"I travel for approximately seven months of the year", James Sherwood announces rather matter-of-factly in his fading North American accent – and giving you to understand that this was his equivalent of a typical Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 kind of routine. "That’s because we have operations in 80 countries and I like to see for myself what is going on at grass roots level." And when he does hit the road you can rest assured that creature comforts are taken care of very nicely, thank you. Of course it would have been foolish to have expected otherwise from the Founder and Chairman of the Orient-Express Hotels Corporation, one of the world’s leading hotel, train and cruise groups where luxury and pampering are the watchwords. "But can’t you tire of the good life?", I enquire, a little tentatively. "No", replies the travel boss, looking at his interlocutor as if it might be time to call for the men in white coats, "you cannot".

Sherwood’s travel group might well be ranked up there amongst the world leaders – and yet it represents but part of his activities. For his principal occupation is as President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York listed Sea Containers Ltd., a Bermuda company engaged in marine contained asset leasing, ferry, train and port operations – of which the Orient Express group is a wholly owned subsidiary.

"Our marine containers and passenger transport divisions both earn approximately $75 million per annum – whereas the hotels generate profits of just $50 million. I try to divide my time in proportion to the earnings, and I find that I can switch from one business activity to the other fairly easily on the grounds that the same business principles usually apply to them all."

And so what, one might be forgiven for asking, is Mr. Marine Containers doing in the world of tourism and travel?

"My company Sea Containers was doing very well", Sherwood replies. "But by the mid-seventies there was so much competition that I began to wonder whether the marine container industry might be becoming mature. I was looking for other legs to stand on, so to speak, but in a world which also offered the same geographical diversity".

And whereupon, without further ado, he purchased the fabulous Cipriani in Venice, which remains the company’s flagship hotel to this day. Famous around the world for its luxurious accommodation and ‘country home’ ambience, the Hotel is located on Giudecca Island in Venice – just five minutes by boat from the Piazza San Marco.

"And then", Sherwood adds as a casual aside, "we entered the passenger transport business by acquiring British Rail’s Sealink from the British government.

It did not take the American entrepreneur long to catch the bug - for buying up luxury hotels. But not any old luxury hotel, mind you, as he is eager to point out.

"We didn’t want to compete in what I call the factory hotel business – you know – the large chains such as the Sheratons and Marriotts of this world. Whilst these hotels might be functional, in my view they are largely impersonal – they don’t offer what I like to refer to as fizz. We wanted to offer a very special product, establish a loyal clientele, and charge accordingly. There other three other keys to our success – and I am happy to share them with you: we own all of our properties, our sites are absolutely unique – that is a sine qua non of any prospective acquisition – and they have to be capable of expansion."

From his impressive Venetian base Sherwood then toured the world acquiring a number of the finest hotels on his travels – from the Copacabana Palace in Brazil to the Mount Nelson Hotel in South Africa – the group now owning 16 hotels, represented on each of the five continents, and with more further and additional acquisitions highly likely.

Lesser mortals might have let matters rest there. Not so James B. Sherwood. For he then turned his attention to the world of trains. The historic Orient-Express – long-since known as the train of kings began service back in 1883, setting a standard for luxury and ensuring that European rail travel would remain unmatched for decades. However, by the end of the Second World War its fortunes had declined, with service being terminated in 1977. Enter JBS, as he is known at the company’s impressive Headquarters Sea Containers House, which overlooks the Thames from an impressive vantagepoint at Blackfriars. Having successfully bid for two of the train’s sleeping cars at a Sotheby’s auction, he scouted out and restored other vintage rail cars. Four years later he had created an opulent successor to the legendary train. A business venture? You bet. So successful, in fact, that Sherwood went on to establish the Eastern and Orient Express, which began service in 1993, the first luxury train in Southeast Asia and the first train to transport passengers direct from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

"And what you do in your spare time", I quip, confidently expecting the 66 year old to reveal that he regularly collapses in a heap of exhaustion.

"Oh, I am completely passionate about the arts", Sherwood replies, the message of ‘much remains to be done’ gleaning through his eyes. "And modern art in particular."

Apart from being a trustee of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and member of the Advisory Committee of the Museum of Modern Art in Oxford, he has also been very supportive of the arts and culture in Venice. Recent pursuits including arranging for the sponsorship of the "Genius of Venice" and "Glory of Venice" exhibitions of Venetian art at the Royal Academy inn London. In recognition of his work he was made the 15^th honorary citizen of Venice in 1994, only the 15^th person to receive such an honour since the founding of the Italian Republic in 1867.

And just in case you are not entirely exhausted by his many and diverse activities, both business and cultural, it would be neglectful not to point out that at the moment he is actively seeking to build a glass bridge over the Arsenale Canale in Venice, in conjunction with the Italian artist Luciano Vistosi. "My glass bridge project in Venice. Its in the hands of the glass scultpor - Luciano Vistosi."

"I am self man", Sherwood concludes. "I started the company with only $100,000 of capital – and now having a business that has assets of several billions of dollars. Of course that’s a fairly satisfying position to be in. I guess its true to say that I have achieved most of the goals that I set for myself."

"You began your life in 1933, Mr. Sherwood, right in the heart of the depression in America", the interviewer concludes. "I take it that those years must now seem so very far away?"

Mr. Sherwood smiles kindly at me. And then reaches for his telephone. I know what precisely what he’s up to this time. I’ve had my chance and blown it. He’s calling for those men in white coats.