.
(04:35):
Peru is actually quite a big hub for us now.
So we have six hotels and two trains in Peru.
You have the Monasterio.
Monasterio and Placio Nazarenes are actually, they're right next door to each other inCusco.
That's in Cusco.
And you have the Sanctuary Lodge.
Sanctuary Lodge, is right at the gates of Machu Picchu.
We also have Rio Sagrado, which is in the Sacred Valley.
We also have one in Lima called Miraflores Park Hotel.
(04:59):
And then the last one is Colca Canyon.
So we have hotel, which one's in the Colca?
It's called Las Casitas.
When did Belmont take that one on?
We've had it for quite a bit now.
It's part of the collection.
it's actually, it's quite small.
So it's only about 15 cottages down in the canyon.
But the best part about that is it pairs really nicely with our train, the AndeanExplorer.
(05:23):
Cause that starts in Cusco and goes down to Arequipa.
And there's a stop where you can hop off at Colca Canyon.
Okay.
We'll expand on that in a minute.
Okay.
So would it be fair to say Pru is your biggest center then of properties and...
It's actually Italy.
Italy would be number one in number of so let's go through Italy then.
Yeah, so we have nine hotels now in Italy.
(05:43):
So like you mentioned the whole company once we got the carriages for the Venice SimplonOrient Express, the Cipriani was the first hotel which was in Venice and the Italian
portfolio definitely grew from there.
We have nine now.
The latest was actually just this year.
We have a brand new hotel that opened called Romazzino in Sardinia.
So that was the latest collection and Italy is definitely
(06:05):
very important to Belmont, so it's going to continue to grow.
You're going to see more hotels coming to Italy.
so those who are watching our podcast here on our YouTube channel, so we've got Venice,Sardinia, what other locations?
If we start from top to bottom, Venice would be the most northern, then we have two hotelsnow in Portofino, Splendido and Splendido Mare.
(06:25):
Next, if we head down to Florence, Tuscany area, we have Villa San Michele in Florence, upin the hills of Fiesole.
We also have in Tuscany, Castelladica.
which is on 4200 acres of land, very in the country, it's beautiful.
Heading down to the Amalfi Coast, we're in Ravello, we have Caruso, and then we have twoin Sardinia.
(06:47):
So we have both in Terra Mina, but we have one up in the town called Grand Hotel Tomeo,and then we also have Villa San Andrea, which is your...
essentially your quintessential beach escape in Sicily right on the water.
again for those who watching I would have thrown up a map while you were talking Andrea.
So people will know geographically what we're talking about there.
(07:08):
So Italy is just hotels, no trains, no...
No specific trains however the Venice Simplon Orient Express, one of the biggest hubs isin Venice.
So it's very likely that someone would do the trip and then stay at the Cipriani after.
So that classic Orient Express train ride which people might know from movies and booksruns
from Venice to London or did?
(07:28):
So it still does.
That's one of the best things about Belmont in the past couple years.
We've really expanded our variety of offerings on that train.
So the two hubs would definitely be Venice and Paris.
That's the most common route to do that journey.
and Paris is most common.
But they're all one night journeys.
So now, for example, you can go from Paris to Florence, Paris to Rome, Brussels,Amsterdam.
(07:51):
Our longest journey goes to Istanbul.
That's a five night journey.
Paris.
Paris.
Yeah.
And now we also go to Portofino, Ticcano, you can do the French Alps.
So Paris is the main like?
Paris is normally.
Is it the hub?
Yeah.
Normally it's on one of the legs.
You're either starting or ending in Paris.
Okay.
Yeah.
So you mentioned overnight, again, shorter trip, not Istanbul.
(08:13):
So I would assume that the train run, let's just talk Paris.
Yes.
it's for the sake of conversation.
I would assume that it's sleeper cars.
Sleeper cars.
We have a few different cabin options.
The smallest
would be like your historic cabin, which actually has the upper and lower berths going upto the largest carriage, which would be our grand suite.
(08:35):
Sneak peek actually next year, starting in July, we have a brand new carriage coming out.
So to give you an idea, one carriage would hold nine regular cabins or three grand suites.
The newest suite we're offering is a whole carriage to itself.
it's going to be the most high end.
Yes.
And it's going to be very unique of its
(08:55):
in comparison to any other train journey.
So that's a bucket list.
on the, again we're talking this train.
Now tell me if this sort of rolls out because I know the Peruvian trains.
Yes.
Okay but I don't know any other trains you might run.
Okay.
So if what you're describing is applicable to other trains can you just let us know that?
Yeah.
So you have your sleeper bertha course.
(09:16):
Yes.
