As the past two years have shown, the hotel industry is remarkably resilient. The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic presented numerous hurdles — including lockdowns that, in some cases, meant that a property had to close its doors for a year or more. But a renewed sense of hope has taken hold, as travelers, eager to plan those long-postponed vacations, are booking hotels and resorts in numbers that rival pre-pandemic heights.
Every year for the World’s Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated hotel brands on their locations, rooms/facilities, food, service, and overall value.
Auberge Resorts Collection, which has opened or renovated three properties in the past year — in Mexico, New Mexico, and Costa Rica — made the list at No. 16. The company is riding high on its continued expansion in some of the world’s most beautiful locations. “I discovered this brand during the pandemic,” wrote one reader. “And I will not stay anywhere else from now on. It’s a real home away from home.”
Another brand at the forefront of readers’ minds is Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, which came in at No. 9 and has recently debuted properties in Madrid, St. Bart’s, and São Paulo, Brazil. One reader cited “outstanding attention to detail” at the hotels. And the ultra-luxurious Aman Resorts earned the No. 22 spot thanks to “the best service in the world” — a trend that will undoubtedly continue at its New York City property, set to open later this year.
But it was the New Delhi–based Oberoi Hotels & Resorts that won the No. 1 spot. Keep reading for details on what makes it so special to T+L readers — and which other hospitality groups made this year’s list of best hotel brands.
- Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
With properties spanning the Middle East, North Africa, and Indonesia — in addition to its home base in the Indian subcontinent — this hotel brand rose from the No. 5 position last year to capture 2022’s top spot. Its lavish new Marrakesh resort, which made T+L’s 2020 It List, has quickly become popular with travelers, thanks to what one World’s Best voter described as “amazing hospitality.” Fond memories and recent trips also fueled praise for the brand’s iconic resorts in India. “Spectacular locations and excellent staff,” said one reader, who noted that the Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra, a stone’s throw from the Taj Mahal, is “ideal for families and honeymoons.”
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 97.50
More information: oberoihotels.com
- One&Only Resorts
Courtesy of One&Only Reethi Rah
Score: 96.20
More information: oneandonlyresorts.com
- Oetker Collection
Courtesy of Romain Reglade/The Lanesborough
Score: 96.15
More information: oetkercollection.com
- Raffles Hotels & Resorts
Stephane Bahler/Courtesy of Raffles Hotels and Resorts
Score: 95.50
More information: raffles.com
- Red Carnation Hotel Collection
Courtesy of Ashford Castle
Score: 95.32
More information: redcarnationhotels.com
- Sofitel Legend
Courtesy of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Score: 95.20
More information: sofitel.accor.com
- The Langham Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of The Langham, Chicago
Score: 95.03
More information: langhamhotels.com
- The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL)
Courtesy of Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris
Score: 95.00
More information: tajhotels.com
- Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco
Score: 94.93
More information: rosewoodhotels.com
- Viceroy Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Viceroy Santa Monica
Score: 94.91
More information: viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
- Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Banyan Tree Bangkok
Score: 94.89
More information: banyantree.com
- Pendry Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Pendry Chicago
Score: 94.89
More information: pendry.com
- Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Shangri-La The Shard, London
Score: 94.74
More information: shangri-la.com
- Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas
Courtesy of Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel
Score: 94.62
More information: anantara.com
- Mandarin Oriental
Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
Score: 94.06
More information: mandarinoriental.com
- Auberge Resorts Collection
Courtesy of Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 94.01
More information: aubergeresorts.com
- Capella Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Capella Ubud, Bali
Score: 94.00
More information: capellahotels.com
- The Peninsula Hotels
Courtesy of The Peninsula Beverly Hills
Score: 93.97
More information: peninsula.com
- Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas
Courtesy of Six Senses Yao Noi
Score: 93.81
More information: sixsenses.com
- Proper Hospitality
The Ingalls/Courtesy of Santa Monica Proper Hotel
Score: 93.81
More information: properhotel.com
- Belmond
Courtesy of Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel
Score: 93.50
More information: belmond.com
- Aman Resorts
Courtesy of Aman
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 93.18
More information: aman.com
- The Luxury Collection
Courtesy of Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Score: 93.06
More information: the-luxury-collection.marriott.com
- St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of St. Regis San Francisco
Score: 93.00
More information: st-regis.marriott.com
- Salamander Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Half Moon
Score: 92.67
More information: salamanderhotels.com
As the past two years have shown, the hotel industry is remarkably resilient. The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic presented numerous hurdles — including lockdowns that, in some cases, meant that a property had to close its doors for a year or more. But a renewed sense of hope has taken hold, as travelers, eager to plan those long-postponed vacations, are booking hotels and resorts in numbers that rival pre-pandemic heights.
