Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra Makes World’s Top 50 Hotel List

Founders of World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Bars Lists Crown Lake Como’s Passalacqua as Best Hotel

Passalacqua: A Historic Gem in Lake Como

The founders of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Bars lists have crowned Lake Como’s Passalacqua as the best hotel in the world. This 24-room boutique hotel, which just opened in June 2022, is housed in an 18th-century building that has welcomed famous guests like Napoleon Bonaparte, Winston Churchill, and Vincenzo Bellini. Passalacqua has gained immense popularity due to the charismatic owners, Paolo, Antonella, and Valentina De Santis, who previously owned the beloved Grand Hotel Tremezzo.

Top Hotels in Asia

• Rosewood Hong Kong
• Four Seasons Chao Praya River, Bangkok
• The Upper House, Hong Kong
• Aman Tokyo

European Dominance

While Asia dominated the top 10, the list heavily skewed towards European hotels. Out of the 50 slots, 21 were occupied by European properties. Notably, no hotels in the United States made it to the list, and independent hotels performed better than branded entities.

Recognition for Lesser-Known Brands

Special mention was given to Maybourne Hotel Group and Oetker Collection, both lesser-known brands that received three awards each. This recognition highlights the popularity of these brands among luxury consumers.

Inaugural Hotels-Focused List

The World’s 50 Best Hotels list marks the first venture into the hotel industry by the team at 50 Best. Known for their restaurant and bar lists, this expansion showcases their commitment to promoting cultural discovery and travel to new parts of the world.

Addition of Special Awards

Alongside the top 50 hotels, several special awards were presented:

• Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel: Soneva Fushi, Maldives
• Nikka Best New Hotel: Capella Bangkok
• Flor de Caña Eco Hotel: Singita Lodges Kruger National Park, South Africa
• Carlo Alberto Vermouth Best Boutique Hotel: The Newt in Somerset

Global Representation and Discussion

Despite efforts to ensure geographical diversity, the list still lacked representation from certain regions. Geographic challenges and the ever-evolving nature of the industry make it difficult to create a perfect and completely equitable ranking system.

William Drew, director of content at William Reed, highlights the importance of discussion and different perspectives. The diverse array of hotel types and locations on the list sparks conversation and keeps the industry dynamic.

Full List of the World’s 50 Best Hotels

1. Passalacqua, Lake Como, Italy
2. Rosewood Hong Kong
3. Four Seasons Chao Praya River, Bangkok
4. The Upper House, Hong Kong
5. Aman Tokyo
6. La Mamounia, Marrakesh, Morocco
7. Soneva Fushi, Maldives
8. One & Only Mandarina, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
9. Four Seasons Firenze, Italy
10. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
11. Capella Bangkok (Nikka Best New Hotel Award)
12. The Calile, Brisbane
13. Chablé Yucatán, Mexico