At a star-studded event last night at London’s historic Guildhall, the greatest names in hotels and hospitality gathered for the inaugural unveiling of The World’s 50 Best Hotels.

The definitive and hotly-anticipated list features hotels from 35 destinations across six continents around the world, bringing together old favourites, newcomers and rising stars.

Taking home first prize is Passalacqua in Moltrasiom, Italy, which featured on the April 2023 cover of Destinations of the World News. This 18th-century old property sits above the banks of Lake Como, with five acres of beautiful, terraced gardens that sweep down to the lake’s shores, and a collection of pristine villas categorised into three moods: Palazz – a romantic refuge; Villa – an artistic, elegant prima donna; and Casa al Lago – a charming, breezy, eclectic verdant space.

Second place goes to Rosewood Hong Kong and Four Seasons at Chao Phraya River, bringing Top 10 triumph to Asia. Europe received the most nominations with 21 in total, followed by Asia with 18, North America with 6, Africa with 3, and Oceania and South America with 1.

Flying the flag for the Middle East, Atlantis The Royal secured 44th place – the only hotel in the Middle East to make the list. Following its star-studded opening in February this year (you can’t have missed Beyoncé’s performance!), it’s considered one of the most ultra-luxe resorts in the world, and is home to a collection of 795 rooms, suites and signature penthouses.

Other notable awards went to Soneva Fushi in the Maldives (placed 7th on the list) for the Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award; Sonu Shivdasani OBE, the co-founder of Soneva, who won the SevenRooms Icon Award; Capella Bangkok (11th on the list) presented with the Nikka Best New Hotel Award; Singita Lodges in South Africa, who bagged the Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award; and The Newt in Somerset, UK, which walked away with the Carlo Alberto Best Boutique Hotel award.

So how does the voting work? Well, The World’s 50 Best Hotels list is created from the votes of The World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy, which comprises 580 international well-travelled experts, journalists and hoteliers within the hotel and travel industry. The Academy is split into nine regions across the world – each headed by an Academy Chair – with each voter remaining anonymous, with voting carried out individually and confidentially. Each voter then puts forward seven hotels that they have stayed in over the past 24 months, and from here the definitive list is created.

Read below for the full list of The World’s 50 Best Hotels and, most importantly, get plotting your next escape!

WINNERS: THE WORLD'S 50 BEST HOTELS

1. Passalacqua, Moltrasiom, Italy
2. Rosewood Hong Kong, Hong Kong
3. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Bangkok, Thailand
4. The Upper House, Hong Kong
5. Aman Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
6. La Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco
7. Soneva Fushi, Maldives
8. One&Only Mandarina, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
9. Four Seasons Firenze, Florence, Italy
10. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
11. Capella Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
12. The Calile Brisbane, Australia
13. Chablé Yucatán Chocholá, Mexico
14. Aman Venice, Venice, Italy
15. Singita Lodges – Kruger National Park, Kruger National Park, South Africa
16. Claridge’s, London, UK
17. Raffles Singapore, Singapore
18. Nihi Sumba, Wanokaka, Indonesia
19. Hotel Esencia, Tulum, Mexico
20. Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy
21. Borgo Egnazia, Savelletri, Italy
22. The Connaught, London, UK
23. Royal Mansour, Marrakech, Morocco
24. Four Seasons Madrid, Madrid, Spain
25. Aman New York, New York City, USA
26. The Maybourne Riviera, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Framce
27. Rosewood São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil 28 Capella Singapore, Singapore
29. Le Bristol, Paris, France
30. Park Hyatt Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
31. La Réserve, Paris, France
32. Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Scotland
33. Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes, France
34. Cheval Blanc Paris, France
35. Four Seasons Astir Palace, Athens, Greece
36. Soneva Jani, Maldives
37. The Newt, Bruton, UK
38. Amangalla, Galle, Sri Lanka
39. Hoshinoya Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
40. Desa Potato Head, Seminyak, Indonesia
41. Eden Rock St. Barths
42. The Siam Bangkok, Thailand
43. Badrutt’s Palace, St. Moritz, Switzerland
44. Atlantis The Royal, Dubai, UAE
45. The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, India
46. NoMad London, London, UK
47. The Savoy, London, UK
48. Equinox New York, New York City, USA
49. Six Senses Ibiza, Portinatx, Spain
50. Hôtel de Crillon, Paris, France