IHG to buy Belmond?
Feb 28, 2018, 8:33 am
#1
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IHG to buy Belmond?
The Times (the London one) reporting that preliminary talks held with IHG - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/b...sion-x6hlj5cqt
Feb 28, 2018, 9:24 am
#2
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Assuming it’s integrated with IHG Rewards, that would be a very promising development and would certainly add some truly aspirational properties... although I shudder to think about what the redemption amounts would be for some of those properties. I could see 100k redemptions.
Feb 28, 2018, 3:53 pm
#3
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Assuming it’s integrated with IHG Rewards, that would be a very promising development and would certainly add some truly aspirational properties... although I shudder to think about what the redemption amounts would be for some of those properties. I could see 100k redemptions.
The article says Belmond is both a hotel and train operator.
Last edited by sdsearch; Feb 28, 2018 at 6:59 pm Reason: spelling
Feb 28, 2018, 4:01 pm
#4
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Some interesting properties but may not fit in with the mass brand of IHG. It is possible that you can earn points with IHG rewards Club, but I do not see they would allow you to redeem for a night unless IHG to do a points to cash conversion style redemption.
Mar 1, 2018, 3:21 am
#5
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It owns the Orient Express - we're not talking commuter trains here; given it's purely a leisure travel train I don't think a redemption option (at an insane amount of points) would be that bad as an idea!
Mar 1, 2018, 4:05 am
#6
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Not a new one either. Back in the day when Sea Containers ran Orient Express (Trains and Hotels which are both now Belmond) and air miles were the BA reward currency there were air mile redemption options for Orient Express trips from the UK only British Pullman to the full London to Venice. We are probably talking about 24 years ago.
Mar 5, 2018, 4:08 pm
#8
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https://www.luxury-trains.co.uk/veni...rain-fares.htm
Mar 7, 2018, 1:39 pm
#10
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https://skift.com/2018/03/06/interco...y-acquisition/
The article also says that IHG may be considering buying another chain in the luxury space, just a different one than Belmond.
Mar 7, 2018, 3:01 pm
#11
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Also we have
four seasons
shangri-la
mandarin oriental
kempinski
taj
Who else am I missing? I know after speaking to a high up four seasons GM a couple of years ago they are very asset light.
I feel four seasons is reasonably active and moving so it won’t be them. He mentioned someone who needs a little love...
four seasons
shangri-la
mandarin oriental
kempinski
taj
Who else am I missing? I know after speaking to a high up four seasons GM a couple of years ago they are very asset light.
I feel four seasons is reasonably active and moving so it won’t be them. He mentioned someone who needs a little love...
Mar 7, 2018, 3:13 pm
#13
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Shangri-la and Kempinski are on the same level as ICs in the big Asian market. Differentiating and moving them to luxury would require a whole lot of love. I don't see the value.
Mandarin and FS sound interesting; then there is asset heavy and family controlled Oberoi and slowly growing but very solid Langham...?
Mandarin and FS sound interesting; then there is asset heavy and family controlled Oberoi and slowly growing but very solid Langham...?
Last edited by Chinatrvl; Mar 7, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Mar 9, 2018, 4:05 pm
#15
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Rosewood and MO are TOO high end, that's the problem. Belmond was better - some famous hotels but not really well run and better suited to being put into the IHG sausage factory.