I would assume there's dining cars on board.
Is there an observation car on that particular train?
The European one?
The Venice Simplon or Inexpress is the only one that doesn't have
an observation car.
we have multiple dining cars.
have a bar car.
So for instance, in the bar car, there would be a grand piano.
There's live entertainment with like a horn section, a singer.
(09:38):
So the Venice Simplon is kind of a bit different, to be honest, because it's a bit of ait's a one night journey.
The destination is the train.
So really, you're on board the whole time.
Whereas the Andean Explorer, like you mentioned in Peru, or we also have the RoyalScotsman now in Scotland, which runs from
That one is always in and out of Edinburgh, but it could be anywhere almost up to sevennights if you wanted to.
(10:01):
But those are a bit different because they'll have observation cars, they'll have thedining cars, the bar cars.
They also have spa cars on them because you're on them longer.
So the Royal Scotsman, for example, had the first Dior spa ever on a train.
So you could get a really cool treatment going through the countryside there.
But those have a bit more in terms of offerings because you're on for a longer amount ofSo as you say, guess without
(10:25):
cheaping the product, which it's not by any means, but the sort of European excluding theIstanbul is more of a connector.
Whereas the other journeys would be a journey on a train, a journey versus getting frompoint A to point B.
The one, the other one is very much, yeah, you're getting from point A to point B, but youwant to do it in the most grand experience.
It's a formal affair.
We're bringing you back to the twenties and thirties.
(10:46):
That was my next question for, I know this doesn't apply for the Belmont in Peru, but forthe European and when I now say European, I'm talking
The Venice and also the UK.
The Royal Scotsman.
Is the dress code, is it an enforced dress code of formal or Just on the Venice, simple onorange dress.
(11:09):
in that, cause it's a one night, that one is more formal.
So you're basically going out for dinner on a train, starting in one city and ending up inanother.
Exactly.
Whereas the Royal Scottsdon, there's one, we say formal, but it's much more casual.
And we actually do that because one of the experiences on board is you could get the fullScottish dress put in your cabin so that you could be in kiln and everything.
(11:31):
that's kind
of one way we just make one of the evenings a bit more formal so people can enjoy thatway.
but the actual journey, if you were to choose seven days it's casual, with a formal night.
And of course if you wanted to dress up throughout, you course you can.
So when someone books on, we're talking trains here at the moment, and excluding the PeruUnc which is more of a connector, like a very short connector time-wise, the cost of a
(11:59):
berth includes what?
Is it pretty much standard or varies by journey?
It varies a little bit.
again, always the Venice Simplon Orient Express is a little different.
with every single train of ours, everything is included in terms of food and beverage likethat.
(12:19):
The only difference with the Venice Simplon Orient Express is after your dinner in the barcar, those drinks would be on consumption.
That's the only additional cost involved.
Whereas the Andean Explorer in Peru
the Royal Scotsman in the UK.
We also, didn't mention yet, but we have a train that starts and ends in Singapore andgoes through Malaysia now.
(12:39):
because didn't you used to have one that ran from Bangkok to Singapore?
This is the same, yeah.
So the same train.
Right now we're not including Thailand yet.
We're still, again, post pandemic, there's still some different laws about going into thecountry.
So hopefully eventually one day we'll get back.
Tied to COVID still?
Restrictions that came in after that, yeah, with train travel.
(13:01):
so hopefully we can get back.
But regardless, we have an amazing new journey that goes throughout the heart of Malaysianow.
Okay, so that, so I know we're jumping all over destinations here, but that, okay, so theMalaysian option runs from where to where?
It starts and ends in Singapore, but it will go through Malaysia.
nice.
Yeah.
So those three, like Scotland, Malaysia, and Peru, those three are very similar in thatwhen you book on
(13:24):
line or with our team, everything is included.
All your food and beverage, all your excursions, transfers to and from the hotel to get tothe train station.
So that's very much considered that an all inclusive package.
Entrances to any site you may visit.
If we're going to stay in Scotland, sometimes there's touring castles or if you're goinginto a national park in Malaysia, all that's included.
(13:44):
So basically from hotel pick up to hotel drop off when you buy a Belmond train journey,everything's included.
Exactly.
Wonderful.
Now, so we have trains in the UK, we have trains in Europe, trains in Asia, Malaysia,Singapore.
We've talked in Peru, any other train journeys?
(14:05):
So the only other ones that we have are actually two day trains.
And I do like to bring these up because I kind of feel like if someone is interested in atrain, but maybe they have yet to pull the trigger on booking an overnight journey with
us, a great option is to try a day train just to get a taste of what life on board wouldbe.
