The global luxury hotel market is rapidly expanding. With an estimated value of $107.77 billion in 2024, the luxury hotel market is forecasted to reach about $157.59 billion by 2029 [Source]. Several luxury hotel brands providing high-end accommodation and hospitality services are key players in this unique market segment. This post highlights 10 of the best luxury hotel brands in the world.
Accommodation is cardinal to every travel endeavour. Luxury hotel brands offer facilities and services that are the pinnacle of global luxury hospitality. These brands aim to ensure the ultimate comfort and satisfaction of their guests in the most opulent form.
Each luxury hotel brand is unique and fine-tuned to provide excellent services and comfort. And because not all “sparkling” and expensive hotels meet the true standard of an authentic luxury hotel, we developed this highlight of the best luxury hotel brands in the world.
Several measurement scales can be used to assess the best luxury hotel brands. From impeccable hospitality services to groundbreaking architecture, world-class facilities, spectacular locations, personalized services, and environmental consciousness, these brands provide unparalleled luxury experiences.
I briefly discussed in the next section the methodology adopted in curating this list.
Methodology for Selecting the Best Luxury Hotel Brands
My list of the best luxury hotel brands in the world is based on two kinds of resources. The first is analytical research-based resources and the second is experiential resources.
The Luxury Travel Intelligence (LTI), a premium member-only, luxury travel research group is one of the leading voices of insightful analysis, evaluations and presentations of luxury travel-related subjects in the world. This is the primary analytical research-based resource used for this article.
LTI recently, in 2023, released a ranking of the best luxury hotel brands in the world, an evaluation that uses about 100 variables to rank the best hotels on the planet considering the brands’ ethics and values, quality of services and staff among others [Source].
International Brand Equity (IBE) data was also consulted. IBE evaluate and ranks the best hotel brands in the world using criteria such as number of hotel properties operated, geographic diversity, total guest room, annual revenue and brand recognition or awards.
Experiential resources include presentations from people who have visited and had firsthand experience of the services, facilities and amenities of these luxury hotel brands one or more times. The two major experiential resources utilized are from TheLuxuryTravelExpert and the LuxuryHotel.
Several other relevant resources were also utilized, most notable are those from our friends at WayToStay, Glion Institute of Higher Education, HotelMinder, TheStreet, and TravelLuxuryLiving.
While there are exceptional luxury hotel brands that these sources all agreed to be among the best in the world, there were little variations in their lists. This post bridges this gap and presents the 10 best luxury hotel brands in the world.
Recommended Read: The Defining Model of Luxury Travel
The Best Luxury Hotel Brands in the World
1. Aman Resorts
Aman world-class luxury hotel collections’ preeminence lies in its choice of unique locations for its lavish sanctuaries. The hotels’ impeccable locations are complemented by privacy and exclusivity, attunement to the natural environment and appreciation of the local cultures.
Headquartered in Baar, Switzerland, Aman operates 34 ultra-luxurious hotels and properties in 20 countries around the world. It plans to open 6 more properties (hotels) between 2024 and 2027 in the United States, Thailand, Japan and Mexico.
Since its premiere in 1988 with the lavish retreat, Amanpuri, in Phuket, Thailand, every single Aman hotel is a peaceful luxury abode. Amanpuri means a “place of peace”, and Aman’s design and service ethos have strongly upheld this philosophy of tranquillity for years. An experience that Aman’s guests relish and that keeps them coming back for more.
Aman is known as one of the most sought-after luxury hotel brands in the world offering transformative experiences in the most diverse natural and historically significant environments.
Apart from the sensational locations of Aman luxury hotels and resorts, the brand is also famous for its spa and wellness centres. Aman Hotels offers personalized spa and wellness programs to their guests. This allows guests to refresh and replenish their energy while decreasing stress with a serene rustic and peaceful ambiance of the hotels.
You will find Aman hotels and resorts in the most remote and exclusive locations in the world from Bhutan to Turks & Caicos and the Utah Desert in the United States and this is what gives the brand its uniqueness and that extra-special luxury charm.
Headquarters: Baar, Switzerland
Official Website: Aman
Flagship Hotel: Amanpuri Resorts, Phuket, Thailand
2. Mandarin Oriental
Mandarin Oriental is one of the best luxury hotel brands for a unique and elegant experience with a refined Asian (Oriental) touch.
