Belmond has introduced a new Town & Country package in Italy combining stays at its new hilltop escape in the rolling hills of Tuscany, Belmond Castello di Casole, and Belmond Villa San Michele.

French billionaire Bernard Arnault and the LVMH Group have committed to assist with the reconstruction of the partially damaged Notre Dame Cathedral.

Until 30 April 2019, travel advisors can pass on up to 50% off a selection of Belmond’s rail experiences when booking with Rail Europe’s Great Train Journeys.

Belmond has this month opened its newest luxury dwelling in London, with the opening of the 54 room and suite Belmond Cadogan Hotel. Its debut follows a multi-million-pound historic renovation.

Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) has announced a series of premier global luxury travel exhibitors who will showcase their unique venues and destinations at the 2019 event.

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the world’s leading luxury group and Belmond, owners, part-owners or managers of 46 luxury hotel, restaurant, train and river cruise properties, have announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for LVMH to acquire Belmond.

Eastern & Oriental Express has unveiled a series of ‘pop-up’ culinary collaborations for 2019 with highly acclaimed international chefs Janice Wong, Luke Mangan, Didier Corlou and Ian Kittichai.

Belmond has debuted a new series of guest experiences called The Art of Gastronomy, building on the growth in culinary tourism and consumer demand for authentic gastronomic experiences.

Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge, one of Belmond’s three safari experiences in the heart of Botswana, recently reopened to reveal a new look. Surrounded by abundant flora and fauna, the lodge includes 12 tented rooms, spa, lounge, bar, open deck with pool, firepit and wildlife viewing hide overlooking the watering hole, a first in the area.

Each class begins with a visit to the colourful Rialto Market, located next to the historical landmark Rialto Bridge is an authentic culinary hub of Venice and is where locals gather to discover seasonal Venetian produce and catch of the day, in particular frutti di mare. Guests join Chef Roberto who handpicks seasonal products, carefully selecting ingredients used in some of Cip’s Club most loved dishes, including Tagliolini Verdi Gratinati.

For many guests the 30-metre pool, flanked by both buildings, is the heart of the hotel, and sunworshippers have their favourite chairs from the moment light dawns until early afternoon (those in the know apparently order pizzas, which are said to be outstanding, from the pool bar). Roughly 20% of staying guests are repeats, and some of the most loyal have formed an unofficial Copa club, to fly in here from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, New York or Rome, or wherever, to party seriously, which they do twice a year.  At the same time locals use it, for meals, for special events and just to network.

This includes new Grand Suites aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a reimagined Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge in Botswana and the completion of the historical renovation of Belmond Cadaogan Hotel in London.