So one of them actually is also in Peru.
It takes you from, yes, it takes you from Cusco to Machu Picchu or the reverse trip.
(14:30):
But the other is the British Pullman and that's in and out of London.
in.
variety of different options.
You could be doing a champagne brunch, a four course lunch, we have four course dinner.
We even have a murder mystery one.
So we have live actors on board where you could solve the mystery before getting back toLondon.
And that especially because the UK that's usually a great stopover location.
(14:51):
So maybe don't have time to do the countryside, you could do it in one afternoon, right?
So those are my questions.
So the the UK ones are like a four hour, five hour between four to five hours.
Exactly.
And the hiring being from everything to
depending on where you pick up the train.
Yeah it's a tiny bit longer now it may be about three and a half hours but that one'sequally as great you're usually on the way there you're doing a brunch on the way back
(15:16):
it's a four course dinner and there's again live entertainment in the bar car there's theobservation deck so I've done I've been lucky enough to stay at
Rio Sagrado.
I've done the Hiram Bingham a few times.
Stayed at the sanctuary only twice and I've been to Machu Picchu a million times so it'sonly there twice.
I think that's only, no I stayed at the Miraflores Park in Lima.
(15:40):
so you just had to Kolkka Canyon, really?
No, yeah, I've never, every time we were in the Kolkka Canyon, we camped.
I was a tour guide back in the day.
And I don't think Las Casitas were there when I was tour leading, and we're talking longtime ago.
But I was having me back in the canyon for while, but even then I think we drove by theCasitas and didn't go in.
(16:03):
So I've experienced, I'd say four or five of the products.
yourself, you're throwing them all.
That's your job.
know them all.
Have you been to the mall?
Not the mall yet.
Honestly, quite a bit.
The collection I haven't explored yet are the Safaris.
I have been on Safaris, but that was before I joined the company.
(16:23):
So I need to head to those.
Okay.
So I didn't know that Belmont did Safaris as a product type.
So tell me what a Belmont Safaris versus a normal Safaris for want of a better term.
So we have two really unique ones.
They're both in Northern Botswana and they're a 20 minute flight apart from one another.
And we use a partner in Macier.
(16:44):
So we have a lot of guests.
If they're going to safari with us, they're staying at both.
They usually do three nights, three nights.
But two, the best thing is they're two totally different experiences.
So one would be in Chobie National Park, very much like a desert landscape.
This was totally redone, this hotel for 2020 when it reopened.
(17:04):
it's got an amazing pool deck.
It's ultimate luxury, but there's only 12 tented cabins.
Are both these safari lodges, are they tented camps or like?
They're permanent tented camps.
But they are tented, first solid building so to speak.
Exactly.
Yeah.
So back to the sort of colonial-esque vibe.
And that one, so that one has a great watering hole right out front because that's themore desert landscape.
(17:30):
You actually can do quite a bit of incredible viewing right from your terrace or if you'reat the pool, but they'll do the traditional game drives morning and evening.
Whereas we have that one, then Eagle Island Lodge would be for someone I'd say that'smaybe a bit more adventurous, watch something totally unique because we are on a private
concession there.
We're on an island.
So May through October, the water is right up.
(17:51):
kind of surrounding the property.
That's where you could do the Makoro canoes.
So this one's in the Delta itself?
This is in the Okavango Delta.
you've got one in the Delta, one in Choby.
So that one you're like more, could be eye level with the elephants in the water if you'reon the canoes.
We do have larger barges as well to do cruises in the evening and the speed boats.
(18:13):
And there because we're on the private concession, you have more opportunities to dodifferent excursions like helicopters.
You can even do horseback riding there.
Really cool to get very different experiences and game viewing from both locations.
Yeah, and I highly recommend anyone listening or watching that if you're looking atselling or pushing an African Safari
that you consider Botswana and the Delta in particular.
(18:35):
Because it's such, like everyone expects and gets, you know, the classic savanna typesafari, but the Delta is so different.
Because as you're saying Andrea, it's water based primarily in Makoros, which are dug outcanoes.
know, hippos, elephants, all in the water.
If you're a fisherman too, or fisher person, it's a really good spot to go fishing aswell.
(18:56):
So it's a good option.
So you basically, you being Belmont have two camps, tentative camps.
and we do have a hotel in Cape Town.
So we have Mount Nelson Hotel, which is big historic building that was painted pink forpeace over 100 years ago now.
I know the building.
didn't know it was a A lot of people know that building.
(19:17):
It's been frequented by Nelson Mandela.
It's a very historic property.
So that's kind of a nice way to either start or end your journey in Africa before headingto Botswana.
