The list of the World’s 50 Best Hotels for 2023 was revealed during an awards ceremony held at London’s historic Guildhall on September 19th. The ranking showcases outstanding hotels from 35 different destinations spanning six continents.
This annual ranking is the culmination of the collective wisdom of 580 industry experts, carefully chosen for their extensive knowledge and background in the hotel sector, forming The World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy. Divided into nine regions and guided by dedicated Academy Chairs, these experts play a pivotal role in determining the world’s finest hotel experiences. To ensure the list’s continued dynamism, at least 25% of the panel is refreshed annually.
Each panel member ranks the seven best hotels they’ve experienced in the past 24 months. These confidential votes are compiled on a secure platform, remaining undisclosed until the official list announcement, ensuring an impartial assessment process that maintains the standards of excellence in the hotel industry.
Topping this prestigious list for the year of 2023 is Passalacqua, an exquisite luxury boutique hotel nestled on the shores of Lake Como in Moltrasio, Italy. The De Santis family, behind Passalacqua, transformed an 18th-century villa into a 24-room gem with terraced gardens running down to the water, creating a unique private home experience for guests. The list also revealed that Europe boasts the most nominations (21), followed by Asia (18), North America (6), Africa (3), Oceania (1), and South America (1).
In the inaugural ranking, Europe emerged as a dominant force, with 21 of the esteemed properties hailing from the continent. London, in particular, solidified its status as a global travel hub, boasting four remarkable hotels on the list: Claridge’s (n°16), The Connaught (n°22), NoMad London (n°46), and The Savoy (n°47). Additionally, the United Kingdom had two more notable winners with Gleneagles in Scotland (n°32), which had previously been honored with the Art of Hospitality Award in August, and The Newt in Bruton, Somerset (n°37), winner of the coveted Carlo Alberto Best Boutique Hotel Award.
The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2023 recognizes exceptional hotels but also presents special awards to complement the ranking. Soneva Fushi in the Maldives received the Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award, while Sonu Shivdasani OBE, co-founder and CEO of Soneva and founder of Six Senses Resorts & Spas, was honored with the SevenRooms Icon Award for his contributions to the hotel industry. Capella Bangkok clinched the Nikka Best New Hotel Award, and Singita Lodges in South Africa secured the Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award for their commitment to sustainability.
1. Passalacqua (Lake Como, Italy)
2. Rosewood Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China)
3. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River (Bangkok, Thailand)
4. The Upper House (Hong Kong, China)
5. Aman Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)
6. La Mamounia Marrakesh (Marrakesh, Marroco)
7. Soneva Fushi (Maldives)
8. One&Only Mandarina (Riviera Nayarit, Mexico)
9. Four Seasons Firenze (Florence, Italy)
10. Mandarin Oriental (Bangkok, Thailand)
11. Capella Bangkok
12. The Calile (Brisbane, Australia)
13. Chablé Yucatán (Chocholá, Mexico)
14. Aman Venice
15. Singita Lodges (Kruger National Park, South Africa)
16. Claridge’s (London)
17. Raffles Singapore
18. Nihi Sumba (Wanokaka, Indonesia)
19. Hotel Esencia (Tulum, Mexico)
20. Le Sirenuse (Positano, Italy)
21. Borgo Egnazia (Savelletri, Italy)
22. The Connaught (London)
23. Royal Mansour (Marrakech)
24. Four Seasons Madrid
25. Aman New York
26. The Maybourne Riviera (Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France)
27. Rosewood São Paulo (São Paulo, Brazil)
28. Capella Singapore
29. Le Bristol Paris
30. Park Hyatt Kyoto (Kyoto, Japan)
31. La Réserve (Paris)
32. Gleneagles (Auchterarder, Scotland)
33. Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc (Antibes, France)
34. Cheval Blanc Paris
35. Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens
36. Soneva Jani (Maldives)
37. The Newt in Somerset (Bruton, United Kingdom)
38. Amangalla (Sri Lanka)
39. Hoshinoya Tokyo
40. Desa Potato Head (Seminyak, Bali)
41. Eden Rock (St. Barths)
42. The Siam (Bangkok)
43. Badrutt’s Palace (St. Moritz, Switzerland)
44. Atlantis The Royal (Dubai)
45. The Oberoi Amarvilas (Agra, India)
46. NoMad London
47. The Savoy (London)
48. Equinox New York
49. Six Senses Ibiza (Balearic islands, Spain)
50. Hôtel de Crillon (Paris)
