Belmond expands its creative portfolio with upcoming photography projects and the announcement of its inaugural prize
Belmond has a legacy that spans over five decades, reigning in the leisure and hospitality industry since its establishment in 1976 with Venice’s Hotel Cipriani, and since then, increasing its portfolio with a total of 43 properties across the globe. Now, the hotel group has set its sights on ‘championing the next generation of photographic visionaries’.
In 2024, Belmond hotel group launched The Belmond Photography Residency: an annual jury-led award supporting emerging photographic talent. In its first year, the prize was awarded to Cecy Young, a Mexican photographer based in Paris, whose work often casts a lens on Japan; the portfolio of images that won her the award explored the coastal town of Atami. This year, the award-winning submission was handed to Tara L. C. Sood, for The Great Mandrake Magic Convention, a photo series celebrating India’s historic art of magic.
Photography Cece Young
Photography Cece Young
Photography Tara L.C. Sood
Belmond, the self proclaimed ‘custodians of storied places’, most recently branched further into the world of photography, with an annual prize, The Belmond Photo Award. The prize not only offers a €15,000 financial award to the winning photographer, but also promises to support and platform them with mentorship, a showcase in a global city and a print publication in partnership with RVB Books. While the nominees have not yet been revealed, the recipient of the 2026 award will be announced in November.
Photography Tara L.C. Sood
Photography Tara L.C. Sood
This is not the first time the premium hospitality chain has committed to ‘championing the next generation of photographic visionaries’. Since 2022, Belmond has been commissioning artists as part of Belmond Legends, releasing a selection of limited-edition art books in collaboration with photographers to dive deeper into the locations and journeys they have spent fifty years curating.
As part of this initiative, two major showcases are opening before the end of the year. The Splendido As Seen By Chris Rhodes exhibition opens on 3rd November at New York’s Aperture, transporting the viewer to Portofino, Italy, capturing intricate details including architecture, artwork and nature that showcases the distinctive expanse of the gulf and the thoughtful details of the building.
Photography Chris Rhodes
In Paris, Maroma As Seen by Jack Davison will be on view at Paris Photo, taking place from 12th to the 15th of November 2026 with Cob Gallery, visually exploring the area on the Mexico Caribbean coast that envelops Belmond’s Riviera Maya hotel. Playing with light, object, portrait and shadow, the photographer depicts the lavish building through close crops and a ‘singular vision’.
Photography Jack Davidson
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