So if an agent is looking at your properties and services, hotels, hang on,
before we get into that.
Boats or river vessels.
are your river vessels?
Yeah, I know the company says river cruisers online.
(19:41):
I personally call them canal cruisers because they're very different.
They are
barges essentially that are for charter only.
So consider this a floating villa.
You have your own cabin crew, private chef, tour guide on board.
could be a family of people, it's not a group tour.
It's no.
It's a chartered vessel.
(20:03):
Yeah.
The smallest is actually only two cabins, four people.
The largest is 12 people, six cabins.
And this similar to the trains, consider it all inclusive.
It's six nights, seven days.
Again, you have the tour guide and everything.
your food and beverage is included, all your excursions.
Chef on board.
So they actually would call the clients or the advisors about two months before, kind ofshow them the planned itinerary, but then say, what do want to change?
(20:30):
What do you like eating?
Fully customize it.
Yeah, exactly.
And where are they sailing?
So go through, it's only in France.
However, we go through Champagne, Canal du Midi, Burgundy or Provence.
So four different regions.
And again,
because they're these smaller boats they go through these really narrow canals that youwouldn't see these towns on a river cruiser right there a bit more unique a bit less
(20:56):
touristy as well a lot of so this will get you off the beaten path because it is Francewhich has a lot of unique quiet areas but it's not on the tourist trail definitely not so
if you're looking to get away from the usual crowds yeah in your own obviously privacyyour own
Chartered vessel.
Yeah, this is the way to do it exactly.
(21:16):
It's a really unique experience We we didn't necessarily touch on it yet, but I do want toremind people that Belmond is owned by LVMH Louis Vuitton, Moet Hennessy so I especially
like to mention that especially for these barges because For example, we go through thechampagne region, right LVMH owns all those historic champagne houses So consider those
(21:36):
experiences we can have a really unique take that a lot of other companies can't get thoseclients in so what way would
be the hub for the cruises Paris again?
so we included in the experience we would include round-trip transfers to and from Pariswherever the clients are staying sometimes if they're doing say a journey more south,
Provence region or somewhere a bit lower we could do round-trip transfers even to Genevaanywhere they're kind of headed afterwards.
(22:03):
They would be add-on costs though for outside of Paris or would that be included?
No we've included.
Included as well okay so you have flexibility in that respect to where they're stuck
or finishing within reason.
Now if a client or an agent out there is looking at all your properties, let's talk theRiver Cruise.
(22:25):
By booking a Belmont hotel in conjunction with the Canal Cruise, are there any discounts,is there any benefit in doing all Belmont from start to finish or within?
There always is for all of our hotels.
I will mention though that for specifically Peru and Africa, we have what's calledJourneys in Peru and Journeys in Africa.
(22:51):
And it's essentially operated as our own in-house DMC.
So we would work with GoAE and we could do everything for you from the tours, transfers,all of that.
And it would come at like a unique price point for you to have all of that included in theexperience.
Yeah.
Again, I knew that for Peru.
That's why I asked the question.
(23:11):
to every just African Peru you get a of a combined price reduction or would that extend toEurope as well?
Europe we don't necessarily have the DMC aspect where we would do all the tours andeverything.
However our hotels absolutely can book transfers and all of that it's more at an ad hocbasis for those.
Yeah so we mentioned at the beginning that this is Belmond being a luxury brand
(23:38):
I think people listening will understand that it is based on the cruising where cancharter your own vessels through the canals.
For those that don't know, I'm use what I know well, Das Cataratas on the Brazilian sideis the only hotel within the national park.
in Iguazu Falls on the opposite side, the Argentinian side, have the Sheraton, is itSheraton still?
(24:04):
Iguazu is the equivalent.
But having been to both these two many times, Das Catarazas is simply stunning.
It's literally a stone's from the fall.
So apart from it being these properties and services being very, very high end, a lot ofthem are also very uniquely located, which segues again to my backyard knowledge of the
(24:26):
sanctuary
Lodge.
for those who may not know Machu Picchu, it's up on a hill.
There's a little town below it, Aguas Calientes, which is slowly being renamed MachuPicchu Pueblo.
And that's where 99 % of the hotels are.
Exactly.
Down in the valley.
And they're beautiful.
Some stunning ones down there.
but Belmond grabbed the sanctuary lodge, which literally also sets a stone's throw fromthe entrance to Machu Picchu.
(24:53):
Now, it's not overly posh.
but it's location in this instance, think.
Yeah.
That one's a bit smaller and also because we have some restrictions with that.
It is very nice.
Don't get me wrong.
Yeah.
