The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 has crowned a new champion, and for the second consecutive year, Asia reigns supreme in the luxury hospitality landscape.
Rosewood Hong Kong has ascended to the number one position in The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025, climbing two places from its third-place finish in 2024. That takes us back to the launch, also in London at Guildhall, when Lake Como’s Passalacqua was No.1 (this year it had slipped slightly to No.4.)
The prestigious awards ceremony, this time held at Old Billingsgate in London on October 30th, unveiled a list that celebrated exceptional hospitality from 22 destinations across six continents, with Asia cementing its status as the global epicenter of luxury travel.
Asia’s Commanding Presence At World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025
The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 rankings revealed Asia’s dominant position with 20 hotels featured on the list, slightly ahead of Europe’s 17 entries. This represented a remarkable achievement for a continent that has rapidly evolved its hospitality sector over the past decade. The Asian dominance at the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 is clear from the top tier: six of the top ten hotels hail from the region, including the top three positions of the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025.
Following Rosewood Hong Kong at number one on the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 list, the Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River claimed second place, while last year’s champion, Capella Bangkok, slipped to a not too shabby third. This Thai capital sweep of the podium underscores Bangkok’s emergence as a premier luxury destination, with three hotels total making the list alongside Hong Kong’s three entries.
Tokyo emerged as a standout city at World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 with four hotels recognized: Bulgari Tokyo at number 15, Aman Tokyo at 25, Janu Tokyo at 37, and The Tokyo Edition Toranomon at 45. The Japanese capital’s strong showing at World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 reflected the country’s meticulous approach to hospitality and design excellence.
World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 Presents The Winning Formula
The 65-floor Rosewood Hong Kong, which opened in 2019, features extraordinary views over Victoria Harbour and was designed by celebrated Taiwanese designer Tony Chi. The contemporary 413-room hotel houses eleven restaurants and bars, an impressive harbor-view infinity pool, and the renowned multi-level Asaya wellness facility with nine treatment rooms offering therapeutic, aesthetic, and holistic treatments.
What sets the property apart in the eyes of the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 judges were thoughtful touches like the two Asaya Lodges, located on a sun terrace away from the main building, complete with private spa chambers and sleep-enhancing technologies. This integration of wellness, design, and location exemplifies the modern luxury hotel experience that today’s discerning travelers seek.
Europe And Beyond At World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025
While Asia leads, Europe maintains a strong presence with 16 hotels recognized across the continent. The United Kingdom boasts five properties on the list, while France and Italy each claim four. Notable European entries to the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 also included Four Seasons Astir Palace at number 17 in Greece, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo at 36, Grand Park Hotel Rovinj at 48 in Croatia, and Hotel Sacher Vienna at 49.
North America had six properties listed at the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025, with the region benefiting from strong Mexican representation. Africa secured three spots, while Oceania and South America each placed two hotels on the prestigious list.
New Entries Making Waves At World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025
The 2025 list features 20 new entries spanning 16 destinations, including properties in Australia, India, and Brazil. Among the notable newcomers are several properties that immediately garnered special recognition. Copacabana Palace at number 11 in Rio de Janeiro won the Lavazza Highest New Entry Award, while India made its mark with The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai debuting at number 38.
Mandarin Oriental Qianmen in Beijing, positioned at number 14, captured the prestigious Nikka Best New Hotel Award. Other new entries demonstrating the list’s geographic diversity include Capella Sydney at number 12, bringing fresh Australian representation, and multiple properties across Europe and Asia expanding the recognition of emerging luxury destinations at World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025.
More Special Recognition and Awards
Beyond the core ranking, the awards ceremony honored exceptional achievements across various categories. Passalacqua at number four in Lake Como won the Best Boutique Hotel Award for the second consecutive year, while sustainability received prominent recognition with Desa Potato Head at number 18 in Bali winning the Eco Hotel Award after a rigorous audit by the Sustainable Restaurant Association.
The WhistlePig Highest Climber Award went to Royal Mansour at number 13 in Marrakech, acknowledging significant improvement in ranking. Atlantis The Royal at number six in Dubai claimed the Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award.
