10 KEYNOTE The return of a legend The famed Orient Express first began providing long-distance passenger train journeys in 1883, with services starting from Paris, France, and eventually extending all the way to Istanbul, Turkey. Connecting the western and eastern halves of Europe, the train became a byword for glamour and luxury, carrying passengers ranging from celebrities to royalty and appearing in countless works of literature, films and television shows. In 2017, Accor Group invested in the Orient Express brand and the legendary train service is now being redesigned for a new era. The service is set to resume in late 2026 using fully refurbished carriages from the 1920s and 1930s. In its newest incarnation, the train will be joined by a sister brand on the seas – Orient Express Sailing Yachts. According to Vianney Vautier, chief operating officer of Orient Express Sailing Yachts, the cruise brand aims to deliver the same standard of luxury first conceived 141 years ago. “At its inception, the Orient Express was the train of the king and the king of the trains,” says Vautier. “We envision our vessel to be the very same thing at sea – to be the ship of kings.” Vautier has been part of the Orient Express Sailing Yachts from the beginning, when a small team started to envisage what the cruise line would eventually represent. “Part of that team wasSébastien Bazin, CEO and chairman of Accor, who has led Accor in pursuing luxury and developing the business with a very clear idea of what he wants to achieve,” says Vautier. “Another key member is Maxime d’Angeac, the artistic director of Orient Express. He is leading the restoration of the historic Orient Express carriages from the 1920s and is also the interior architect of the yacht. Maxime was key in preserving what we want to be the heritage and feeling of Orient Express and is the main mind behind the definition of the brand.” The process of launching Orient Express Sailing Yachts was difficult, as the team faced a steep learning curve when it came to understanding the differences between hospitality onshore and at sea. “There’s a new challenge every day when launching a brand,” says Vautier. “The more we’ve developed, the more credit we give to the cruise brands already in the market because it’s a tough job. Coming The historic Orient Express brand is to take to the sea for the first time in June 2026 with the launch of a luxury sailing yacht. Alex Smith speaks with Vianney Vautier of Orient Express Sailing Yachts to discover the story behind the brand
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