That one mainly though, cause it's, we're in partnership with the government for that one.
So I definitely, I agree.
I wouldn't say that is our most luxury property by any means, but it's definitely thelocation.
(25:18):
You can get in to the park, the first ones essentially, just cause you're right therebefore the buses can come up.
Cause worth pointing out that,
as Andrea just mentioned, where the hotel is.
During the day it is quite busy because it's where the entrance to the ruins are, whereall the buses come in, et cetera.
And it's worth pointing out on a sort of training point of view here that by staying atthe sanctuary you can get in or be at the front of the line, but you can't get in any
(25:42):
earlier and you can't stay any later.
Right.
Because sometimes we're asked that question.
Yes.
So that is a no to those two questions.
But you are literally...
20 meters from when you walk out of the door to the entrance to Machu Picchu.
Yeah.
And so we do have a really nice garden behind the property that does offer privacy.
(26:03):
So you do, you don't really notice all the buses out front, but absolutely they're rightthere.
And one of the best things about that though, too, is that it makes it not be in a rush.
So if you did want to go out or in and out of Machu Picchu a few times, you could also bethe last one to leave the park because a lot of people are going to catch the buses.
Right.
So there's opportunities to kind of have as much
(26:24):
privacy as you can.
No 100 % and it's definitely from a location point of view is probably one of the bestlocated hotels in the world for what you're located next to and the way I used to sell it
is during the day it's busy it'll be noisy because there's everyone there.
but Aguascalientes at night time, it's not crazy noisy, but there's night clubs and barsand stuff, it's happening at all town if you want that.
(26:45):
But at night time at the Sanctuary Lodge, this is the name comes into play, Sanctuary, itis stunning, because there's no one up there other than the people in the lodge.
And while you can't really see much of a picture, you know it's there, if you're intothis, it's very spiritual, it's mystical.
Yeah, so it's definitely worth it if you're looking for the Sanctuary, which will be atnight, not during the day.
(27:07):
Now, the train, I was gonna jump in
to Latin a bit here because that's where a lot of stuff happens where probably the bulk ofour work with you happens is in Peru.
Right.
So there are two trains there's the Hiram Bingham and that's named after the man whodiscovered rediscovered Machu Picchu and that runs from either Cusco or a town called
Ollantitambo which is halfway down the Shaker Valley to Machu Picchu.
(27:29):
Right.
Most people pick up the train on and off in Ollantitambo.
And this is a beautiful train ride.
Now you say it's about three and a half hours now.
Yeah.
Definitely not your regular commuter train.
Ultra luxury.
It's beautiful for the dining experiences on board, but I definitely loved the liveentertainment aspect.
(27:51):
kind of makes that whole, especially if you're taking the journey to Machu Picchu, you'revery excited to get there and it makes it such a fun experience to kind of take that train
ride there.
Same thing though.
It's definitely a party on the way back.
People are excited after
after a nice day of kind of hiking around to just relax and enjoy and have a beautifuldinner on board.
(28:11):
Yeah.
Now, anyone out there, you can take a train in in the morning, see Machu Picchu and returnsame day.
It's not recommended.
It could be done.
Normally you would overnight, ideally at the sanctuary lodge, of course, then come backthe next day.
And you can combine all the different trains.
You can take one, one way, whatever.
So I believe too that the Belmont was...
Most trains are doing it now, but was the first to have the viewing car on that particularrun.
(28:37):
Observation car, Yeah, and that's awesome because when you go to Machu Picchu, you'regoing down the valley and the valley itself is stunning.
So to be able to stand at the back of the train and look at, get fuel, full panorama.
of the valley is amazing.
believe it has the glass ceilings as well.
it does.
Yeah, okay.
And then you have the Andean Explorer.
(28:57):
Now, back in the day, you used to connect Cusco to Lake Titicaca or Puno with a train, wasreally just, I think it was a prurail train that you just connect.
Right.
And then...
How long ago did Belmont start running the Andean Explorer?
It's been quite a few years now as well.
we still do the same similar route to what you're saying.
(29:18):
So it's Cusco.
You can either do a one or two night journey.
So one night could end in Puno or if you're doing two nights, it goes on to Arequipa andyou can do the reverse trip as well.
But the same thing.
Some of the excursions are at Lake Titicaca where you could go see the floating islands.
We visit the Sunbe Caves at one point.
So there's a few different experiences to kind of hop on and off.
(29:38):
and see different areas that you're going through.
But it is the highest altitude train journey on earth.
So you're getting some quite incredible landscapes that you're through.
I've driven through there a gazillion times.
If you like desert, you'll be in heaven.
But it's a very different type of desert, very different type of landscape.
