Searching for travel inspiration? Look no further than the second edition of The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024 – here’s everything you need to know about this year’s ranking
The World’s 50 Best Hotels brought the teams behind leading properties around the globe to London for a series of events including the debut of #50BestTalks: Unpacked at The Dorchester, cocktails and canapés at Rosewood London, a floating feast from Mauro Colagreco – of Mirazur fame – aboard the Silver Sturgeon boat and a now-infamous after party at NoMad London.
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Guests at the ceremony enjoyed cocktails, such as those from The London Essence Co.
The pinnacle of the events was the awards evening, which took place at City of London’s historic Guildhall, where cocktails, Ferrari Trento and Perrier were flowing at the drinks reception before the ceremony began. The countdown revealed the brand new list and a host of special awards, such as the American Express Travel One To Watch Award and more, with hoteliers taking to the stage to collect their trophies, courtesy of Cristaux International.
Discover the ultimate travel guide to the newly named top destinations in the world and start planning your next trip.
Tokyo
Head to Bulgari Tokyo for Italian-inspired splendour
Tokyo is synonymous with busy crowds, bright lights and fast-paced culture. Its high-end stays, however, have always been about creating a sanctuary to escape the surrounding metropolis. In Tokyo’s Otemachi financial district, Aman – winner of the inaugural Ferrari Trento Most Admired Hotel Group Award – opened its first urban outpost in 2014. Aman Tokyo’s minimalist, cavernous rooms with unconventional layouts are designed to create an atmosphere of total zen, landing it at No.7.
Elsewhere in the city, Bulgari Tokyo’s 93 rooms perched inside a 45-storey skyscraper offers a different perspective of Japanese luxury, going for opulent Italian flair with local Japanese touches throughout its design. Its glistening mosaic-tiled sauna and elegant palazzo-esque interiors make guests feel like royalty up in the clouds, earning it the Nikka Best New Hotel Award and No.22 in the ranking.
Mexican retreats
A wave of Mexican ultra-luxe hotels have opened up outside of traditional tourist hotpsots
Sun-seekers have long sought out Mexico’s shores, but until recently their end points have been almost entirely limited to its capital or all-inclusive Cancún resorts. As travellers explore further, cue a new breed of luxury hotels that offer the same levels of sun, sea and seriously good food without the crowds.
On the Riviera Maya, one hour south of Cancún, Maroma revamped its entire property in 2023 under Belmond ownership. The result is an homage to local Mexican culture combined with a sustainable ethos that earned it the Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award.
Further inland on the Yucatán peninsula, Chablé’s wellness-forward resort – the first in the world to be built around a Mayan cenote – offers singular access to healing practices and relaxation, claiming the No.16 spot and the title of The Best Hotel in North America. On the country’s Pacific coast, the burgeoning scene on the Riviera Nayarit is led by One&Only Mandarina (No.29), whose 105 villas offer privacy in abundance, alongside private plunge pools for each room.
Marrakech
Royal Mansour was opened by Morocco's king in 2010 and offers royal-level hospitality
Home to souks, spices and UNESCO heritage sites, Marrakech is a city proud of its history and heritage – and its two leading hotels certainly make the most of its rich culture. La Mamounia has stood as a beacon of hospitality since 1923 and remains at the top of its game, whether inside the Jean-George Vongerichten dining rooms or in its traditional hammams and bedrooms.
Royal Mansour, opened in 2010 by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, goes a step further, forgoing conventional rooms in favour of 53 traditional Moroccan riads, each decorated in local tiling and plush, colourful fabrics. Superlative service is also key here, with small touches like mint tea on arrival and staff moving unseen throughout the hotel via a series of underground tunnels adding to the feeling of privacy and serenity – just a few of the reasons it was named the winner of the No.3 Gin Art of Hospitality Award 2024.
London
Claridge's has stood as a bastion of English hospitality since 1856
The English capital has long been a global hub for travel and home to a host of iconic hotels fit to serve the millions that visit the city each year. Three London hotels feature within this year’s ranking: in Mayfair, the Maybourne group’s Claridge’s and The Connaught – No.11 and No.46 respectively – continue to offer a traditional taste of English eccentricity, seamlessly injected with a touch of modernity where appropriate.
Across the city, Raffles London at The OWO landed with a bang at its opening in the tail-end of 2023. Its historic location inside the Old War Office, combined with Raffles’ hallmark service, resulted in its remarkable debut at the No.13 spot, earning it the Lavazza Highest New Entry Award.
