Rosewood Hong Kong Crowned the World’s Best Hotel 2025, Leading Global Luxury Hospitality Rankings
Published on
October 31, 2025
The 2025 edition of The World’s 50 Best Hotels was unveiled during a prestigious live ceremony at Old Billingsgate in London, celebrating exceptional hospitality and innovation across six continents. Featuring properties from 22 destinations, the list honored world-class hotels that embody the highest standards of service, design, and guest experience.
At the top of the global ranking stood Rosewood Hong Kong, securing the title of The World’s Best Hotel 2025 and The Best Hotel in Asia. The announcement marked a defining moment for the Hong Kong property, which climbed from third place in 2024 to the number-one position, highlighting its continued excellence in luxury and hospitality.
The awards not only recognized the top 50 hotels worldwide but also presented a series of Special Awards celebrating design, sustainability, and innovation within the hospitality industry.
Rosewood Hong Kong Takes the Crown
Commanding views over Victoria Harbour from the Kowloon waterfront, Rosewood Hong Kong has established itself as a beacon of contemporary elegance. The 65-story property, designed by Tony Chi, features 413 luxurious rooms, 11 restaurants and bars, and the renowned Asaya wellness facility, known for its holistic treatments and private spa lodges.
Opened in 2019, the hotel has consistently received global acclaim for its service, design, and guest experience. Its top ranking reflects its ability to redefine urban luxury while maintaining an authentic connection to its Hong Kong heritage.
The recognition of Rosewood Hong Kong as the world’s best hotel also reinforces Asia’s growing prominence in luxury travel, with the region boasting 20 hotels in this year’s list.
Asia’s Strong Showing in Global Hospitality
With 20 properties featured, Asia dominated the 2025 list, followed by Europe with 17, North America with 6, Africa with 3, Oceania with 2, and South America with 2.
The second place was awarded to Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, a riverside sanctuary located in the city’s creative district. In the third spot, Capella Bangkok, last year’s number-one hotel, continued to impress guests with its tranquil gardens and riverfront charm.
Tokyo demonstrated its reputation as a global travel hub, contributing four hotels to the list: Bulgari Tokyo (No.15), Aman Tokyo (No.25), Janu Tokyo (No.37), and The Tokyo Edition Toranomon (No.45). Other notable Asian entries included Mandarin Oriental Qianmen in Beijing (No.14), Raffles Singapore (No.5), and Desa Potato Head in Bali (No.18), which also received the Eco Hotel Award for its sustainability efforts.
The Maldives’ Soneva Fushi (No.28) earned the SeiBellissimi Art of Hospitality Award, recognizing its dedication to service and attention to detail.
Europe’s Excellence in Boutique and Heritage Hospitality
Europe secured 17 entries, with Passalacqua (No.4) in Lake Como crowned as the Best Boutique Hotel for the second consecutive year. The award recognized its personalized service, elegant charm, and intimate scale, representing the best of European craftsmanship.
Italy showcased four properties: Four Seasons Firenze (No.9), Bulgari Roma (No.22), and Hotel Il Pelicano (No.26), alongside Passalacqua.
In the United Kingdom, five hotels earned places on the list, led by Claridge’s (No.16), The Connaught (No.29), Raffles London at The OWO (No.31), The Emory (No.32), and Estelle Manor (No.47). France followed closely with Le Bristol Paris (No.19), Cheval Blanc Paris (No.21), Hôtel de Crillon (No.23), and Hôtel du Couvent (No.27).
Additional European entries included Four Seasons Astir Palace (No.17) in Greece, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo (No.36) in Monaco, Grand Park Hotel Rovinj (No.48) in Croatia, and Hotel Sacher Vienna (No.49) in Austria, each reflecting Europe’s unmatched heritage of luxury and design.
North and South America’s Leading Hotels
In North America, six properties stood out for their unique blend of culture and modern comfort. Chablé Yucatán (No.8) in Mexico was named The Best Hotel in North America, followed by Maroma (No.33), One&Only Mandarina (No.39), and Las Ventanas al Paraíso (No.44). The United States was represented by The Mark (No.43) in New York and Hotel Bel-Air (No.42) in Los Angeles.
South America featured two celebrated properties: Copacabana Palace (No.11) in Rio de Janeiro, which also received the Lavazza Highest New Entry Award, and Rosewood São Paulo (No.24).
Africa and Oceania’s Outstanding Entries
Africa made a strong impression with three hotels: Royal Mansour (No.13) and La Mamounia (No.30), both in Marrakech, and Singita – Kruger National Park (No.40), which also received the Johnnie Walker Art of Design Award. This new accolade honored hotels whose design transforms spaces into multi-sensory experiences that enhance guest engagement.
Oceania had two noteworthy inclusions. Capella Sydney (No.12) was named The Best Hotel in Oceania, while The Calile (No.34) in Brisbane represented Australia’s contemporary design scene.
Special Awards Recognizing Innovation and Excellence
A range of Special Awards complemented the main ranking, recognizing excellence beyond traditional hospitality measures.
- The Best Boutique Hotel Award: Passalacqua (No.4), Lake Como
- Eco Hotel Award: Desa Potato Head (No.18), Bali
- Nikka Best New Hotel Award: Mandarin Oriental Qianmen (No.14), Beijing
- SevenRooms Icon Award: Ian Schrager
- Johnnie Walker Art of Design Award: Singita – Kruger National Park (No.40)
- Ferrari Trento Most Admired Hotel Group Award: Four Seasons
- WhistlePig Highest Climber Award: Royal Mansour (No.13), Marrakech
- Lavazza Highest New Entry Award: Copacabana Palace (No.11), Rio de Janeiro
- Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award: Atlantis The Royal (No.6), Dubai
- American Express Travel One To Watch Award: Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia
- SeiBellissimi Art of Hospitality Award: Soneva Fushi (No.28), Maldives
These honors reflected the breadth of talent and innovation driving the global hospitality industry forward.
The Voting Process and Integrity
The World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy comprises more than 800 experts from across the globe, divided into 13 geographical regions. Each region is chaired by an independent industry expert who selects a diverse voting panel, including hoteliers, travel journalists, and seasoned travelers.
Each voter submits seven votes for hotels they have personally stayed in within the two-year voting period. All voting is conducted confidentially through a secure system, with oversight provided by Deloitte, the independent adjudicator ensuring transparency and fairness.
To maintain the credibility of the awards, at least 25 percent of the voting panel is renewed each year. This process ensures a balanced, unbiased reflection of global hospitality standards and excellence.
A Benchmark for Global Hospitality
The 2025 awards represent the third edition of The World’s 50 Best Hotels, now recognized as one of the most influential rankings in the travel and hospitality industry. The initiative continues to highlight properties that set new benchmarks in service, design, and guest experience, offering travelers inspiration for their next destination.
With Rosewood Hong Kong taking the top position, the 2025 list once again showcases how innovation, design, and hospitality excellence converge to redefine luxury travel. The rankings reflect a world where creativity and service come together, setting a new global standard for the future of hospitality.
[Source: PR Newswire; Image Credit: The World’s Best Hotels]
