It’s the biggest recent news rocking the hotel business, especially for luxury travelers: today luxury fashion and alcohol conglomerate LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) announced the acquisition of hospitality company Belmond Ltd. There are no Four Seasons or Ritz-Carltons in Charleston, SC, Botswana, Angkor Wat or Madeira, but there are stunning Belmond hotels in all these places. Belmond pioneered luxury trains and river cruises in Southeast Asia and South America, does safaris in Africa and now operates in 24 countries. In 2006 LVMH first dipped its toe into luxury hospitality with its first 36-room Cheval Blanc luxury hotel, in France’s famed Courchevel ski resort. The model is one of a kind French maisons, grand home-style boutique properties, and they have since opened Cheval Blanc hotels in St. Barts, St. Tropez and the Maldives.

Source: Forbes December 14, 2018 16:07 UTC