The World’s 50 Best has revealed its list of the fifty best hotels across the globe for 2025, with Asia firmly in the lead. Two-thirds of the top ten are in the region, while Italy secures two strong positions, and classic addresses in Paris, London, and Marrakech still secure respectable places throughout the top fifty.
This year’s ‘Oscar’ of hospitality went to Rosewood Hong Kong, crowned The World’s Best Hotel 2025. Described as “a beacon of modern Asian hospitality” for its understated luxury, artistry, local focus, and impeccable service, it is followed by two Bangkok icons: the Four Seasons Bangkok at the River and the Capella Bangkok, which held the top spot in 2024.
The ranking is compiled by a panel of 800 anonymous experts – a mix of hoteliers, travel journalists, and seasoned globetrotters – appointed by 13 regional academy chairs. Unlike other awards, The World’s 50 Best Hotels has no fixed criteria, and each voter nominates the properties that have impressed them most over the past two years.
Service, design, culinary offerings, atmosphere, and a sense of place are all considered, but the deciding factor is often the human touch. This is becoming increasingly valuable in an age of AI and depersonalisation, where a genuine encounter can define the entire experience. As CNA Luxury observed, the best hotels are not merely defined by designer interiors or heritage value, but by their ability to understand culture, place, and purpose, fostering a genuine sense of belonging.
As Emma Sleight, head of content for The World’s 50 Best Hotels, explained, “It’s not just about ballrooms or suites, but the ones who create the experience.”
It is therefore unsurprising that Asia, with its long-standing culture of hospitality, should dominate this year’s selection. This influence extends beyond the top three. Raffles Singapore (No. 5) and The Upper House in Hong Kong (No. 10) embody a regional philosophy in which hospitality is both an art form and a cultural hallmark. Meanwhile, Mandarin Oriental (No. 7) – Bangkok’s third entry in the top ten – bridges the gap between the past and the present within one of Asia’s grandest hotels.
Outside of Asia, Italy is the only European country to secure a place in the top ten. Passalacqua on Lake Como (No. 4) and Four Seasons Firenze (No. 9) reinterpret the villa lifestyle with contemporary refinement. Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal (No. 6) epitomises the Middle East’s flair for spectacle – it is as much architecture as accommodation – while Chablé Yucatán in Mexico (No. 8) brings intimacy, landscape, and local character into the global spotlight.
Among the other forty that complete the list (see full ranking), a few clear patterns emerge.
Firstly, established values are difficult to displace. Timeless icons such as Le Bristol and Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, Claridge’s, The Connaught, and Raffles London at The OWO in London, Hotel Sacher Vienna, and La Mamounia in Marrakech continue to embody a form of luxury that is deeply rooted in heritage and consistency.
Secondly, Japan and Dubai together account for a significant proportion of the top 50, showcasing two contrasting interpretations of luxury.
Japan has five entries: Aman Tokyo, Bulgari Tokyo, Janu Tokyo, The Tokyo Edition Toranomon, and Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto. This consolidates its status as a quiet power in Asian hospitality, blending design, precision, ritual, and serenity.
Meanwhile, Dubai, with The Lana, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, and Atlantis The Royal, maintains a strong Middle Eastern presence and expands the emirate’s reputation for imaginative, world-class hospitality.
This year’s selection clearly emphasises ethical design and sustainability, as demonstrated by the inclusion of Desa Potato Head in Bali, Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, and Singita, located in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Latin America emerges as a creative force, with Chablé Yucatán and Maroma in Riviera Maya, Mexico, Rosewood São Paulo in Brazil, and Las Ventanas al Paraíso in Los Cabos, all of which showcase regional hospitality that is grounded in art and nature.
Finally, this year’s selection reveals that excellence in hospitality is defined by experience and the capacity to make every guest feel at home, wherever they are, even if just for a night.
