This is the only Indian property to feature on world's 50 best hotels list in 2024; See full rankings

India's Suján Jawai, in Rajasthan, featured on the list of the 50 best hotels in the world in 2024. The luxurious property, which charges approximately Rs 1.5 lakh for a single night's stay, was ranked 43rd.

The Capella Bangkok secured the first spot on the list.

The Capella is among a cluster of new riverside resorts in Bangkok that has skyrocketed the city’s luxury quotient. Every one of its rooms has a view of the Chao Praya River, and dining venues include a French gastronomic restaurant by Mauro Colagreco and the waterfront Phra Nakhon, which has become something of a legendary brunch scene for chic locals and visitors alike. Its pool is so densely surrounded by lush vegetation, it almost feels like instant transport to one of the Thai islands, says a Bloomberg report.


The title of World’s Best, however is a subjective one, rather than a scientific determination. To arrive at its results, the World’s 50 Best team asks its 600 anonymous jurors to rank the seven best hotels they’ve stayed in over the last 18 months. It’s a system that necessarily favors easy-to-reach destinations, big cities and new hotels with marketing muscle: There are no rules against jurors taking free stays, so those with big promotional budgets can draw dozens of influencers and media on familiarization trips to help get the word out, creating a slew of eligible voters along the way.

By contrast, even the best-traveled voters are unlikely to have gone on safari or explored the wilds of Patagonia in that recent period, leaving only a small minority of voters with the ability to cast votes for properties in off-the-beaten track destinations, as per the report. In theory, a global panel of jurors should help, but none are required to cast even a single vote for hotels in their home regions, it adds.

That in some ways explains the results. Much of the list was familiar from last year's edition, proving that influential travel pros feel the need to see the highest ranked places they have not yet visited, creating a sort of echo chamber of positive opinion. That made the biggest surprises the most far-flung resorts, like Kokomo Private Island, in Fiji (No. 50); Suján Jawai, in Rajasthan, India (No. 43); and Six Senses Zighy Bay, in Oman (No. 45).

In this year’s black-tie ceremony at London’s Guildhall, “Highest New Entry,” “Most Admired Hotel Group” and “Highest Climber” awards were doled out for the first time: They went to Raffles London at the OWO, Aman and Atlantis the Royal, respectively. The latter, a $1.2 billion investment from Kerzner International Ltd., climbed from No. 44 on the 2023 list to No. 9 now.

The Raffles London at the OWO is among the hotels that benefits from a substantial marketing benefit—it has extraordinary publicity muscle behind it—though indeed it is a worthy contender, opening last fall after a $1.76 billion renovation of a historic building that that served as a base for British military operations throughout both World Wars. Last year’s winner, Passalacqua, came in this year at No. 2; overall, half of last year’s top 10 held onto positions within that rarified echelon.

The geographic distribution was also similarly unchanged. If last year sub-Saharan Africa and South America were represented with one measly entry apiece, the 2024 list did only marginally better, with only two hotels in sub-Saharan Africa ranking (Singita Kruger National Park and Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel) and one in South America (the Rosewood São Paulo).

The rankings also speak to trending destinations. In last year’s inaugural list, it was clear that the jury were among the many travelers thrilled to return to Asia in its long-awaited post-Covid reopening; there were a dozen hotels from the continent on the 2023 list.

This year, the center of gravity remained firmly in Asia, where the weak yen has driven interest in Japan and upcoming season of The White Lotus has helped extend a travel boom in Thailand (the two countries claimed a total of seven hotels on the list, with Asia now claiming even more hotels than it did last year).

The US also improved its standing, with four entries, up from just two last year, including a first-time recognition for the iconic Carlyle Hotel in New York City, the Four Seasons at the Surf Club in Miami and Dorchester Collection’s Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles.

Being on the list can be a game-changer not just for the hotels that rank but also the destinations or the brands they’re from, says Kristina Snaith-Lense, general manager of Hong Kong’s Upper House, which ranked fourth last year and fifth this year. “It’s been a great story for Hong Kong—to highlight our recovery after Covid after all the closures,” she explains.

Here’s the list of the World’s 50 Best hotels in full.

1. Capella Bangkok (The Best Hotel in Asia)
2. Passalacqua, Lake Como, Italy (Best Boutique Hotel Award)
3. Rosewood Hong Kong
4. Cheval Blanc Paris
5. The Upper House, Hong Kong
6. Raffles Singapore
7. Aman Tokyo
8. Soneva Fushi, Maldives (Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award)
9. Atlantis the Royal, Dubai (Highest Climber Award)
10. Nihi Sumba
11. Claridge’s, London
12. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
13. Raffles London at the OWO, London (Highest New Entry Award)
14. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River
15. Hôtel de Crillon, Paris
16. Chablé Yucatan, Chocolá, Mexico (The Best Hotel in North America)
17. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes, France
18. Belmond Maroma, Riviera Maya, Mexico (Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award)
19. Four Seasons Firenze, Florence
20. Borgo Santandrea, Amalfi Coast, Italy
21. Desa Potato Head, Bali
22. Bulgari Tokyo (Nikka Best New Hotel Award)
23. The Lana, Dubai
24. Rosewood São Paulo (The Best Hotel in South America)
25. The Calile, Brisbane (The Best Hotel in Oceania)
26. The Siam, Bangkok
27. Park Hyatt Kyoto
28. Mount Nelson, Cape Town (The Best Hotel in Africa)
29. One & Only Mandarina, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
30. The Carlyle, New York City
31. La Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco
32. Four Seasons Madrid
33. Capella Singapore
34. Four Seasons at the Surf Club, Miami
35. Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles
36. Eden Rock, St. Barths
37. Aman New York
38. Royal Mansour, Marrakech, Morocco (No. 3 Gin Art of Hospitality Award)
39. Amangalla, Sri Lanka
40. Le Bristol, Paris
41. Gleneagles, Scotland
42. Castello di Reschio, Umbria, Italy
43. Suján Jawai, Rajasthan, India
44. Singita Kruger National Park, South Africa
45. Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman
46. The Connaught, London
47. The Brando, Tetiaroa, French Polynesia
48. Hotel Esencia, Tulum, Mexico
49. The Tasman, Hobart, Australia
50. Kokomo Private Island, Fiji

(With Bloomberg inputs)

Tired of cities and need some nature? Here are the top wildlife tourist spots across the world

1/9

A vast inland delta with rich wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, and numerous bird species.

A vast inland delta with rich wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, and numerous bird species.

A biodiverse paradise with opportunities to see jaguars, sloths, and countless bird species.

A biodiverse paradise with opportunities to see jaguars, sloths, and countless bird species.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, home to unique species like giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, home to unique species like giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies.

While primarily known for marine life, the reef also supports a variety of coastal and terrestrial wildlife.

While primarily known for marine life, the reef also supports a variety of coastal and terrestrial wildlife.

Known for its abundant wildlife, including the Big Five: lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinoceroses.

Known for its abundant wildlife, including the Big Five: lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinoceroses.

One of Africa’s largest game reserves, offering opportunities to see diverse wildlife including elephants, lions, and rhinos.

One of Africa’s largest game reserves, offering opportunities to see diverse wildlife including elephants, lions, and rhinos.

Famous for the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest and zebras cross the plains.

Famous for the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest and zebras cross the plains.

America's first national park, featuring bison, elk, wolves, and diverse geothermal features.

America's first national park, featuring bison, elk, wolves, and diverse geothermal features.

See More Slideshows