Private island escapes
Luxury travellers are seeking total privacy more than ever (Image: Johan Drone Adventure)
Seclusion and discretion in hotels have become increasingly prioritised as the desires of travellers evolve. But sometimes a closed-off resort alone isn’t enough distance from the outside world: only a private island will do.
Four island resorts feature in this year’s ranking, each designed to help guests leave behind the stresses of the modern world upon arriving at their shores via boat or seaplane. Think wild horse riding in Indonesia at Nihi Sumba (No.10); diving into the crystal clear waters of Kokomo (No.50) or Fijian bird-watching at The Brando (No.47). The ‘no shoes, no news’ philosophy, pioneered by Soneva Fushi (No.8 and winner of the Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award), brings the newfound luxury of total disconnection to new heights.
Hong Kong
The Upper House was the first hotel project of renowned designer André Fu
The birthplace of Cantonese food, the home of The Best Bar in Asia 2024 as well as two properties included in The World’s 50 Best Hotels ranking: Hong Kong remains a bucket list destination for international travellers.
Taking the No.3 spot in the ranking is Rosewood Hong Kong: the homecoming project of the group’s CEO, Sonia Cheng, who was named winner of the SevenRooms Icon Award 2024 for her leadership over the group’s rapid growth and innovation. The instantly recognisable addition to Hong Kong’s skyline opened its doors in 2019, delivering the Rosewood’s signature brand of minimalist luxury paired with a touch of marble-lined splendour. At The Upper House, No.5 in the ranking, André Fu’s exemplary design and more than 400 pieces of artwork create a temple of zen to escape the Hong Kong hustle.
The Italian countryside
Live our your Lake Como dream at Passalacqua (Image: Ruben Ortiz)
Idyllic Italian getaways continue to draw in crowds from across the globe in search of historic properties saturated with Mediterranean charm. From original murals and frescoes in a Medici Palace at Four Seasons Firenze (No.19) to white-walled chic at Borgo Santandrea (No.20), located 90 metres above a private beach on the Amalfi Coast, and converted medieval Umbrian getaway Castello di Reschio, each of the Italian hotels included on the list offers the true essence of la dolce vita.
On the idyllic shores of Lake Como, the 24-room Passalacqua, named The World’s Best Hotel 2023, is a showcase of Italian hospitality at its finest. Think baroque elegance, Murano chandeliers and a truly magical location, combined with pared-back, homely service. All of these factors combined see it named the winner of both the Carlo Alberto Best Boutique Hotel Award and the title of The Best Hotel in Europe 2024.
New York
Rooms at The Carlyle in New York overlook Central Park
The Big Apple holds its own as one of the world's most-visited cities. Just a short hop from Central Park is legendary Upper East Side hotel The Carlyle, a new entry into the ranking at No.30. On the park’s southern side, lies Aman New York (No.37), whose provision of large rooms and peace and quiet is no small feat in a city where space and serenity are considered a luxury.
But it’s not all about NYC, as elsewhere in the US, two new hotels made their debut in the ranking. In the Sunshine State, Four Seasons at The Surf Club (No.34) delivers all the benefits of a Floridian getaway, without the clamour of Miami’s South Beach. On the west coast, Hotel Bel-Air (No.35) excels at creating space to unwind in LA’s classiest neighbourhood.
Bangkok
The Thai capital is home to four of The World's 50 Best Hotels
Bangkok has long been considered one of the world’s culinary capitals, attracting hungry travellers in search of incredible bars and restaurants. The new wave of upscale hotels complete the hospitality trifecta, with the Thai capital playing host to four hotels in the ranking – more than any other city in the world.
The four key properties in Bangkok all sit on the banks of the Chao Phraya river, but each delivers their unique rendition of Thai hospitality. Expect exemplary service at the landmark Mandarin Oriental (No.12), founded almost 150 years ago; stylish serenity inside The Siam’s (No.26) monochromatic walls and hyper-modern, resort-level service at the Four Seasons (No.14). Leading the pack, however, is Capella Bangkok, the contemporary oasis that weaves Thai culture and an almost preternatural approach to service into its every fibre.
Capella Bangkok is all about finding peace. Rooms major on neutral tones and soothing clean lines. Stressing about your daytime agenda? Capella’s team of ‘Culturists’ are on-hand to create a bespoke lineup for you. For all these reasons and more, it’s been named both The Best Hotel in Asia and The World’s Best Hotel 2024.
Miss the ceremony? Watch the highlights:
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