So I haven't looked at this particular journey for a while.
(30:01):
When you do the two night at Cusco via Puno to Ataquipa,
there is an option to go into the Kalki Canyon, as you mentioned.
So where does the train stop?
Cause it doesn't go into the canyon that I know.
No, doesn't.
We have a very unique point.
It's just kind of a landing dock almost in the middle of the Andes.
(30:22):
It's really in the middle of nowhere.
So when we do that, it's just a stop and our team from Las Casitas meets the client rightthere.
They come up from the canyon to you up.
And they bring you to the hotel from that point.
But rather than going all the way to Arequipa, it actually
saves quite a bit of time from your drive if you were going to head there.
yeah, definitely.
Yeah.
(30:43):
when the experience in the Kulku Canyon is done, do you pick up the train or they justdrive you to Arakipa?
They would take you back to just drive you to Arakipa.
Exactly.
Okay, wonderful.
Okay.
So you've mentioned you have the Singapore through Malaysia train, which is somewhat new.
And you just, I forgot in the hotel you said a new one just opened or you've taken over.
was that?
(31:04):
Romanceino.
So that's in Sardinia.
So the latest to the collection.
So that if anyone is familiar with that region that actually used to be a luxurycollection hotel This is the first year we took it over.
This is the first hotel in our collection that we don't physically own So you wanteverything else?
We own everything else That's one of the biggest benefits of LVMH to definitely keep inmind because there's strong a backing and strong investment to keep these hotels looking
(31:32):
incredible because they're physical assets of ours, but Romancino was an exception.
We really wanted to get in
to Sardinia.
So this was a step that we could do that.
So it's been open from May.
It's actually just closed this past weekend for the season.
It's going to reopen next May and we're going to do some enhancements over this closure toget it even more to Belmont standards next year.
(31:55):
OK, so are there any other new product developments on the horizon?
So that was the latest.
That seems like a pretty big one.
Yeah, that was a big one.
However, there's always expansion.
The one thing I'll note is that because Belmont, like you
you kind of hinted at before too.
It's very important for us to be in a unique location or have a very historic buildingthat we're renovating.
(32:16):
So we don't expand like crazy like a lot of the other luxury brands.
We're very selective and it does take a bit of time to find the property.
However, you will see more coming in Italy that Italy is always a area for us.
they some capacity down there.
It's so busy.
always so busy.
Everyone always wants to go there.
(32:37):
That will definitely be coming.
You also will see Mexico start to.
really?
And kind of.
Whereabouts?
So we have purchased two properties.
can't, one's in Nayarit, I can say.
The other is.
Nayarit.
It's on the Pacific side.
Pacific side, okay.
So.
North or more further south?
I don't know, that off top of my head.
A bit further south.
Further south, okay.
(32:58):
So we just reopened Maroma, which is in the Riviera Maya.
Okay.
That had been closed for almost three years to do a full enhancement.
or just timed for?
Weirdly, good timing for us.
That happened.
it was a good thing about COVID, that was good for you guys.
They were going to do it anyway.
So that was kind of the first.
(33:19):
luxury property that was built in that part of Mexico many years ago.
So we didn't touch the exteriors, but we did a full renovation of it.
And this was the full resort renovation since becoming part of LVMH.
This was the first tackling of that, one of our properties.
So really excited when it reopened end of last summer.
And then I think they kind of want to build out a Mexico a bit more similar.
(33:42):
That's a very common thing for Belmont to have.
Now you could do all of Italy with Belmont, right?
You could do all of Peru with Belmont.
So they like building out areas like that.
OK, so you said there's no one coming, but you can't say where at this stage.
It will still be a couple of years before it opens, to be honest.
But yeah, Mexico's on the horizon, but I'm sure more locations will be coming.
OK, now we never really I never asked the question I've experienced and you'veexperienced, obviously.
(34:09):
Why Belmont?
Why Belmont over another luxury brand?
Well, the trains, I think, speak for themselves.
I think that's they're unique in themselves.
And that's why you go.
because no one else has a train like the Horembingam or the Andean Explorer or does theclassic Orient Express run?
The Scotsman.
What was the Scotsman again?
The Royal.
The Royal Scotsman.
(34:31):
I think the canal crews speak for themselves where you can charter your own floatingvilla, again to quote yourself.
But why would someone, why should someone choose say the Copacabana Hotel over some of theother beautiful luxury hotels in Rio or in Italy or anywhere else?
I think so Belmond really our whole
Bye!
thought process right now.
(34:51):
We like to say we're perpetuating the art of legendary travel, but what that kind of meansis we're focusing on slow travel.
we really want guests to, for example, not jam so many countries in one trip.
