Orient Express has announced the appointment of Amélie Thiriet as Chief Executive Officer, strengthening its leadership as the luxury travel brand expands across hotels, rail journeys and sailing yachts. Thiriet previously served as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Communication at LVMH Hotel Management, where she gained experience in luxury hospitality, brand development and strategic growth.
Her appointment comes at an important stage in the development of Orient Express, which is building on its historic identity to create a broader collection of high-end travel experiences. The brand combines hospitality, design, gastronomy and culture across different formats, seeking to connect its heritage with contemporary luxury travel.
As CEO, Thiriet will lead the brand during this period of development, as its hotels, trains and sailing yachts form an increasingly connected portfolio.
Amélie Thiriet Brings Luxury Hospitality Experience
Thiriet joins the top leadership role after working at LVMH Hotel Management as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Communication. Her professional background includes international experience in luxury hospitality, brand development and strategic growth.
Sales, marketing and communications are important functions in the luxury travel sector, where brand positioning and guest expectations influence how destinations and travel experiences are presented to international audiences.
Her appointment places this experience at the centre of Orient Express’s leadership as the brand develops its presence across accommodation and transport. The company’s portfolio brings together established hospitality principles with distinctive travel experiences inspired by the history of the original Orient Express train.
Further details about Thiriet’s immediate priorities, planned initiatives and leadership structure were not provided in the announcement.
Orient Express Builds on Its Historic Travel Heritage
Orient Express traces its origins to 1883, when its first journey helped establish a lasting association between rail travel, sophisticated hospitality and the romance of long-distance journeys.
Over time, the name became associated with a particular vision of travel, combining elegant surroundings, carefully designed interiors and a sense of discovery. The modern brand draws on this heritage while extending its offering beyond railway journeys.
Revived by Accor, Orient Express is developing an ultra-luxury hospitality portfolio shaped by craftsmanship, heritage and immersive experiences. The strategy brings together hotels, trains and sailing yachts under a shared identity.
This approach allows the brand to offer different ways of experiencing luxury travel, from city stays and historic buildings to journeys through landscapes and experiences on the water.
Hotels in Rome and Venice Anchor the Portfolio
Orient Express’s hotel offering includes Orient Express La Minerva in Rome and Orient Express Venezia in Venice.
La Minerva represents the brand’s modern hotel development in the Italian capital. The property opened in 2025, establishing a contemporary expression of Orient Express hospitality in a city known for its history, architecture and cultural attractions.
In Venice, Orient Express Venezia forms part of the brand’s expansion into historic properties. The announcement identifies the city as a key component of its wider travel offering, complementing the railway and sailing experiences.
The combination of Rome and Venice supports a portfolio that connects luxury accommodation with destinations recognised for their cultural and architectural significance.
For the brand, these hotels are not simply individual properties. They form part of a wider proposition that links accommodation with transport, dining and destination-based experiences.
La Dolce Vita Orient Express Adds Luxury Rail Journeys
The brand’s portfolio also includes the La Dolce Vita Orient Express train, which brings its hospitality identity into contemporary Italian rail travel.
Luxury train journeys appeal to travellers seeking a more immersive alternative to conventional transport. The experience can make the journey itself a central part of a holiday, combining onboard hospitality with access to destinations along the route.
La Dolce Vita Orient Express is part of the brand’s broader effort to translate its heritage into modern travel experiences. Its Italian focus complements the hotel offering in Rome and Venice, creating opportunities to combine rail journeys with city stays.
The wider portfolio reflects an approach in which transport and accommodation can be brought together under one luxury travel concept.
Orient Express Sailing Yachts Expand Travel Beyond Rail
Orient Express is extending its presence beyond land-based hospitality through its sailing yacht offering.
The introduction of yachts broadens the brand’s reach into maritime travel, adding another way for guests to experience its emphasis on design, service and high-end hospitality.
The move also changes the scope of the brand’s traditional identity. While its heritage is closely linked to rail journeys, the current portfolio includes multiple forms of travel and accommodation.
Hotels, trains and sailing yachts offer different experiences, but the brand’s strategy brings them together through a common emphasis on craftsmanship, culture and distinctive guest experiences.
Thiriet’s appointment comes as Orient Express develops this multi-format approach to luxury travel.
Grand Italian Tours Connect Hotels, Trains and Yachts
One of the brand’s initiatives is Grand Italian Tours, a collection of journeys that brings together the La Dolce Vita Orient Express train, Orient Express Sailing Yachts and stays in Rome and Venice.
The concept links different elements of the portfolio into a broader travel experience. Rather than booking each component as a separate product, travellers can explore an itinerary that combines accommodation, rail travel and sailing.
Italy provides a natural setting for this approach, with its historic cities, cultural attractions, coastal destinations and established luxury tourism market.
The Grand Italian Tours concept also illustrates how Orient Express is using its portfolio to create a more integrated offering. Hotels provide a base for exploring cities, trains connect destinations through curated journeys, and yachts extend the experience to the water.
The announcement presents these elements as complementary expressions of the Orient Express identity.
Leadership at a Key Stage of Brand Development
Thiriet’s appointment coincides with the continued development of Orient Express’s luxury hospitality and travel portfolio. The brand is seeking to build on its historic recognition while creating contemporary experiences across several sectors of the travel industry.
The challenge for a multi-format luxury brand is to maintain a consistent identity across different properties and modes of travel. Guest experience, service standards, design and brand positioning all contribute to how travellers perceive the overall offering.
Thiriet’s experience in sales, marketing and communications at LVMH Hotel Management provides a relevant background as Orient Express develops its positioning and international reach.
Her appointment places her at the helm as the company continues to connect its historic heritage with hotels, luxury rail journeys and sailing experiences.
Conclusion
Amélie Thiriet’s appointment as CEO marks a new leadership phase for Orient Express as it develops its luxury hotels, La Dolce Vita Orient Express train and sailing yachts. With international experience in luxury hospitality, sales, marketing and brand development, she will lead the brand as it connects its heritage with integrated travel experiences across Italy and beyond.
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