LTI has named the World's Best Luxury Hotel Brands 2025, based on a rigorous assessment process using 130 key touchpoints in the luxury hotel sector. 

 

The algorithm evaluates a brand's ability to uphold its passion, commitment, ethos, and values, along with the quality of its management and staff.

 

It also considers ongoing investments and their effective utilisation, particularly in new properties and refurbishments, as critical factors. The final score of 4,663 is the maximum possible.

 

Here are this year's results, reflected as percentages, along with last year's rankings in brackets: 

1. Mandarin Oriental 81.8% (1)                                        

2. Aman 80.7% (5)                          

3. Bulgari 80.6% (2)

4. Oetker Collection 80.0% (3)                                                 

5. Rosewood 78.3% (8)                                                       

6. Four Seasons 77.5% (12)              

7. Six Senses 77.2% (4)                                           

8. Auberge Resorts 76.1% (10)

9. Rocco Forte 75.8% (7) 

10. One&Only 75.4% (6)

11. Belmond 72.9% (9)

12. Dorchester Collection 71.9% (11) 

13. Peninsula 70.8% (13)

14. Banyan Tree 69.7% (New Entry)

15. Raffles 69.0% (15)

 

Michael Crompton, Founder of LTI, comments: “In 2023, we raised a concern about the evident global shortage of exceptional management and staff to match the substantial investments in increasingly impressive ultra-luxury properties. This mismatch between capital investment and human resource development is now becoming critical and, if not addressed, it could threaten the reputation of several top-tier brands. Relying on well-meaning but inexperienced locals under the guise of offering a 'sense of place' or 'relaxed luxury' is no longer acceptable. Today's discerning luxury traveller demands and deserves flawless service and professional management. 

 

While there is no single quick fix, it is essential for brands to proactively invest from the outset, ideally during the construction phase, to recruit and train management and staff. This investment would allow them to align with the brand's ethos and service expectations by gaining experience at more established properties. As part of our commitment to tracking excellence in the sector, LTI will significantly update its algorithm from 2026 onward to monitor how brands are confronting this challenge." -TradeArabia News Service