Every year for the World’s Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated hotel brands on their locations, rooms/facilities, food, service, and overall value.
Auberge Resorts Collection, which has opened or renovated three properties in the past year — in Mexico, New Mexico, and Costa Rica — made the list at No. 16. The company is riding high on its continued expansion in some of the world’s most beautiful locations. “I discovered this brand during the pandemic,” wrote one reader. “And I will not stay anywhere else from now on. It’s a real home away from home.”
Another brand at the forefront of readers’ minds is Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, which came in at No. 9 and has recently debuted properties in Madrid, St. Bart’s, and São Paulo, Brazil. One reader cited “outstanding attention to detail” at the hotels. And the ultra-luxurious Aman Resorts earned the No. 22 spot thanks to “the best service in the world” — a trend that will undoubtedly continue at its New York City property, set to open later this year.
But it was the New Delhi–based Oberoi Hotels & Resorts that won the No. 1 spot. Keep reading for details on what makes it so special to T+L readers — and which other hospitality groups made this year’s list of best hotel brands.
1. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
With properties spanning the Middle East, North Africa, and Indonesia — in addition to its home base in the Indian subcontinent — this hotel brand rose from the No. 5 position last year to capture 2022’s top spot. Its lavish new Marrakesh resort, which made T+L’s 2020 It List, has quickly become popular with travelers, thanks to what one World’s Best voter described as “amazing hospitality.” Fond memories and recent trips also fueled praise for the brand’s iconic resorts in India. “Spectacular locations and excellent staff,” said one reader, who noted that the Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra, a stone’s throw from the Taj Mahal, is “ideal for families and honeymoons.”
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 97.50
More information: oberoihotels.com
2. One&Only Resorts
Score: 96.20
More information: oneandonlyresorts.com
3. Oetker Collection
Score: 96.15
More information: oetkercollection.com
4. Raffles Hotels & Resorts
Score: 95.50
More information: raffles.com
5. Red Carnation Hotel Collection
Score: 95.32
More information: redcarnationhotels.com
6. Sofitel Legend
Score: 95.20
More information: sofitel.accor.com
7. The Langham Hotels & Resorts
Score: 95.03
More information: langhamhotels.com
8. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL)
Score: 95.00
More information: tajhotels.com
9. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Score: 94.93
More information: rosewoodhotels.com
10. Viceroy Hotels & Resorts
Score: 94.91
More information: viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
11. Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts
Score: 94.89
More information: banyantree.com
12. Pendry Hotels & Resorts
More information: pendry.com
13. Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts
Score: 94.74
More information: shangri-la.com
14. Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas
Score: 94.62
More information: anantara.com
15. Mandarin Oriental
Score: 94.06
More information: mandarinoriental.com
16. Auberge Resorts Collection
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 94.01
More information: aubergeresorts.com
17. Capella Hotels & Resorts
Score: 94.00
More information: capellahotels.com
18. The Peninsula Hotels
Score: 93.97
More information: peninsula.com
19. Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas
Score: 93.81
More information: sixsenses.com
20. Proper Hospitality
More information: properhotel.com
21. Belmond
Score: 93.50
More information: belmond.com
22. Aman Resorts
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 93.18
More information: aman.com
23. The Luxury Collection
Score: 93.06
More information: the-luxury-collection.marriott.com
24. St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
Score: 93.00
More information: st-regis.marriott.com
25. Salamander Hotels & Resorts
Score: 92.67
More information: salamanderhotels.com