LONDON – The list of The World’s 50 Best Hotels was announced at an awards ceremony in London. It includes industry-defining hotels from 35 different locations across six continents worldwide.
Passalacqua, the luxury boutique hotel on the shores of Lake Como – which opened in June 2022 –took the top spot on The World’s 50 Best Hotels list. Located in an 18th century villa with spectacular terraced gardens running down to the water, the De Santis family has created an exquisite 24-room property with the feel of a private home.
In the No.2 spot is the towering Rosewood Hong Kong. Set in the city’s Victoria Dockside arts and design district it has stunning views over the harbour.
Tim Brooke-Webb, Managing Director for The World’s 50 Best Hotels, commented: “After seeing the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry, it’s been especially
fulfilling to see so many hoteliers from around the world gather in London to celebrate each other’s achievements under one roof for the first-ever awards ceremony of The World’s 50 Best Hotels,” he continued. “Our heartfelt congratulations go out to each and every hotel on the list, and we hope this list inspires travel-lovers to book somewhere truly spectacular for their next trip.”
Europe and Asia
Hotels in Europe feature in 21 of the top 50 spots, with London heading the way. Asia boasts 18 hotels in the top 50, but not only that, 4 of those are in the top 5.
Spain
The Four Seasons in Madrid proudly takes its place among the world’s finest hotels. Situated in the heart of the Spanish capital, it stands as a symbol of elegance and luxury. With its impeccable service, world-class cuisine, and stunning location, it has firmly established itself as a beacon of excellence in the hospitality industry.
The Four Seasons impressive ranking at number 24 underscores its commitment to delivering an extraordinary and unforgettable guest experience. Guests can expect opulent accommodations, exceptional dining options, and a host of amenities to make their stay truly memorable.
This recognition not only elevates the status of the but also highlights Spain’s position as a top-tier luxury travel destination as it continues to captivate travellers from across the globe.
The World´s 50 Best Hotels full list can be found here.
How the 50 Best voting works
The list is created from the votes of The World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy. This comprises 580 international well-travelled experts within the hotel and travel industry, with a 50/50 gender balance. The Academy is split into nine regions across the world, where each region is headed up by an Academy Chair. A minimum of 25% of the panel is renewed each year. All voters, aside from the Academy Chairs, remain anonymous to eliminate the possibility of lobbying. Voters are simply required to list the seven best hotels they have stayed in over the past 24 months. They do this in order of preference.
Voting is carried out individually and strictly confidentially on a secure site. Furthermore, the results remain confidential until after the list announcement. Additional information is available on the 50 Best FAQs page.
About The World´s 50 Best Hotels
Following the success of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and The World’s 50 Best Bars, 50 Best launched The World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2023. This marked the brand’s first global launch since 2009. The World’s 50 Best Hotels list is created by The World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy. This is an influential group of more than 580 independent leaders. Each one is selected for their expert opinion of the international hotel scene. The World’s 50 Best Hotels event programme – including the awards ceremony and unveiling of the list – provides a unique opportunity to unite hoteliers, restaurateurs, bar owners, media, business and luxury travellers at a captivating celebration of hospitality, passion and talent. The resulting list will be the first ranking of its kind to inspire consumers to book stays at the finest 50 properties in the world. The inaugural awards ceremony was held on 19 September 2023.
About William Reed
The World’s 50 Best Hotels list is owned and organised by William Reed, which also publishes The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, launched in 2002, Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants and Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants (both launched in 2013), Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants (2022), as well as The World’s 50 Best Bars (2009), Asia’s 50 Best Bars (2016) and North America’s 50 Best Bars (2022). William Reed is entirely responsible for the organisation of the awards, the voting system and the list.
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