The Asian luxury hospitality brand first opened for business in Hong Kong in 1963 with The Mandarin Hotel Hong Kong. The brand (The Mandarin) partially acquired Oriental Bangkok (the first luxury hotel in the Kingdom of Siam) in 1974. This led to the rapid expansion of the brand and the luxury hotel chain has grown into a modern global brand.
Each Mandarin Oriental property (hotel) features a unique Oriental design that reflects its roots and distinct heritage.
Today, Mandarin Oriental operates luxury hotels, resorts and homes in destinations around the world. The hotel brand has in its portfolio 38 hotels, 9 residences and 23 exclusive homes in 25 countries and territories.
Across its luxury properties chain, Mandarin Oriental is proud of 27 Michelin stars from 17 lavish restaurants.
Mandarin Oriental is home to some of the best spa and wellness centres in the world. This is exemplified by the award-winning Spa and Wellness Centre at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok.
Headquarters: West Quay, Hong Kong
Official Website: Mandarin Oriental
Flagship Hotel: Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, China and Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand.
3. Four Seasons
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts is a Canadian-based luxury hospitality chain and it is one of the best luxury hotel brands in the world. The brand operates over 120 properties (hotels, resorts and residences) in 44 countries worldwide.
Ceaseless innovations, outstanding expansion and focused dedication to the highest luxury hospitality standard have dominated the hotel operations for over 60 years.
Founded in 1960 by Isadore Sharp, a young architect, Four Seasons has transformed the luxury hospitality industry with the combination of personalized authentic care with a steadfast commitment to excellence.
The core objective of the Four Seasons luxury hotel brand is to be “recognized as the company that manages the finest hotels, resorts and residence clubs wherever they are located” [Source]. Four Seasons prioritized exceptional quality, superior design and a deeply entrenched ethic of personal service.
The opening of Four Seasons London in the 70s was the lever that propelled the hotel brand into the global limelight. It went public in 1986, and in 2007, the Sharp family, Bill Gates, and Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia took the brand private to perverse the brand’s culture of quality and outstanding services.
As of January 2022, Bill Gate’s Cascade Investment owns a 71.25% stake in Four Seasons while Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal’s Kingdom Holding Company owns a 23.75% stake.
Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Official Website: Four Seasons
Flagship Hotel: Four Seasons Toronto, Canada
4. One&Only Resorts
One&Only Resorts can be regarded as being relatively new to the global hospitality sphere but this world-class brand is not by any means a slight. One&Only Resorts is one of the most eminent luxury hotel brands in the world today.
The journey of excellence of the brand started in 2002 when Solomon Kerzner, a South African architect founded One&Only Resorts as an exclusive brand for the luxury resort market.
The luxury hotel today owns some of the highest-rated resorts in the most idyllic locations in the world including the Maldives, Greece, Mexico and Cape Town, South Africa.
One&Only Resorts prides itself on providing lavish sanctuaries in the world’s most inspiring and captivating locations that are handpicked for their extraordinary beauty and cultural charm [Source].
The luxury hotel brand is composed of remarkable collections of one-of-its-kind (one-off) resorts and private homes that place you at the centre of each enthralling environment.
One&Only is dedicated to offering the most opulent experience complemented by extraordinary service, world-class wellness centres, lively entertainment, recreation, sport and other activities, and unparallel culinary adventures from Michelin-starred Master Chefs like Nobu Matsuhisa and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
Emphasizing its commitments to nature appreciation, preservation and environmental sustainability, One&Only Resorts added to its global collection of innovative hospitality facilities (hotels & resorts), the iconic One&Only Nature Resorts.
After the successful launch of the Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in Australia, the luxury hotel brand has added new and exclusive Nature Resorts like the One&Only Nyungwe House and the One&Only Gorilla’s Nest in Rwanda to its global luxury resort collections.
Headquarters: Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Official Website: One&Only Resorts
Flagship Hotel: One&Only Reethi Rah, the Maldives
5. The Oetker Collection
An assembly of “Masterpiece Hotels”, the Oetker Collection boasts exceptional European hospitality heritage and luxury through its over-the-top properties located in the world’s most desirable destinations. Each property is a landmark and a timeless representation of unrivalled elegance.
Though the Oetker Collection was officially established in 2008, the luxury hotel brand origin dates back to 1872 when Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa first opened. Rudolf August Oetker bought the Baden-Baden property in 1941. Over time, several other magnificent properties were purchased by the Oetker family including the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, Le Bristol in Paris and Chateau Saint-Martin & Spa in Vence France.
