Rosewood Hong Kong Wins 2025’s Best Hotel Title, Capping a Strong Year for Asia
Asia claims 20 of the top 50 spots in this year’s ranking, while Europe follows with 17 and Mexico leads North America’s showing.
Photo: Courtesy of Rosewood Hong Kong
Rosewood Hong Kong has claimed the top spot on the World’s 50 Best Hotels list for 2025, affirming Asia’s hold on luxury hospitality’s upper tier and reinforcing Hong Kong’s renewed momentum at the high end. The third annual ranking, unveiled last night in London, once again drew from an 800-plus global voting academy of anonymous hoteliers, journalists, educators, and frequent luxury travelers.
Rosewood Hong Kong’s win is significant not only because it climbs from No. 3 last year, but also because it has now held a top-three position since the awards’ inception. Opened in 2019 and designed by Tony Chi, the property has become a shorthand for contemporary Asian luxury: harbor-front setting, architectural quietude, heavyweight F&B, and a wellness program (Asaya) that continues to influence market expectations across the region. In a cycle still defined by elevated rates and experiential spend, its recognition feels aligned with traveler priorities.
“Rosewood Hong Kong’s positioning as No.1 further consolidates Asia as a leading luxury travel destination,” said Emma Sleight, head of content for The World’s 50 Best Hotels. She added that the list celebrates “the very best properties from 22 destinations across six continents.”
Asia dominated again with 20 entries, led by Bangkok’s Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River (No. 2) and Capella Bangkok (No. 3). Tokyo secured four placements, and Hong Kong placed three hotels in the ranking. Raffles Singapore (No. 5) and Desa Potato Head in Bali (No. 18), which also earned the Eco Hotel Award, reinforced Southeast Asia’s edge.
Europe followed with 17 hotels, led by Lake Como’s Passalacqua (No. 4), which retained its title as Best Boutique Hotel. London remained the region’s capital of high-touch hospitality, securing four placements, including Claridge’s (No.16) and The Emory (No. 32). France and Italy performed strongly as expected, though the movement worth noting came from newly opened, design-forward properties rather than traditional palace hotels alone.
North America placed six hotels, with Mexico continuing its remarkable run as the region’s standout luxury market. Chablé Yucatán led at No. 8, joined by Maroma (No. 33), One&Only Mandarina (No. 39), and Las Ventanas al Paraíso (No. 44). The U.S. saw only two placements: Hotel Bel-Air (No. 42) and The Mark (No. 43), a result that reflects shifting global center-of-gravity conversations and traveler behavior patterns rather than lack of domestic performance.
Additional recognition included the Ferrari Trento Most Admired Hotel Group going to Four Seasons; Royal Mansour in Marrakech earning the Highest Climber; and Singita Kruger National Park receiving the inaugural Johnnie Walker Art of Design Award.
As rate resilience and destination selectivity continue to define the top tier of travel, the results affirm something industry watchers have seen all year: brand equity matters, but design intelligence, meaningful locality, and consistent service differentiation are pulling ahead. And in 2025, the global luxury spotlight belongs, once again, to Asia.