We really want people to extend their stay, relax, allow some time for spontaneity.
(35:12):
Also a big thing for Belmond is focusing on the experience on property.
So culinary, wellness, sustainability, those are huge
pillars for us and creating and craftsmanship.
So Moroma, like in the Riviera Maya is, I encourage people, if you have the time to go seethat property, that's really where the whole collection is going.
(35:34):
it took so long because we had local Mexican artisans hand paint every single tile in theproperty.
So there's over 10,000 tiles, the couches in the suites, for example, the whole base iswood that took six months to hand carve.
So, attention to detail.
incredible.
We really want people everywhere you look at one of our properties, there's kind of astory behind it.
(35:56):
There's an educational component and uniqueness of it.
as well.
Yeah.
And there's a, there's ties to the local community.
That's super important for us as well.
So what's, what's Belmont's philosophy on that fact?
you know, particularly when you start talking about, you know, I don't want to usedeveloping countries cause Peru is quite developed, but in people's mind, I might perceive
Peru as developing Mexico has its issues, but
(36:18):
Does Belmond put, like, do you just go in, it doesn't sound like you do, I'm playingdevil's advocate in my question here, do you go in and take over resort and sort of, it's
Belmond's and the finance's all feedback to head office in Italy, or is it investment backinto the respective local communities?
Absolutely.
So a couple things.
Firstly, I'll just say that with Belmond, you'll also never see like a brand new buildingcome up.
(36:42):
We do, you'll see it's very popular for us to have former monasteries or former palaces.
So we want to take these historic buildings and kind of repurpose them to be a hotel.
So that's, that's one aspect of it.
The second aspect, for example, like if we keeping in Moroma, sustainability is a hugefocus for us there.
So we actually just partnered with a company called Parley for the ocean.
(37:04):
So now we have this whole plan in place to kind of preserve some of the coral reefs thereand to kind of help the sustainability of the ocean.
So, so it's beyond the four walls in the room.
Beyond.
And for example, even I was chatting with our team,
they have an activity for the staff that they could do whenever they like.
So they have a whole team where they can go out and kind of use cameras that Parleyprovides to coral map the ocean to send them the footage.
(37:29):
it's kind of on their days off when they want to go snorkeling, they can do this and itkind of just helps.
preserve that area.
that same philosophy extends to all your properties and services over to Sherpa.
My favorite one, unfortunately we still have a hotel and a big river cruiser boat inMyanmar, but we haven't been able to reopen just given the conflict there.
(37:51):
But my favorite thing was with that hotel that we had an actual clinic, like a healthclinic with doctors that was all Belmont owned that kind of helped the country there.
So we still actually have it.
Hopefully everything will be up
been operating soon but yeah it's super important for us.
in short Belmont's putting back into the communities in which it works and has establisheditself.
(38:16):
In the world of luxury travel is Belmont the most expensive?
Is it on par with other competitive products?
When an agent wants to pitch this because it's not an at a cost there is a cost to it butyou get what you pay for and we often have travel agents have trouble
not pitching prices, but justifying a cost of a service, be it a hotel, be it a train, beit Belmond Beach, someone else's.
(38:42):
So in your mind, what's the easiest way, the best way to get around that pushback from anend user?
Well, that's really expensive.
Yeah, I we are on the higher end.
That's for sure.
I will encourage people to either have a login on our Belmont Pro, which is our advisorportal, or just also to make sure you have my contact handy, because I'm happy to put all
(39:03):
that on the screen for those watching.
And the main thing is we we understand that like people are spending a lot to stay withus.
And this is their
their personal time, their vacations.
So one of the main things Belmont does is we do include a lot of value adds that might notbe necessarily top of mind when you think about it.
So for Italy, for example, our hotel in the Amalfi Coast, which is up in Ravello, we're upin the hills.
(39:29):
But if you actually look, we include a complimentary boat tour for every guest.
They have access to a complimentary beach club that's like fully Dior'd out to Dior isdoing a lot of big partnerships with us.
So there's a lot
of additional inclusions where normally if you're going to that part of the country youare going to be doing those things anyways but you're getting it complimentary with us.
(39:50):
it would be fair to say that the hotels beyond just again the four walls of the roomthere's I don't want to say it's resort-esque with included but there are inclusions in
most of the properties in the Belmont family.
Absolutely.
Yeah, so here at Go Way 2, again, we are here talking about Belmont.
We also have other luxury products and places where Belmont aren't, so it's a natural.
(40:15):
And cost is a factor in any form of travel, right?
People are very budget conscious, particularly these days.
