Hey First name / friend,

 

Every year, plenty of “Top Hotels” lists make the rounds … half of them written by marketing teams or based on traveler votes and glossy ad buys. But this one? We get giddy about…it's the Oscars of the travel industry.

 

The World’s 50 Best Hotels list, announced last week in London, is compiled from over 800 travel editors, hoteliers, and seasoned globetrotters who live and breathe hospitality. No hotels can apply. No one can buy their way on. Voters are anonymous and cast their ballots confidentially for places they’ve stayed within the past two years.

 

These are people who know when service is genuine, when design tells a story, and when a stay is that good.

 

So what does this year’s list tell us? Let’s dig in. 

The 2025 list spans 22 destinations, but the story lies in the cities. More than half of this year’s winners are urban. Bangkok, Hong Kong, London, and Paris continue to dominate, all power players that balance legacy with new creative energy. 

 

Mexico, Morocco, and Dubai gained ground, while independent estates across Italy and the UK held their own against global giants.

 

Asia led with 20 hotels (five in Japan alone), followed by Europe with 17, and the rest were scattered across the Americas, Africa, and islands in between. 

 

Big hospitality groups still have presence, but smaller, design-driven properties are claiming more of the spotlight.

 

It paints a clear picture of what travelers value right now: depth, story, and a sense of connection to place.

 

 

Passalacqua, Lake Como – Family-owned, soulful, and proof that no amount of polish beats genuine hospitality.

 

Royal Mansour, Marrakech – Every tile, lattice, and lantern tells a story of craft and culture.

 

Chablé Yucatán, Mexico – Rooted in the Yucatán’s spirit, surrounded by jungle, and one of the most restorative places on earth.

 

Estelle Manor, Oxfordshire, UK – Grand yet playful; a countryside escape that’s both cinematic and cozy.

 

Marsa Al Arab, Dubai – A contemporary marvel on the sea with some of the most beautiful rooms I've seen. 

 

One&Only Mandarina, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico – Lush jungle meets oceanfront modernism; the architecture alone is worth the trip. I'll use any excuse to insert this one…a personal fav.

 

Singita Kruger National Park, South Africa – Conservation and comfort balanced to perfection; proof that sustainability and sophistication can live beautifully together.

 

And just beyond the first fifty, I was excited to see Ett Hem (Stockholm perfection), a few of my favorite New York City (The Greenwich Hotel and The Fifth Ave) stays, and Reschio, a dreamy Umbrian estate that always makes me yearn to return to Italy.

 

Fewer big-name groups and more independent visionaries building from the heart. A sharper focus on responsible hospitality, where every detail shapes the experience for the guest, the staff, the community, and the environment.

 

The era of "luxury for luxury’s sake" is fading. The new benchmark isn’t about rarity or excess; it’s about connection, how deeply a stay reflects its place and how naturally you’re cared for in it (think of your needs being met before you knew you had them).

 

It’s been incredible to watch that shift take hold. A decade ago, this conversation was fringe. Now it’s leading. And I can’t wait to see how far it goes.

 

 

Lists like this are fun for the headlines, but what makes them special are the people behind them. I’m lucky to know many of them personally (GMs, directors, owners at these properties), and those relationships mean my clients are welcomed as friends, not just as confirmation numbers.

 

If one of these hotels (or any on the list) sparked a travel idea, let’s get to it the Good Trips way: with connection, context, and care at every step. Click below and let's plan your next great stay.