Indian hotel makes it to the world’s top 50; See the full list

Lake Como's Passalacqua Tops World's 50 Best Hotels List

Nikhil Tiwari September 20, 2023

For the first time ever, the creators of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Bars lists have turned their attention to hotels, and the top honor goes to Lake Como’s Passalacqua. This 24-room gem, which just opened in June 2022, has a rich history, having hosted luminaries like Napoleon Bonaparte, Winston Churchill, and Vincenzo Bellini. Owned by the De Santis family, who also own the Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como, Passalacqua has quickly become a favorite among the jet set, with rates starting at around $1,800 per night for next summer.

Passalacqua’s success is attributed to its charismatic owners, Paolo, Antonella, and Valentina De Santis, who poured their hearts into restoring the 18th-century building. Valentina De Santis expressed her emotions as she received the top award, highlighting the absence of major backers behind their journey.

Despite the strong showing from Asia in the top 10, the list predominantly features European hotels, with 21 out of the 50 slots occupied by European properties. Surprisingly, there were only two entries from New York City, Aman and Equinox, with no other U.S. hotels making the cut. Independent hotels outperformed branded ones, as Marriott and Hilton had zero entries, while Aman and Four Seasons each earned four nods. Lesser-known brands like Maybourne Group and Oetker Collection also secured three spots each, catering to luxury consumers’ tastes.

Several iconic Asian hotels :

Following Passalacqua, the list features several iconic Asian hotels, including Rosewood Hong Kong, Four Seasons Chao Praya River in Bangkok, The Upper House in Hong Kong, and Aman Tokyo. Marrakesh’s La Mamounia also made the top five, bringing some well-deserved recognition to a city still recovering from a devastating earthquake.

This announcement marks a significant moment for the 50 Best team, as it’s their inaugural -focused list. William Drew, the director of content at William Reed, the company behind 50 Best, emphasized the importance of how such lists drive business to encourage cultural discovery, ultimately inspiring travel to new parts of the world. The inaugural World’s 50 Best list was sponsored by SevenRooms, a technology platform for restaurants.

In the realm of restaurants, 50 Best has played a crucial role in transforming lesser-known cities like Copenhagen and Lima into top culinary destinations. Still, with the first restaurants list, the potential to showcase new travel destinations was not fully realized.

Apart from La Mamounia, Marrakesh’s Royal Mansour secured the 23rd spot on the list. These recognitions could help boost tourism in a city recovering from an earthquake, and the list also shed light on Sri Lanka, with Amangalla ranking 38th, highlighting its rich hospitality, cuisine, and cultural appeal.

The ranking process for the World’s 50 Best Hotels involves 580 jurors who vote for their top seven hotels based on their experiences over the last 24 months. Jurors can come from various backgrounds, including hoteliers, travel agents, journalists, and industry professionals. In future iterations, the window for experiences will shrink to 18 months. This system aims to ensure a diverse perspective on the best restaurants worldwide.

In addition to the top 50 list, special awards were given to six properties. Soneva Fushi in the Maldives received the Lost Explorer Best Beach award, while Capella Bangkok was honored as the Nikka Best New Hotel, recognizing the top that opened between May 2021 and May 2023. The Flor de Caña Eco Hotel award went to Singita Lodges Kruger National Park in South Africa, acknowledging their commitment to conservation and social empowerment. Another special award, the Carlo Alberto Vermouth Best Boutique, was awarded to The Newt in Somerset, highlighting top independent hotels with 50 or fewer rooms.

A seventh special award was presented to Sonu Shivdasani, CEO of Soneva, recognizing his positive impact on the global hotel sector. His resorts, including Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani, are known for sustainable luxury, with eco-friendly practices and unique amenities.

As the hotel industry continues to recover from the effects of the pandemic, questions arise about whether the rankings could be influenced by factors like border reopenings. William Drew expressed confidence in the fairness of the system, noting that regions that experienced delayed reopenings have since caught up due to pent-up demand.

However, the list’s geographic diversity was a challenge. Despite efforts to include a diverse jury, the list leaned towards major capitals that attract international visitors. Only one South American hotel, Rosewood Sao Paolo, made the list, and the recognition of African safari lodges was limited to Singita Lodges Kruger National Park. This lack of representation also appeared in another recent hotel ranking by La Liste, where Belmond Cipriani ranked best in the world but didn’t appear on the World’s 50 Best list at all.

Despite the challenges of comparing diverse properties like a colorful beach resort in St. Barth and an urban oasis in Tokyo, the complexity of the task is what makes the list dynamic. According to Drew, sparking discussions about what defines a great hotel is a positive aspect that keeps the list evolving.

In conclusion, the World’s 50 Best Hotels list offers a glimpse into the world of luxury travel, highlighting exceptional properties around the globe. While the list predominantly features European and Asian hotels, it also brings attention to emerging destinations and celebrates sustainability and boutique hospitality. As the hotel industry continues to rebound, such lists serve as a source of inspiration for travelers seeking extraordinary experiences.

Here’s the list of the World’s 50 Best hotels in full.