Rosewood Hong Kong crowned world’s best hotel for 2025

Dhaka: A six-year-old waterfront skyscraper in Hong Kong has claimed the top spot on The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 list, cementing Asia’s dominance in global luxury hospitality.

Rosewood Hong Kong, a 65-storey landmark on the Kowloon waterfront, was named the World’s Best Hotel at an awards ceremony held in London recently. The contemporary 413-room property, designed by architecture firm KPF with interiors by Tony Chi, surpassed last year’s winner, Capella Bangkok, after previously placing in the top three twice.

Accepting the award, Angus Pitkethley, complex director of sales and marketing for Rosewood Hong Kong, described the win as both unexpected and deeply meaningful. He credited the hotel’s success to its workforce, highlighting the passion and local pride of the team behind the property, where rooms start at around USD 650 per night.

The organizers of the list praised the hotel for delivering exceptional service in one of the world’s most dynamic urban centers. Emma Sleight, head of content for The World’s 50 Best Hotels, said Rosewood Hong Kong’s rise to No 1 reflects Asia’s growing influence as a premier destination for luxury travel across both leisure and business markets.

Asia leads the rankings

The 2025 rankings were heavily dominated by Asian hotels. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River secured second place, while Capella Bangkok followed closely in third. Thailand alone placed multiple hotels in the top 10, underlining the region’s strong performance.

The riverside urban resort Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River in the heart of Bangkok was second on the highly anticipated list

Europe’s highest-ranked property was Passalacqua, a boutique hotel housed in an 18th-century villa on Italy’s Lake Como, which placed fourth and also received the Best Boutique Hotel title. Raffles Singapore, the historic home of the Singapore Sling, completed the top five.

Global Standouts

Outside Asia, Chablé Yucatán in Mexico was the highest-ranked North American hotel at No 8, while Atlantis The Royal in Dubai placed sixth, leading the Middle East. In Africa, Royal Mansour Marrakech emerged as the region’s top performer, ranking 13th. South America was represented by Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro and Rosewood São Paulo, ranked 11^th and 24^th respectively.

Last year's winner Capella Bangkok, a sanctuary overlooking the Chao Phraya River, was third place on the 2025 list

The list also featured notable new and returning entries across major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Tokyo, and Sydney, reflecting the global reach of high-end hospitality in 2025.

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