Unveiling the Ultimate Ranking: The Top Hotel Destinations of 2023
Experience the epitome of luxury at an exquisite Italian property that has soared to the top of the world's hotel rankings within a year of its grand opening Discover the full list of the prestigious World's 50 Best Hotels and be captivated by these exceptional destinations
Monthly Ticket is a CNN Travel series that showcases captivating subjects in the realm of travel. This September, we are exalting superlatives by exploring the grandest, loftiest, and costliest attractions and destinations worldwide.
Despite opening a little over a year ago, an opulent Italian establishment with 24 exquisite rooms has already earned the prestigious title of the finest hotel globally.
Passalacqua, located on Lake Como, emerged as the winner amidst tough competition to secure the number one position on the inaugural Worlds 50 Best Hotels list. The announcement was made at an awards ceremony in the UK on Tuesday night. Owned by the De Santis family, who are renowned local hoteliers, this boutique hotel has been operational since June 2022. It is among the 21 European hotels featured on the list, with the Four Seasons Firenze in Florence ranking ninth.
Big recognition
: The rankings also saw a strong performance from Asia, with 18 hotels from the region securing a spot on the list. Notably, Rosewood Hong Kong, Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, The Upper House in Hong Kong, and Aman Tokyo claimed the second, third, fourth, and fifth positions, respectively.
Capello Bangkok took the No.11 spot and was also named Best New Hotel.
Ranked at No. 25, Aman New York, a recent addition to the hotel industry, emerged as the top entrant from the United States. Meanwhile, Equinox New York, a luxurious five-star hotel situated at Hudson Yards, secured the No. 48 spot.
Host city London had a strong presence on the list, showcasing renowned establishments like Claridges (No. 16), The Connaught (No. 22), and The Savoy (No. 47), alongside the newer addition of NoMad London (No. 46), the inaugural international location of the NoMad Hotel brand.
Rosewood São Paulo, which transformed from a medical complex into a luxury hotel, stood as the sole South American representative at No. 27, while the urban resort The Calile in Brisbane claimed the only Australian spot at No. 12.
The $1,600-a-night luxury hotel that was 30 years in the making
The highly-anticipated list honored 50 hotels from 35 destinations across the world.
Valentina De Santis, owner of the award-winning Passalacqua hotel, expressed her excitement at the ceremony held at London's historic Guildhall building, saying, "It's a tremendous honor for us. Being a family-owned independent hotel, and considering our small size and recent opening just a year ago."
The Newt, a 23-room property in UK county Somerset was No.37 and also received the Best Boutique Hotel award.
Courtesy The Newt
"It was really unexpected. And it was beyond our wildest dreams to get to the top part of the top 25. So we couldnt be prouder."
The general manager of the hotel, Silvio Vettorello, described the award as "the ultimate present." The De Santis family, who are also the owners of Lake Como's Grand Hotel Tremezzo, acquired the 18th-century estate, which was previously the residence of composer Vincenzo Bellini, in 2018.
Passalacqua, a villa cherished by a distinguished Lake Como family, reopened last year following a remarkable three-year renovation, captivating the hearts of visitors and garnering ecstatic reviews. According to De Santis, Passalacqua is nothing short of a passionate love affair.
"And this is what we want to bring guests. So the biggest compliment that we can receive is that they feel at home (there)."
Special awards
Singita Lodges in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, known for environmentally conscious hospitality, received the Eco Hotel award.
Singita Lodges is pleased to announce that various hotels have been honored with prestigious awards, including two outstanding UK properties. Gleneagles, an expansive 850-acre estate situated in the picturesque heart of Scotland, has been acknowledged with the esteemed Art of Hospitality Award, securing the 32nd position. Additionally, The Newt in Bruton, Somerset, has proudly been granted the highly coveted title of Best Boutique Hotel, securing its position at an impressive No.37.
Ranking at number 11, The Capella Bangkok is situated along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. It was the top-rated hotel to open within the two-year voting period and was honored with the Best New Hotel award. Singita Lodges in Kruger National Park, South Africa, secured the 15th position on the list, making it the smallest property to be featured. Notably, it also achieved the Eco Hotel Award.
The Lodge at Blue Sky, located in the scenic Wasatch Mountain Range in Utah, has been recognized as "One To Watch" by the prestigious organization 50 Best. This esteemed accolade is bestowed upon hotels that demonstrate the potential to be included in the renowned list in the future.
Reflecting on the significant impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the hospitality industry, Tim Brooke-Webb, managing director for the Worlds 50 Best Hotels, expressed his satisfaction at witnessing hoteliers from across the globe coming together in London to honor and appreciate each other's accomplishments at the inaugural awards ceremony of The Worlds 50 Best Hotels.
Congratulations to all the hotels on the list! We sincerely hope that this list serves as inspiration for passionate travelers seeking a truly magnificent destination for their next journey. The esteemed Worlds 50 Best Hotel Academy, comprising 580 experts from the hotel industry, including hoteliers and travel journalists worldwide, determines the rankings on the World's Best Hotel list.
The Worlds 50 Best Hotels: Full list
1. Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Italy
2. Rosewood Hong Kong
3. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River
4. The Upper House in Hong Kong
5. Aman Tokyo
6. La Mamounia in Marrakech, Morocco
7. Soneva Fushi in the Maldives
8. One&Only Mandarina in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
9. Four Seasons Firenze in Florence, Italy
10. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
11. Capella Bangkok
12. The Calile in Brisbane, Australia
13. Chablé Yucatán in Chocholá, Mexico
14. Aman Venice
15. Singita Lodges in Kruger National Park, South Africa
16. Claridges in London
17. Raffles Singapore
18. Nihi Sumba in Wanokaka, Indonesia
19. Hotel Esencia in Tulum, Mexico
20. Le Sirenuse in Positano, Italy
21. Borgo Egnazia in Savelletri, Italy
22. The Connaught in London
23. Royal Mansour in Marrakech
24. Four Seasons Madrid
25. Aman New York
26. The Maybourne Riviera in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France
27. Rosewood São Paulo in São Paulo, Brazil
28. Capella Singapore
29. Le Bristol Paris
30. Park Hyatt Kyoto in Kyoto, Japan
31. La Réserve in Paris
32. Gleneagles in Auchterarder, Scotland
33. Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France
34. Cheval Blanc Paris
35. Four Seasons Astir Palace in Athens
36. Soneva Jani in the Maldives
37. The Newt in Bruton, United Kingdom
38. Amangalla in Sri Lanka
39. Hoshinoya Tokyo
40. Desa Potato Head in Seminyak, Bali
41. Eden Rock in St. Barths
42. The Siam in Bangkok
43. Badrutts Palace in St. Moritz, Switzerland
44. Atlantis The Royal in Dubai
45. The Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra, India
46. NoMad London
47. The Savoy in London
48. Equinox New York
49. Six Senses Ibiza in Balearic islands, Spain
50. Hôtel de Crillon in Paris
