The city-centre oasis, Capella Bangkok, has been voted No.1 at the second edition of The World’s 50 Best Hotels. Here’s everything you need to know about the newly crowned winner of this coveted accolade
In an ever-evolving travel landscape, the best hotels are delivering something way beyond everyday luxury to craft unique experiences for the discerning guest. This new dawn prioritises tangible takeaways over transient hospitality touches. This year’s No.1 property delivers this in spades – just one of the reasons it has been named The World’s Best Hotel 2024.
A stunning oasis of calm smack bang in the centre of the city, Capella Bangkok delivers all the usual trappings of five-star luxury: cavernous suites; dining options meticulously choreographed by Argentinian maestro-chef Mauro Colagreco – alongside local spicy-sweet-sour-salty Thai stalwarts that satiate guests’ desires for local fare; and, of course, glorious swimming pools plus spas, hot tubs and salons at the highest level.
And yet Capella Bangkok delivers more than stellar amenities and a convenient location on the banks of Chao Phraya, the River of Kings. With a team of self-coined Capella ‘culturists’, the staff create tailored experiences for guests that vary from the spiritual – a meditation session with the city’s most venerated monk in a 250-year-old temple – to the practical: think flower-garland weaving lessons or cooking classes in Bangkok’s bustling markets.
The Capella Bangkok team collected its trophy on stage in London
Combine that with lightning-speed service so anticipatory it borders on the preternatural and you have a combination that has clearly made a lasting impression on the 600-strong Academy who cast their confidential and anonymous votes for their best hotel stays over the past 18 months.
What is deemed ‘best’ is left entirely to the personal opinions of the expert voter – made up of seasoned luxury travellers, hoteliers, media and travel educators and writers – to create the most transparent and independent luxury travel ranking in existence.
Capella Bangkok is no stranger to the awards, having being voted the Nikka Best New Hotel in 2023, when it also took the No.11 spot in the ranking.
Outgoing Capella Bangkok GM, who has just been appointed to oversee the group’s expansion into Japan, says of the hotel’s ascension to the global summit: “It’s absolutely surreal, I can’t believe it. Every day you put your head down and do the best you can and ultimately aim to keep people happy.”
Rooms at Capella Bangkok overlook the Chao Phraya river
Capella Bangkok sits in good company in the Thai capital, and Blanco has nothing but admiration for his fellow hoteliers in the city. “Bangkok is sophisticated, evolved and elegant,” he says. “Hotels here are really at the top of the game.”
“What’s great about our location is that we’re sandwiched between the River of Kings and the oldest street in Bangkok. Capella Bangkok is the gateway to this messy, fun city that everyone loves so much.”
Blanco acknowledges that it is hard to surpass No.1, but Capella Bangkok’s ambitions remain lofty. “There’s still so much we want to do. Our head keeps growing to figure out what we can do next,” says Josephine Png, director of sales and marketing for the hotel. “You can’t ever stand still,” adds Blanco.
The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024
Elsewhere in the list, travellers working on their dream-stay bucket list should take inspiration from the newly anointed top five, which globe trots from Lake Como in Italy for this year’s No.2 (and recipient of the Carlo Alberto Best Boutique Hotel Award), Passalacqua, to Rosewood Hong Kong at No.3. The resplendent Parisian icon Cheval Blanc secures the No.4 spot (rising 30 places in the rankings from 2023), with Hong Kong’s The Upper House at No.5.
The world's best hoteliers celebrated their collective achievements on stage
This year’s list welcomed 15 new entries to the ranks, with a series of glittering special awards bestowed to properties. Maroma, a beautiful jungle-meets-ocean resort set into the verdant fringes of Mexicos Riviera Maya scoops the Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award for its dedication to preserving its marine surrounds and commitment to conserving and celebrating Mayan cultural heritage.
Soneva Fushi in the Maldives is honoured with the Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award for the second year, firmly establishing its barefoot-luxury credentials; while the lavish, Italian style-meets-Japanese-precision Bulgari Tokyo is named this year’s Nikka Best New Hotel.
The No.3 Gin Art of Hospitality Award is presented to Royal Mansour Marrakech for its regal service and embodiment of warm Moroccan hospitality.
The Peninsula Istanbul is the winner of the American Express Travel One To Watch Award
The American Express Travel One To Watch Award, given to a property the 50 Best team believes has the potential to break into the rankings in future editions of The World’s 50 Best Hotels, is also honoured. This year’s winner is The Peninsula Istanbul, for its Instagram-worthy riverside setting, sumptuous Ottoman-inspired design and true Turkish hospitality.
This year’s SevenRooms Icon Award goes to Sonia Cheng, the prodigious CEO of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. Under Cheng’s leadership, Rosewood has blossomed into a beacon of luxury and individuality, with each property inspired by local culture and history. It also has an ambitious expansion plan that will add more than 30 properties to the brand’s global roster.
In addition, this year’s list welcomes three new awards. This year’s Highest Climber Award goes to Dubai’s lavish love letter to over-the-top opulence, Atlantis The Royal, which climbs an impressive 35 places from 2023 to secure the No.9 spot. The Lavazza Highest New Entry Award heads to luxe London hotspot Raffles London at The OWO – a heritage site with a long political history and a secret, James Bond-inspired bar that broke into the list at No.13.
It is not only individual properties and patrons that receivedprestigious accolades: the Ferrari Trento Most Admired Hotel Group Award made its debut to honour a group or collection that the 600-strong voting Academy believes has made the most positive impact on the future of hospitality. The 2024 recipient is the pioneering purveyor of ultra-luxe, wellness-forward stays: Aman.
With the 2024 edition of The World’s 50 Best Hotels revealed after three days of events held across London, luxury travellers have a new guide to rely on when booking the best stays in the planet.
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