New to the 2025 edition, the Johnnie Walker Art of Design Award recognized Singita – Kruger National Park at number 40, while legendary hotelier Ian Schrager received the SevenRooms Icon Award for his transformative contributions to the industry. Four Seasons captured the Ferrari Trento Most Admired Hotel Group Award, reflecting the brand’s consistent presence and performance across the list.
What It All Means
Emma Sleight, Head of Content for The World’s 50 Best Hotels, noted that Rosewood Hong Kong’s number one positioning at World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 “further consolidates Asia as a leading luxury travel destination for both business and leisure travelers.” This observation captures a broader trend: the eastward shift of luxury hospitality’s center of gravity.
The regional distribution tells a compelling story about global luxury travel patterns. Asia’s 20 hotels represent 40% of the list, compared to Europe’s 34% and North America’s modest 12%. This shift reflects not only Asia’s investment in world-class hospitality infrastructure but also the region’s growing appeal to international travelers seeking authentic cultural experiences paired with contemporary luxury.
As luxury travel continues to evolve, The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 just provided a snapshot of where exceptional hospitality thrives today, with Asia leading the charge toward the future of luxury accommodation. Let us know when you’re in town.
The Complete List: World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025
50. Mandapa – Bali (NEW ENTRY)
49. Hotel Sacher Vienna – Vienna (NEW ENTRY)
48. Grand Park Hotel Rovinj – Rovinj (NEW ENTRY)
47. Estelle Manor – Witney (NEW ENTRY)
46. Hotel The Mitsui – Kyoto (NEW ENTRY)
45. The Tokyo Edition Toranomon – Tokyo (NEW ENTRY)
44. Las Ventanas al Paraíso – Los Cabos (NEW ENTRY)
43. The Mark – New York (NEW ENTRY)
42. Hotel Bel-Air – Los Angeles
41. Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong – Hong Kong (NEW ENTRY)
40. Singita – Kruger National Park – Kruger National Park Johnnie Walker Art of Design Award
39. One&Only Mandarina – Riviera Nayarit
38. The Taj Mahal Palace – Mumbai (NEW ENTRY)
37. Janu Tokyo – Tokyo (NEW ENTRY)
36. Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo – Monaco (NEW ENTRY)
35. The Lana – Dubai
34. The Calile – Brisbane
33. Maroma – Riviera Maya
32. The Emory – London (NEW ENTRY)
31. Raffles London at The OWO – London
30. La Mamounia – Marrakech
29. The Connaught – London
28. Soneva Fushi – Maldives Seibelissimi Art of Hospitality Award
27. Hôtel du Couvent – Nice (NEW ENTRY)
26. Hotel Il Pellicano – Porto Ercole (NEW ENTRY)
25. Aman Tokyo – Tokyo
24. Rosewood São Paulo – São Paulo
23. Hôtel de Crillon – Paris
22. Bulgari Roma – Rome (NEW ENTRY)
21. Cheval Blanc Paris – Paris
20. Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab – Dubai (NEW ENTRY)
19. Le Bristol – Paris
18. Desa Potato Head – Bali Eco Hotel Award
17. Four Seasons Astir Palace – Athens (RE-ENTRY)
16. Claridge’s – London
15. Bulgari Tokyo – Tokyo
14. Mandarin Oriental Qianmen – Beijing (NEW ENTRY) Nikka Best New Hotel Award
13. Royal Mansour – Marrakech WhistlePig Highest Climber Award | The Best Hotel in Africa
12. Capella Sydney – Sydney (NEW ENTRY) The Best Hotel in Oceania, Sponsored by Bocktailed
11. Copacabana Palace – Rio de Janeiro (NEW ENTRY) Lavazza Highest New Entry Award | The Best Hotel in South America
10. Upper House Hong Kong – Hong Kong
9. Four Seasons Firenze – Florence
8. Chablé Yucatán – Chochola The Best Hotel in North America, Sponsored by Montefibriano
7. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok – Bangkok
6. Atlantis The Royal – Dubai Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award | The Best Hotel in the Middle East
5. Raffles Singapore – Singapore
4. Passalacqua – Lake Como The Best Hotel in Europe | Best Boutique Hotel Award
3. Capella Bangkok – Bangkok
2. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River – Bangkok (NEW ENTRY)
1. Rosewood Hong Kong – Hong Kong The World’s Best Hotel | The Best Hotel in Asia
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