So if you do have those questions about, I'm talking to our agents out there now about whyis that so expensive?
Just speak to Go because we have ways to explain it and...
Again, people have to do some research as well.
can't just say, here's a hotel at Machu Picchu or here's a hotel in Venice and just notlook into why it may be worth it.
(40:42):
And of course, as Andrea mentioned just then,
when a property puts that much effort into the one in Mexico, I've forgotten its namealready, sorry.
Maroma.
Maroma.
Like, where you have hand-carved furniture and individually painted tiles, which in Mexicocan be, I'm assuming it's a rather large property as well, or a decent sized property.
Yes, it's 72 rooms, but it's a sprawling property.
(41:04):
Yeah, so that translates to a lot of tiles in Mexico, having them all hand-painted.
Yeah, and it's also for a certain type of client.
It's not for everyone.
It's a discerning client.
It's the clients who do have that type of budget.
So have no fear, speak to go away or again, we will put up Andrea's information here ifyou want to go to her directly, which we have no problems with as well speaking to our
(41:27):
partners out there because we know it, but Andrea knows it better than I do for sure.
And she's been to almost all of them.
Almost all.
Got to hit the safaris.
OK, so we've covered any new stuff coming up.
So Mexico is probably the next one on the horizon.
It's happened.
The new hotel in Sardinia.
Hopefully Miramar will open up when political things settle down.
(41:47):
Is there anything else you'd to leave our listening audience, our trade partners out therewith about the Belmond line of properties and services?
Yeah, just to thank everyone for their support and just to keep us top as mind aspossible.
I know Belmond sometimes all of our properties have their own unique names.
People might not be familiar with Belmond as a brand, but they actually might be familiarwith the Cipriani or things like that.
(42:11):
So I'm always here to assist and kind of help more Canadians and anyone kind
of experience the brand.
(42:47):
luxury lodge booked out well in advance.
So in general, what would be your most, well not in general, talking specifically, whatwould be your most popular properties and or services?
And in general, how far ahead should an agent be advising their clients to book?
Yeah, I think...
Arguably probably the most popular collection would be the Italy hotels.
(43:11):
Those definitely need a few months in advance.
Just a few months?
Yeah, because you know what's strange is we're noticing a lot of different patterns in thepast couple of years.
Like for example, Italy used to always July, August be sold out.
it's kind of changed now.
We had that happen in May, June.
A lot of people are going off season and we did have some space in July, August.
(43:31):
So don't want to deter anyone to say we're sold out, but definitely Italy needs a fewmonths.
I would say, or if you're flexible on dates, then we can usually find something.
Similarly with the Royal Scotsman, that's a super popular train for us.
So you definitely want, I would say six months in advance if you're looking for a specificdates or a specific cabin type, especially.
(43:56):
But usually we can make something work if you have a bit of flexibility.
That's good to know because Goa over the last couple of years has run into, I don't wantto say it's a problem for people wanting to book, but it's a good thing for Italy that
we've had to actually stop sell Italy in general.
Okay.
Right.
Because it's become so, so busy.
Yeah.
I was expecting you to say something similar, but you're saying for your properties inItaly within reason, within reason.
(44:21):
There's a few exceptions.
Like Splendido Mare, for example, which is in
Portofino we have two there but San Dino Mari is 14 rooms so if you want that one that onedefinitely more in advance but yeah usually if someone is saying we want to go to Italy
we're a bit flexible we can put something together for them.
Well that's good from the Belmont property point of view but for those listening don'tthink that applies to all of Italy.
(44:47):
We strongly suggest for Europe in general that you're
now for next year.
So six to eight months ahead would be good.
It's starting to come in.
Yeah, definitely.
And obviously though for Belmont, at Seam in Italy, they have a little bit more, I don'twant say flexibility, but a little more space at the expected high season.
So keep that in mind as well.
And always flexible.
(45:08):
Be, or not you, travel partners, your clients.
Ask them to be somewhat flexible, particularly if they're coming in with late requests foranywhere in the world, but particularly Europe and also because of Italy.
Okay.
So on that note, I'd like to thank
Andrea for her time today, was really fascinating.
learned some stuff.
again, I knew my Peru stuff, but I didn't know a lot of the other stuff.
(45:28):
The floating villas, cruises sound really cool.
They're incredible.
And the train in Europe is what I expected it to be very, very nice.
So I wish you luck in getting down to Botswana to hit those.
Yes, hopefully next year.
Those remaining two bits of Belmont property.
Everyone else are there.
Thank you for listening today.
Really appreciate your time.
(45:48):
And Andrea, thank you again from Belmont.
Awesome.
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