Want to take advantage of the Bellini Club program to receive extra perks (like breakfast and upgrades) for Belmond bookings? Contact Ford ([email protected]) for more details. He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked.
Belmond is one of the most iconic luxury travel groups in the world. In this post I wanted to cover the basics of Belmond, and also share why you’re best off booking any Belmond travel experiences through a Bellini Club travel advisor.
In this post:
What is Belmond?
Belmond (formerly known as Orient-Express) is easily one of the top luxury travel groups in the world. Belmond was acquired by LVMH in 2018, the same parent company as Cheval Blanc, which are also very well regarded hotels. Belmond operates some legendary hotels, train services, river cruises, and safaris.
Belmond’s portfolio includes a few dozen hotels, spanning Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia. The brand’s most famous hotels are probably in Europe, and include properties like Hotel Cipriani, Hotel Splendido, Villa San Michele, and more. You won’t find luxury hotels with more charm and more of a sense of place than these.
Belmond is also known for its famous trains, like the Venice-Simplon Orient-Express, which operates primarily between London and Venice.
What are Belmond Bellini Club benefits?
If you’re going to book any of Belmond’s hotels, train journeys, or river cruises, you should book through a travel advisor affiliated with Belmond Bellini Club. Why? Because they can add perks to your experience without it costing you extra. Ford is more than happy to help, and can be reached at [email protected].
Bellini Club travel advisors can add the following perks for stays at Belmond hotels and resorts:
- Upgrade at check-in, subject to availability
- Full breakfast for two daily
- A credit of $90-200 per room per stay, depending on the property
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- A $500 gift voucher when you spend at least $5,000+, applicable towards a future Belmond experience of $2,500+
- VIP recognition by property management and staff
- A welcome amenity
Meanwhile Bellini Club travel advisors can add the following perks for Belmond train or river cruise itineraries:
- Upgrade at check-in, subject to availability
- Full breakfast for two daily
- A credit of $45-100 per person per journey
- A $500 gift voucher when you spend at least $5,000+, applicable towards a future Belmond experience of $2,500+
- VIP welcome treats and a welcome letter
Where does the Bellini Club name come from?
In case you’re wondering why Belmond’s program for travel advisors is called Bellini Club, it’s because the famous bellini cocktail was invented in the 1930s at Harry’s Bar at Hotel Cipriani, in Venice, Italy.
How does Bellini Club compare to Virtuoso?
Virtuoso is a network of luxury travel advisors that can get you extra perks for stays at 1,300+ hotels around the world. You could also book virtually all Belmond hotels through Virtuoso (or American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, for that matter), rather than Belmond Bellini Club.
So why should you book through Belmond Bellini Club?
- Belmond prioritizes upgrades for those who book through the Bellini Club program, and the value of that can add up quickly
- While the value of the amenities varies by hotel, you’re potentially looking at a bigger hotel credit when booking through Bellini Club
- When booking through Bellini Club you can potentially get a $500 credit to apply towards a future Belmond experience
- A good travel advisor should have access to both Bellini Club and Virtuoso, so can compare the perks of the two programs for you
We’re increasingly seeing hotel groups launch their own proprietary programs, and they generally offer more value than the “generic” programs. These include Accor STEP, Belmond Bellini Club, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Hilton Impresario, Hyatt Privé, Mandarin Oriental Fan Club, Marriott STARS & Luminous, Rosewood Elite, and Shangri-La Luxury Circle.
Bottom line
Belmond has some of the most well regarded luxury hotels, trains, and river cruises in the world. If you’re going to book a Belmond experience, you should absolutely go through a Belmond Bellini Club travel advisor. They can add perks like complimentary upgrades, free breakfast, hotel credits, and much more.
| Want to take advantage of the Bellini Club program to receive extra perks (like breakfast and upgrades) for Belmond bookings? Contact [email protected] for more details. He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked. |
This is a great article, thank you - and one of the best I've found for summing up the benefits of the Bellini Club. I'm a UK based Bellini Club Travel Advisor. I hope it's OK to add my details here... Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] - I'd be pleased to help with any Bellini Club bookings