Alongside the first-ever list of The World’s 50 Best Hotels, which will be announced on 19th September in London, there will be a host of additional awards, marking best-in-class properties from which discerning travellers can take their pick. Read on to discover these unique awards and find out how each is determined
It will be one of the biggest moments in decades for the luxury travel industry when the inaugural list of The World’s 50 Best Hotels is released. Never has such an esteemed group of anonymous experts been assembled to create the launch ranking; discussion is rife from Tokyo to Tenerife as to those properties who will make the list.
There’s no doubt that it will be a cause for celebration for the hotels and their teams simply to be ranked among the 50, but as with the 50 Best awards programmes for restaurants and bars, there are other significant honours to be won.
There are a total of seven ‘special awards’ up for grabs in addition to the ranking, alongside six hotels that will be named the best in their respective continents. This series of extra accolades is designed to complement the list and to provide consumers with easy visibility to properties and people who are operating at the pinnacle of excellence.
The world’s first set of 50 Best Hotels special awards will be:
Art of Hospitality Award: Voted for by the 580 experts in the 50 Best Academy, The Art of Hospitality Award celebrates a hotel’s outstanding service and attention to detail. It is designed to reward a property and its entire staff for the professional standards they uphold and the way they interact with guests, from the reception desk to housekeeping and food and beverage teams. Judges are asked to consider the ambience created in the hotel, the delivery of unique experiential elements and the overall warmth of the hospitality and environment. The Art of Hospitality Award will be announced in advance of the ceremony, on 22nd August.
Lavazza One To Watch Award: This title is granted to a rising-star hotel that currently sits outside the list, but which the 50 Best team believes has the potential to break into the ranking in future editions – it is the only award in proceedings that is selected by the 50 Best team. The Lavazza One To Watch Award will be announced on 5 September.
Nikka Best New Hotel: This accolade goes to the hotel featured in the highest-ranked position on the list that has opened during the two-year voting window: May 2021 – May 2023.
Flor de Caña Eco Hotel: This award champions one hotel’s outstanding efforts towards sustainability. The award is independently audited by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, which rates establishments that self-nominate for the prize based on a wide range of criteria, including environmental and social responsibility. The hotel must provide documentation and complete an extensive questionnaire that assesses business practice across three core areas: Environment, Society and Procurement. Existing accreditations, such as B-Corp status, will be considered in the assessment process.
The Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel: This award is a simple one: it will be given to the hotel placed highest in the ranking that is located within 20 metres of a beach.
Carlo Alberto Vermouth Best Boutique Hotel: This award will be given to the hotel placed highest on the list that fits all the criteria of a boutique property. 50 Best defines a boutique hotel as having fewer than 50 rooms and not being part of a large chain or group. It must be a design-driven property, showcasing personalised service and idiosyncratic features unique to its destination.
SevenRooms Icon Award: This award celebrates a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the hotel industry over the course of their career. All 580 voters are asked to name an individual who has been a positive force in the global hotels sector. It is the only award in the 50 Best programme that is given to an individual and not a hotel property.
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