Towering over Victoria Harbour on the Kowloon waterfront, Rosewood Hong Kong was named the World’s Best Hotel at a gala ceremony last week in London, jumping from third spot in the prestigious The World’s 50 Best Hotels list. The third annual accounting of the best properties around the globe featured 22 destinations across six continents, although, alas, none from Canada.
Hotels in Asia feature prominently in the ranking (20), followed by Europe (17), North America (6), Africa (3), Oceania (2) and South America (2). The list features 20 new entries spanning 16 destinations including Australia, India and Brazil
No. 1
Opened in 2019, the 65-storey 413-room Rosewood boasts extraordinary views over Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline and is home to 11 restaurants and bars, an impressive harbour-view infinity pool and the renowned multi-level Asaya wellness facility – featuring nine treatment rooms offering a variety of therapeutic, aesthetic and holistic treatments. Guests can opt to reside in one of two Asaya Lodges, located on a sun terrace away from the main building, complete with private spa chambers and sleep-enhancing technologies.
Emma Sleight, Head of Content for The World’s 50 Best Hotels, said, “This exceptional hotel offers world-class service and sensational guest experiences in the heart of one of the world’s most bustling and dynamic destinations. Rosewood Hong Kong’s positioning as No.1 further consolidates Asia as a leading luxury travel destination for both business and leisure travellers.”
The No.2 spot goes to Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, a 299-room urban riverside retreat in the heart of the city’s creative district. Elsewhere in the Thai capital, last year’s No.1, Capella Bangkok, surrounded by lush gardens on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River, takes the No.3 spot.
Asia
Asia leads the way in The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 with 20 ranked hotels in total, including four in Tokyo alone: Bulgari Tokyo (No.15), Aman Tokyo (No.25), Janu Tokyo (No.37) and The Tokyo Edition Toranomon (No.45). Elsewhere in Japan, Hotel The Mitsui (No.46) in Kyoto features.
Both Hong Kong and Bangkok solidify their reputation as global travel hubs, each boasting three hotels on the list. In Hong Kong, Rosewood Hong Kong (No.1), Upper House Hong Kong (No.10), Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong (No.41) all feature; and in the Thai capital, Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River (No.2), Capella Bangkok (No.3) and Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (No.7).
Further enhancing Asia’s presence, Raffles Singapore (No.5) has climbed one place and Desa Potato Head in Bali has placed at No.18, in addition to receiving the Eco Hotel Award.
The continent saw eight new entries in this year’s list, including: The Taj Mahal Palace (No.38) in Mumbai, Mandapa in Bali (No.50) and Mandarin Oriental Qianmen (No.14) in Beijing, the latter also taking home the Nikka Best New Hotel Award, which goes to the highest-ranked hotel on the list that opened within the 24-month voting period.
Three hotels in the list are located in Dubai: Atlantis The Royal (No.6) – the winner of the Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award 2025 – Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab (No.20) and The Lana (No.35).
Europe & the UK
Europe boasts 17 of The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025, with five inclusions in the UK, and France and Italy each having four properties featured on the list. The highest-ranking European entry went to Passalacqua (No.4), which additionally won the Best Boutique Hotel Award. This award is given to the hotel that places highest on the list and fits all the criteria of a boutique property.
50 Best defines a boutique hotel as having fewer than 50 rooms and not being part of a large chain or group, showcasing personalized service and idiosyncratic features unique to its destination. The following Italian hotels also featured: Four Seasons Firenze (No.9) and new entries Bulgari Roma (No.22) and Hotel Il Pelicano (No.26).
The UK is home to five winning properties, with the capital city claiming four: Claridge’s (No.16), The Connaught (No.29), Raffles London at The OWO (No.31) and new entry The Emory (No.32) – all in London – and Estelle Manor (No.47), another new entry in Witney. Across the Channel in Paris, Le Bristol (No.19) climbed 21 places, and Cheval Blanc Paris (No.21) and Hôtel de Crillon (No.23) both featured. Hôtel du Couvent (No.27) in Nice is a new entry.
Elsewhere in Europe, Four Seasons Astir Palace (No.17) in Greece, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo (No.36) in Monaco, Grand Park Hotel Rovinj (No.48) in Croatia and Hotel Sacher Vienna (No.49) secure places in the list.
North America
North America is home to six winning properties: Chablé Yucatán (No.8) is one of four hotels in Mexico to make the ranking, including Maroma (No.33), One&Only Mandarina (No.39) and new entry, Las Ventanas al Paraíso (No.44). In New York, The Mark enters at No.43, and elsewhere in the US, Hotel Bel-Air ranks at No.42. South America is home to two hotels on the list: Copacabana Palace (No.11) in Rio de Janeiro, also winner of the Lavazza Highest New Entry Award, and Rosewood São Paulo (No.24).
Africa & Oceania
Africa now boasts three hotels on the list: Royal Mansour (No.13) and La Mamounia (No.30), both in Marrakech, and Singita – Kruger National Park (No.40).
As The World’s 50 Best Hotels returns for its third year, one new award has been announced – the Johnnie Walker Art of Design Award – presented to Singita – Kruger National Park. This award celebrates how design in hotels goes beyond architecture to create a multi-sensorial experience for visitors, shaping the guest experience and often elevating the expected into the extraordinary. The Royal Mansour in Marrakech picks up the WhistlePig Highest Climber Award, moving 25 positions from No.38 to No.13. Copacabana Palace (No.11) receives the Lavazza Highest New Entry Award.
Oceania has two properties featured, including new entry Capella Sydney (No.12) and Brisbane’s The Calile (No.34).
Special Awards
These awards are designed to complement the 50 Best ranking and act as additional accolades given to best-in-class hotels and individuals. One new Special Award has been added to the list for 2025 – the Johnnie Walker Art of Design Award.
- The Best Boutique Hotel Award goes to Passalacqua (No.4) in Lake Como, for a second year
- Desa Potato Head (No.18) in Bali takes home the Eco Hotel Award after a rigorous audit by the Sustainable Restaurant Association
- Mandarin Oriental Qianmen in Beijing (No.14) wins the Nikka Best New Hotel Award
- Ian Schrager is honoured with the SevenRooms Icon Award
- In its first year, the Johnnie Walker Art of Design Award is presented to Singita – Kruger National Park (No.40)
- The Ferrari Trento Most Admired Hotel Group Award goes to Four Seasons
- Royal Mansour (No.13) in Marrakech is named the winner of the WhistlePig Highest Climber Award after rising 25 places in the ranking from No.38 to No.13
- Copacabana Palace (No.11) in Rio de Janeiro wins the Lavazza Highest New Entry Award
- The Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award is presented to Atlantis The Royal (No.6) in Dubai
Voting
The Academy is the mechanism used to create The World’s 50 Best Hotels list. To ensure the more than 800-voter-strong Academy provides a fair representation of the global hotel scene, the Academy Chairs are split across 13 geographical regions. Each Chair is selected as an expert on the travel scene in their region, with outstanding hotel sector contacts. The 13 Academy Chairs each select a voting panel from their region, ensuring a balance of hoteliers, travel journalists, hotel educators, business travellers and consumer travel aficionados.
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