Based in Baden-Baden, Germany, Oetker Collection is currently managed by the Oetker family. Today, the Oetker Collection comprises 12 Masterpiece Hotels and over 150 private villas and estates globally. It stands as one of the most valuable European-based luxury hotel and resort brands in the world.
Expect ultra-luxe suites matched with outstanding services, gourmet dining, pristine natural environment and exciting activities when you are at any of the Oetker Collection Masterpiece Hotels.
Oetker Collection also greatly focuses on providing its guests with world-class health and wellness services. Therefore, an Oetker experience is not complete without an indulgence in the brand’s iconic spas and large health and fitness facilities offered in its hotels.
Headquarters: Baden-Baden, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Official Website: The Oetker Collection
Flagship Hotel: Brenners Park-Hotel and Spa, Oetker Collection
Read Also: The 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Europe
6. Six Senses
Formally called Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Six Senses was founded in 1995 by Sonu Shivdasani, an Indian-British hotelier and his wife, Eva Malmstrom, a Swedish fashion model. The couple are also owners of the Soneva luxury hotel and resort brand which has properties in the Maldives and Thailand.
The award-winning, five-star hotel brand is renowned for its commitment to sustainability and wellness. Six Senses is one of the most desirable luxury hotel brands in the world for a first-class spa and wellness experience.
The brand’s fusion of wellness-focused luxury hotel chains and commitment to cultural preservation (many of Six Senses hotels are located close to world heritage sites) sets it apart from other luxury hotel brands. Six Senses has been the pioneer of the concept of luxurious wellness and the brand is synonymous with a unique eco-chic design that is genuine, personal and sustainable.
The luxury hotel brand offers extraordinary services in three iconic brand categories – the Six Sense Resorts, the Six Senses Spas and the Six Senses Residences. Many of Six Senses’ properties come with enormous private pools, Michelin-star restaurants, exclusive classes led by world-class experts, and unique wellness programs.
Six Senses luxury hotel brand comprises 26 world-class hotels and resorts in countries like Thailand, India, Bhutan, Spain, Switzerland, Vietnam, Grenada, Maldives, Cambodia and Turkey among several others.
Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand
Official Website: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas
Flagship Hotel: Six Senses Yao Noi, Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
7. Belmond
Belmond, formerly known as Orient Express until 2014 when it rebranded, is a luxury hotel and leisure brand that manages an extravagant collection of 49 luxury hotels, trains, river cruises and safaris in 29 countries. The brand has been a leader in hospitality and travel for more than 40 years and it is one of the most iconic luxury hotel and resort bands in the world today.
The Belmond journey began in 1976 when Belmond Hotel Cipriani was opened in Venice, Italy. The succeeding years saw the brand opening new lavish hotels across the country.
Whether it is an ultra-luxurious 5-star accommodation experience that you seek, a timeless travel adventure or a simple retreat where you can relax on a tranquil beach or swim in crystal clear azure waters, Belmond has something for every guest.
Mixing fashionable contemporary design and authentic traditional decadence, Belmond offers experiences that take guests outside their comfort zones. You can lodge at lavish evergreen hotels in Europe, Latin America or Asia, ignite your love for adventure at Machu Picchu or Angkor Wat, travel through the spectacular Swiss Alps on a rail, scale across the Andes, or explore the magical rivers of Myanmar.
In addition to world-class hospitality, the Belmond hotel brand also provides luxury cruises and exclusive safaris which adds to the charms of this globally recognized luxury hotel brand.
Headquarters: Hamilton, Bermuda
Official Website: Belmond
Flagship Hotel: Belmond Hotel Cipriani, Venice, Italy
8. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Rosewood delivers a global collection of one-of-a-kind luxury hotels, resorts and residences with each being inspired by the brand’s “A Sense of Place” philosophy reflecting the local culture and the spirit of the destination.
The core values of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts include giving guests travel and hospitality experiences that are authentic, original and very personal.
Founded in Dallas, USA in 1979 by Caroline Rose Hunt, daughter of the oil tycoon H. L. Hunt, when a historic mansion was rebuilt into a renowned world-class restaurant and hotel – the Mansion on Turtle Creek.
The success of this pioneering Rosewood property served as the roadmap for subsequent Rosewood hotels and resorts. Today, Rosewood is one of the foremost luxury hotel and resort brands around.
Currently owned by the Hong Kong-based Rosewood Hotel Group (formerly known as New World Hospitality until its rebranding in May 2013), Rosewood has 31 extravagant hotels in 16 countries under its portfolio.
