The World’s 50 Best Hotels is a new initiative that calls on panels of 580 luxury travel and hotel industry experts globally to suggest their top hotels, with the results leading to the naming of Passalacqua on Lake Como in Italy as number one. 

Now known as The World’s Best Hotel 2023, Passalacqua was only opened in June 2022 by the De Santis family, and has just 24 rooms located in an 18th-century villa on the shores of the famous lake.

“Huge congratulations to Passalacqua for this achievement,” said Tim Brooke-Webb, managing director for The World’s 50 Best Hotels. “The De Santis family has created a sublime sanctuary for guests with painstaking devotion to design detail, exquisite hospitality and distinctive magic, which has clearly made a lasting impression on our academy of expert voters. We hope this list inspires travel lovers to book somewhere truly spectacular for their next trip.”

The number two and three spots are both in Asia, with Rosewood Hong Kong and Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, taking those listings. The best new hotel was also in Asia, with Capella Bangkok winning the Nikka Best New Hotel Award, and taking 11th place in the overall rankings. 

Europe received the most nominations, at 21, followed by Asia (18), North America (six), Africa (three), Oceania (one) and South America (one).

The Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award was awarded to Soneva Fushi (also number seven worldwide) in the Maldives, while Sonu Shivdasani OBE, co-founder and CEO of Soneva, and founder and former CEO of Six Senses, was also awarded the SevenRooms Icon Award, celebrating his achievements in the industry over the last 28 years. 

The Flor de Cana Eco Hotel Award went to Singita Lodges (listed at number 15 worldwide) in South Africa, after an audit by The Sustainable Restaurant Association, while the Carlo Alberto Best Boutique Hotel was awarded to The Newt (listed at number 37) in Somerset.

London’s listings included Claridge’s, The Connaught, NoMad London and The Savoy, while another UK property was also a winner – Gleneagles in Scotland, listed at number 32 and also the recipient of the inaugural Art of Hospitality Award. 

Overall, 35 different locations across six continents worldwide now have hotels in World’s 50 Best Hotels, which is 50 Best’s first foray into travel, and its first new global ranking since the launch of Bars in 2009.

The list is created from the votes of The World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy, which comprises 580 international well-travelled experts within the hotel and travel industry, across nine regions worldwide. At the point of voting, panellists are required to list the seven best hotels they have stayed in over the past 24 months in order of preference.