Whether you want to take the Belmond Alouette from Carcassonne to Béziers or the Belmond Fleur de Lys from Dijon to Vandenesse, each journey promises a unique perspective on France as a destination. A high-end boutique barge company, Afloat in France was started by two American women in 1987. This may be a boast, but the creature comforts abound!Įach barge has its own route with different cities and towns in its path. travel42 Professional Cruise Line Review. Expect ensuite bathrooms as well as a lounge and dining room. The Newest Belmond Boat Will Have a Champagne Bar and Cruise to Vineyards in the French Countryside The newest in the fleet of Les Bateaux Belmond is Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat, Champagne. Belmond Afloat in France Burgundy, Languedoc Belmond British Pullman UK Belmond Royal Scotsman Edinburgh, Scotland Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. In the evenings you can enjoy a meal prepared on-board the boat by a chef, or enjoy a fine dining experience at a restaurant on the shore. You’ll have the opportunity to visit wineries and villages as your barge drifts through the French countryside. These boat-hotels invite you to cruise under stone bridges, past vineyards and charming villages, exploring the regions of Champagne, Burgundy, Provence or Alsace in a totally unique way.īelmond’s seven barges boast 2 to 6 cabins with some featuring heated plunge pools and dining space on the deck. It will also add two river barges in France and a London hotel when the Cadogan reopens with the Belmond flag, likely in 2017 as well.While France has plenty of luxury and boutique hotels to choose from, none of them are quite like the Belmond Afloat. and Belmond Royal Scotsman which features a Bamford spa carriage on-board and cruises such as Belmond Afloat in France fleet complete the portfolio. He said a key asset at its properties is the staff, many of whom have served for long periods.Įarlier this year Belmond launched a luxury train in Ireland, and next May it debuts Belmond Andean Explorer, offering several itineraries to and from Cusco. Until April Belmond did not offer a German-language website, although the trio of countries are a strong outbound luxury market. Dine on exceptional French cuisine in the light-filled lounge or recline on deck with a cocktail in hand as you sail through the stunning Champagne region of. Four generously sized en-suite cabins accommodate up to eight guests. He also said the company is picking up revenue from Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Belmond Hirondelle is exquisitely styled in light and airy design giving a sense of floating on air instead of water. Responding to a question from the audience, Vos said increased profits won’t come through cost-cutting, but instead via investing in existing products to drive higher peak-season rates and better off-season marketing. In addition to doubling its footprint, Belmond wants to double its EBITDA. The company has identified 1,000 possible targets globally. He said key touch points for programming will center around well-being, nature and culture. Vos expects 36 to 53 new hotels to be open by 2020, with as more in the pipeline. He said the “sweet spot” is hotels with 75 to 150 keys. The company’s expansion will come through a combination of acquisitions, leases and management deals, including possibly buying some small regional groups. In places such as Peru and Myanmar, he said, the company benefits from having been a pioneer in luxury tourism. The activities are led by a local expert who can tailor the Academy’s ‘education des vins’ activities accordingly, from introductory level to those who are budding wine collectors. Vos told the journalists that among the unique Belmond offerings that separate it from competitors are its iconic hotels in places where there isn’t an opportunity for new construction and new entrants. Belmond is launching a Wine Academy, exclusive for guests traveling aboard its Belmond Afloat in France fleet of luxury barges in Burgundy. Many times they know more about our hotels than we do.” The CEO described agents as an extension of his sales force and noted the company has strong, personal relationships with agents who regularly book its various products. They know what times of the year the weather is bad. Speaking of agents, he said, “They know exactly which suites are best for their customers. Photo: Belmond/Adrian Houstonįormer Starwood Europe boss Roeland Vos marked his first year as president and CEO of Belmond by telling a New York media gathering that retail travel agents will be important for the London-based operator of luxury hotels, trains and cruises as it seeks to double its portfolio by 2020.
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