The brand’s collections are distinctive, highly individual, lavish and residential-styled. This includes prestigious properties like The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York and the Hotel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in Paris.
Rosewood has accrued several awards and accolades as a result of its relentless commitment to detail-oriented services, environmental sustainability, and an unyielding principle of relationship hospitality.
Headquarters: New World Tower, Central Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Official Website: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Flagship Hotel: Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas, United States
9. St. Regis
The St Regis Hotels & Resorts was born in 1904 when John Jacob Astor IV founded the St. Regis New York in Manhattan. Marriott Hotel Group, the world’s largest hospitality conglomerate [See] manages the St Regis Hotels & Resorts alongside another ultra-luxurious hotel brand, the Ritz-Carlton.
Popularly referred to as “The Best Address”, St Regis is committed to a distinctive style that makes each of its lavish hotels & resorts unique with unmatched elegance and guest-centered services.
St Regis set itself apart through its signature St. Regis Butler Service that is offered in all of its luxury properties around the world. The luxury hotel remains the only brand in the world that offers such tailor-made service at each of its hotels and resorts.
For cocktail lovers, the brand’s famous “Bloody Mary” cocktail invented in the St Regis New York in 1934 is a taste to relish and not to miss. Evening Ritual, Afternoon Tea and Midnight Supper are among the distinctive Signature Rituals and timeless traditions that set St Regis apart.
With a dedication to unparalleled elegance and the best personalised services, St Regis is composed of over 50 ultra-opulent hotels and resorts around the world offering more than 10,000 exquisite rooms and suites.
The brand’s distinguishing ethos is to provide luxury and sophistication in the most prestigious destinations around the world.
Headquarters: Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Official Website: St Regis Hotels & Resorts
Flagship Hotel: St Regis New York, United States
10. Oberoi
Oberoi is a consistent hospitality award-winner and one of the best luxury hotel brands in the world for an unrivalled local experience amidst ultra-luxe comforts and amenities.
In 2022, Oberoi was accorded the number one hotel brand in the world by Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards and in 2023 the luxury hotel brand was named India’s Leading Luxury Resort and India’s Leading Luxury Hotel by the World Travel Awards.
The Oberoi hotel brand was founded by Mr. Mohan Singh Oberoi in 1934 when the hotel magnate bought the Maiden Hotel in Delhi and the Clarkes in Shimla, India. A feat that led to successive acquisition of hospitality properties both in India and around the world.
Today, Oberoi owns and operates 32 luxury hotels and two river cruises across 7 countries under its Oberoi Hotels & Resorts and the exclusive Trident brands. Its corporate motto is “the guest is everything” and Oberoi has been true to its words through exceptional, personalized and intimate guest services.
Is it an idyllic beach getaway on a distant island that you desire, shopping for artefacts and rare treasures in an ancient city, a picnic in the Himalayas, or a ritzy leisurely cruise on the Nile River or a jungle adventure, Oberoi has something for everyone?
Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Official Website: Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
Flagship Hotel: Oberoi, Shimla, India
Other Incredible Luxury Hotel Brands (Honourable Mentions)
With over 1,200 hotel and resort brands in the world today according to STR [Source], the list of the best among them providing upscale hospitality services and amenities is extensive. Therefore, below is a list of 8 other popular luxury hotel brands that are worth checking out, in no particular order.
- Soneva
- Shangri-La
- Auberge Resorts Collection
- The Peninsula
- Ritz-Carlton
- Anantara
- Kempinski Hotels, and
- COMO Hotels & Resorts
Conclusion
The world’s best luxury hotel brands are the provider of the most lavish possible hospitality services and facilities on Earth. These brands have properties located in distinct and incredible destinations with customer utmost satisfaction, cultural appreciation and environmental consciousness as their core philosophies.
No two luxury hotel or resort brands are the same in designs, facilities and services offered.
Your desired destination, the hotel or resort brand’s unique offering and customization options should be your guide in choosing the right luxury hotel or resort for the most gratifying luxury vacation or exclusive getaway.
From experiencing the iconic spa and wellness programs of the Six Senses to getting “lost” in the idyllic historical locations of Aman ultra-luxe sanctuaries, participating in a culinary adventure in One&Only one-off resorts and embarking on a Belmond’s cruise or safari, the best luxury hotel brands offer, elegantly, a perfect blend of pleasure, leisure, entertainment and adventurous thrill that’s a bit out of the ordinary, a recipe for a luxury experience that last a lifetime.
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