Last night, the inaugural awards ceremony for The World’s 50 Best Hotels took place at the iconic Guildhall in London. Organised by 50 Best, whose parent company is reputed publishing company William Reed, this inaugural list is independently curated by The World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy based on their opinions and experiences. It comprises a group of 580 seasoned and esteemed hotel and travel industry experts led by a group of nine Academy chairs, all hailing from all corners of the globe.
The prestigious list included a pair of opulent Singaporean establishments, with Raffles Singapore securing the 17th spot and Capella Singapore claiming a notable 28th position.
“We are humbled and excited to have found a place among this esteemed collection of outstanding and beyond the every-day luxury hospitality destinations. To be included in this list and to have received this prestigious industry recognition from The World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy is a realisation of aspirations that we had when the hotel embarked on its two-year restoration project four years ago. This global recognition is a true validation of our legendary and timeless Raffles experience, delivered by the wonderful team we have in Singapore. It makes all of us immensely proud that our world-renowned service delivering always-relevant and ever-evolving experiences have transcended Singapore’s shores and are being recognised by the Academy – we are also honoured to not only be flying the Raffles brand flag high, but also proudly representing Singapore on a global stage.”
Christian Westbeld, Managing Director, Raffles Singapore.
Ranked at number one was the 24-keys Passalacqua in Moltrasio. The Lake Como property was also awarded The Best Hotel in Europe 2023.
The Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award goes to Soneva Fushi (No.7), Maldives. Sonu Shivdasani OBE, co-founder and CEO of Soneva, and founder and former CEO of Six Senses, receives the SevenRooms Icon Award. Capella Bangkok (No.11) wins the Nikka Best New Hotel Award. Singita Lodges (No.15) in South Africa wins the Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award, audited by The Sustainable Restaurant Association. Carlo Alberto Best Boutique Hotel is awarded to The Newt (No.37) in Somerset
Five additional Asian hotels achieved top 10 rankings, further highlighting the region’s excellence in hospitality. These establishments comprise Rosewood Hong Kong securing the impressive second place, followed closely by the Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River at an outstanding third position, The Upper House Hong Kong making a strong appearance at fourth place, Aman Tokyo claiming a notable fifth spot, and the esteemed Mandarin Oriental Bangkok rounding up the top 10 with distinction.
Among the various hotel chains, the Four Seasons Hotels group demonstrated a remarkable presence with four of its establishments making it into the top 50 list – an unparalleled achievement within the same chain. These exceptional properties comprise the Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, securing an impressive third place, the Four Seasons Firenze in Florence at a commendable ninth place, the Four Seasons Madrid standing strong at the 24th position, and the Four Seasons Astir Palace in Athens earning a respectable 35th spot.
In the Asian region, Thailand stood out with the highest number of hotels featured in the top 50 rankings, boasting a quartet of exceptional properties. These outstanding establishments encompass the Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River securing the remarkable third position, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok impressively ranking at the tenth spot, Capella Bangkok claiming a commendable 11th place, and The Siam making a notable appearance at the 42nd position.
See the full list of The World’s 50 Best Hotels here.
