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Although it has only been open for six years, Rosewood Hong Kong has quickly become a prominent feature of Hong Kong’s iconic skyline and a force to be reckoned with in the luxury hotel world.
And after twice ranking in the top three of the World’s 50 Best Hotels list, the 65-story hotel takes the number one spot this year.
The 413-room contemporary hotel, designed by Taiwanese designer Tony Chi, beat last year’s winner Capella Bangkok in the global hospitality brand’s highly anticipated list of 50 Best, which was announced at an awards ceremony in London last night.
Angus Pitkesley, Rosewood Hong Kong’s combined director of sales and marketing, told the crowd at the Old Billingsgate event venue that it was “a real surprise and a real honour” to come out on top this year.
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“What an emotional night here in London…” Pitkethley added. “I am filled with great pride and gratitude to receive this award.”
When asked what he thought was the secret to Rosewood Hong Kong’s success, Pittkethly said it was the staff at the $650-a-night hotel on Hong Kong’s Kowloon Waterfront.
“We have a great team at the hotel who are not only passionate about hospitality, but also really passionate about Hong Kong,” he said.
Emma Slight, head of content for The World’s Best Hotels 50, described this year’s list as “a true celebration of the best accommodations from 22 destinations across six continents” and praised The Rosewood Hong Kong, which opened in 2019.
“This outstanding hotel offers world-class service and a sensational guest experience in the heart of one of the world’s busiest and most dynamic destinations,” said Slight.
“The establishment of Rosewood Hong Kong as number one further strengthens our position as Asia’s leading luxury destination for both business and leisure travelers.”
Meanwhile, Asian hotels dominated, with Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, a 299-room retreat in the heart of Thailand’s capital’s creative district, coming in second, followed closely by Capella Bangkok in third.
In fact, Passalacqua, a boutique hotel in Lake Como, Italy, was the only non-Asian hotel in the top five. The 18th-century villa came in fourth this year, the highest ranking of any hotel in Europe, and was also named Best Boutique Hotel.
Raffles Singapore, the historic hotel that is the birthplace of the Singapore Sling cocktail, made it into the top five.
Other hotels in Asia that made the list include Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok (7th), Upper House Hong Kong (10th), Bvlgari Tokyo (15th), Aman Tokyo (25th), Janu Tokyo (37th), Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong (41st), and Tokyo Edition Toranomon (45th).
The highest ranked hotel in North America was Chablé Yucatán (No. 8), one of four Mexican hotels featured. A former 19th-century plantation nestled in the Mayan jungle, Chablé Yucatan is “inspired by nature, culture and relationships,” Chablé Hotels CEO Diego Gutierrez said in a press release. New York’s The Mark, a new entrant this year, ranked 43rd, and Los Angeles’ Hotel Bel Air ranked 42nd.
Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Palace and Rosewood São Paulo, which also won the Lavazza Best New Entry Award, were the only South American hotels on the list, coming in 11th and 24th respectively.
Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal, in sixth place, became the highest-ranked hotel in the Middle East, while Capella Sydney, in 12th place, beat out competition from the Oceana region. In 13th place was Marrakech’s Royal Mansour, the highest ranked hotel in Africa.
The World’s Best Hotels list is determined by the World’s 50 Best Hotel Academy, a group of 800 hotel industry experts, including hoteliers and travel journalists from 13 locations around the world.
1. Rosewood Hong Kong
2. Four Seasons Bangkok Chao Phraya River (Thailand)
3. Capella Bangkok (Thailand)
4. Passalacqua (Italy)
5. Raffles Singapore
6. Atlantis The Royal (Dubai)
7. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (Thailand)
8. Chablé Yucatan (Mexico, Chochola)
9. Four Seasons Florence (Florence, Italy)
10. Hong Kong Senate
11. Copacabana Palace (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
12. Capella Sydney (Australia)
13. Royal Mansour (Marrakech, Morocco)
14. Mandarin Oriental Qianmen (Beijing, China)
15. Bvlgari Tokyo (Japan)
16. Claridge’s (London)
17. Four Seasons Astir Palace (Athens, Greece)
18. Desa Potato Head (Seminyak, Bali)
19. Le Bristol (France)
20. Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab (Dubai)
21. Cheval Blanc Paris (France)
22. Bvlgari Rome (Italy)
23. Hotel de Crillon (France)
24. Rosewood Sao Paulo (Brazil)
25. Aman Tokyo (Japan)
26. Hotel Il Pellicano (Porto Ercole, Italy)
27. Hotel du Couvent (Nice, France)
28. Soneva Fushi (Maldives)
29. The Connaught (London)
30. La Mamounia (Marrakech, Morocco)
31. Raffles London at OWO
32. The Emory (London)
33. Maroma (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
34. The Calil (Brisbane, Australia)
35. The Rana (Dubai)
36. Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo (Monaco, France)
37. Janu Tokyo (Japan)
38. Taj Mahal Palace (Mumbai, India)
39. One & Only Mandarina (Riviera Nayarit, Mexico)
40. Singita (Kruger National Park, South Africa)
41. Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
42. Hotel Bel Air (Los Angeles)
43. The Mark (New York)
44. Las Ventanas al Paraiso (Los Cabos, Mexico)
45. Tokyo Edition Toranomon (Japan)
46. Hotel the Mitsui (Kyoto, Japan)
47. Estelle Manor (Witney, UK)
48. Grand Park Hotel Rovinj (Croatia)
49. Hotel Sacher Vienna (Austria)
50. Mandapa (Bali)
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