THE WORLD’S BEST HOTELS FOR 2025 UNVEILED

By Lisa van Leer

After attending the annual World’s 50 Best Hotel awards this week in London, we learnt that to be one of the best hotels in 2025, you need more than mere luxury facilities, lavish interiors and a complimentary champagne-filled minibar to make the cut. To reach the top, your hotel needs to be closely connected to the region – and the secret? That’s the staff.

On the evening of Thursday, 30^th of October, leading hotels from all around the world came together for a glamorous evening in London City’s Old Billingsgate, for the much-anticipated award ceremony by 50 Best. Besides the elegant black tie attire, the night brought along a healthy dose of excitement and nerves for the nominees, as the award show is internationally recognized as one of the most prestigious in the industry. The unveiling celebrates outstanding hotel experiences across the globe, establishing higher standards of excellence and hospitality each year. Unsurprisingly, the top-tier players scored numerous times on the list Rosewood (#1 Hong Kong, #23 in Paris, #24 São Paolo, and #44 Mexico), Four Seasons (#2 Bangkok, #9 Firenze and #17 in Athens) and Mandarin Oriental (#7 Bangkok, #14 Beijing and #41 Hong Kong). But refreshingly enough, there were plenty of new entries appearing on the list, such as Mandapa in Bali and Hotel Sacher in Vienna.

Asian domination

This year, Asia dominated the ranking with six out of the top 10 hotels spread out between Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok. The big winner of them all was Rosewood Hong Kong, a waterfront luxury skyscraper and an iconic landmark of the Hong Kong skyline. What impressed the 800 industry experts serving as this year’s judges the most? The hotel’s impressive scale (the grandiose skyscraper offers over 400 ultra-luxe rooms) and the ability to continuously deliver such high hospitality standards to so many guests at the same time.

“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,” said Emma Sleight, head of content at 50 Best.

Angus Pitkethley, director of sales and marketing for Rosewood Hong Kong, told the crowd in London that it was a “real surprise and a real honor” to be the winner this year. When asked what he believed was the secret behind Rosewood Hong Kong’s unbeatable success, Pitkethley acknowledged the employees working at the hotel. “We have an incredible team back at the hotel, who are not only passionate about hospitality, but really passionate about Hong Kong,” he said.

This year’s number two and number three are both located in Bangkok, with both Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River and Capella Bangkok having enough reason to celebrate.

Integration with local communities

Earlier in the day, I had the chance to chat with Christian Westbeld, General Manager of the legendary Raffles Singapore, which ranked #5 in The World’s Best Hotels of 2025. Since opening in 1887, Raffles has become woven into the very fabric of Singapore, thanks to its close ties with local communities. From green initiatives tackling climate change to humanitarian projects helping vulnerable groups create safe homes, the hotel proves it’s far more than a luxury hotel. Throughout the 130 years the hotel has been open, it has demonstrated to make a real impact on the city it calls home.

Westbeld also explained what makes a real difference during their guests’ stay: the people working at the property. At Raffles, the local staff is encouraged to be their unique selves and engage with guests, offering personal recommendations and insider tips that transform a visit into a memorable experience.

Chablé Yucatán, Best Hotel of North America, and ranking #8 on the list this year, shares similar winning values to the property in Singapore, which make the Mexican resort stand out from other top luxury hotels. Chablé Yucatan is located deep in the Mayan jungle and shows guests the best of Mexican culture. Diego Gutierrez, CEO of the award-winning hotel, said, “60 percent of our employees are from the local community”. According to Gutierrez, hiring local staff increases engagement with the destination, offering guests a more authentic experience. To connect guests with local culture, Chablé organizes Mayan traditions and rituals by collaborating with local shamans and so-called grandmothers (female shamans). To make any wellness experience complete, the spa at the hotel is also built around an actual cenote, integrating the hotel facilities with its surroundings for a spectacular effect.

European favourites

Another hotel that received a remarkable loud applause during the awards was Lake Como’s Passalacqua. After coming in first in 2023, the hotel won this year’s Best Hotel of Europe and Best Boutique Hotel. Passalacqua (#4 of The World’s Best Hotels 2025) sits on the shores of Lake Como and is set in a renovated 18^th-century palazzo-style villa. Expect Italian elegance, historical grandeur and world’s best hospitality. Another Italian favourite was Il Pellicano, who came in #26 this year. According to CEO Marie-Louise, her secret lies in “not being too corporate.” Il Pellicano is set on the cliffs of a peninsula in Tuscany, and its iconic pool and stunning cliffside location reappears each summer on our Instagram feeds. “The hotel is family-run and we are passionate about what we do. That’s why we have such a high rate of returning clientele. Some guests don’t even want to leave the property when they are here,” she said.

The French also proved they remain masters of hospitality. One property that particularly caught my attention was Hôtel du Couvent, a beautifully restored 17th-century convent hidden away in Nice’s historic old town. Ranked #27 on this year’s list of The World’s Best Hotels, the property offers 88 rooms within walls that once housed French nuns until 1989. The meticulous, decade-long restoration has transformed the convent into a serene destination hotel, one that combines heritage, craftsmanship, and a sense of quiet luxury. Besides its guest rooms, Hôtel du Couvent continues to serve the local community, housing a herbal shop and a farmers’ market that connect both visitors and residents.

The full list of the World’s 50 Best Hotels of 2025, according to the judges of 50 Best:

1. Rosewood Hong Kong
2. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Bangkok
3. Capella Bangkok, Bangkok
4. Passalacqua, Lake Como
5. Raffles Singapore, Singapore
6. Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
7. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Bangkok
8. Chablé Yucatán, Chocholá
9. Four Seasons Firenze, Florence
10. Upper House Hong Kong, Hong Kong
11. Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro
12. Capella Sydney, Sydney
13. Royal Mansour, Marrakech
14. Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing
15. Bulgari Tokyo, Tokyo
16. Claridge’s, London
17. Four Seasons Astir Palace, Athens
18. Desa Potato Head, Bali
19. Le Bristol, Paris
20. Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Dubai
21. Cheval Blanc Paris, Paris
22. Bulgari Roma, Rome
23. Hôtel de Crillon, Paris
24. Rosewood São Paulo, São Paulo
25. Aman Tokyo, Tokyo
26. Hotel Il Pellicano, Tuscany
27. Hôtel du Couvent, Nice
28. Soneva Fushi, the Maldives
29. The Connaught, London
30. La Mamounia, Marrakech
31. Raffles London at The OWO, London
32. The Emory, London
33. Maroma, Riviera Maya Mexico
34. The Calile, Brisbane
35. The Lana, Dubai
36. Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Monaco
37. Janu Tokyo, Tokyo
38. The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
39. One&Only Mandarina, Riviera Nayarit Mexico
40. Singita, Kruger National Park South Africa
41. Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, Hong Kong
42. Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles
43. The Mark, New York
44. Las Ventanas al Paraíso, Los Cabos
45. The Tokyo Edition Toranomon, Tokyo
46. Hotel The Mitsui, Kyoto
47. Estelle Manor, Oxfordshire England
48. Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, Rovinj Croatia
49. Hotel Sacher Vienna, Vienna
50. Mandapa, Bali

Image courtesy: 50 Best

https://www.theworlds50best.com/hotels/