The Top 20 Hotel Brands in the World in 2018

By Jacqueline Gifford
July 10, 2018
Credit: Courtesy of Six Senses
With so many new hotel brands launching, be they family-focused, design-driven, or millennial-friendly, today’s traveler is spoiled for choice. Still, some hotel chains are able to capitalize more than others on arguably the most important factor in the business: customer loyalty. And it is those brands that get rewarded by T+L readers in our World’s Best survey.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L 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.

Related: The 2018 World's Best Awards

Though this year’s top 20 hotel brands range in location — Oberoi Hotels & Resorts (No. 4), the Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts (No. 7), and Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris (No. 15) focus on palatial properties in India, while companies like Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts (No. 19) and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts (No. 6) cover all corners of the globe, from Paris to Beijing — one thing holds true throughout: exemplary service. “Stayed at several Leelas in India,” wrote one reader. “Their service is breathtaking along with the rooms, which defy any other chain.” Of Rosewood, one fan said: “Our go-to hotel chain. The service is always superior and friendly.”

Closer to home, Montage Hotels & Resorts (No. 14) is a boutique brand of six properties in South Carolina, California, Utah, Hawaii,and Mexico. (Montage Kapalua Bay, in Maui, took home the No. 1 resort hotel in the state). For this brand, both sense of place — another thing resonating with today’s travelers — and service stood out: “Luxury at its best. Great locations and staff.”

This year’s list has a newcomer in the No. 2 spot: family-run Red Carnation Hotel Collection, which has Ireland’s Ashford Castle (a perennial World’s Best favorite) and Hotel 41 in London in its portfolio. The No. 1 hotel brand in the world? A rapidly expanding company with forthcoming properties in Bhutan, Bali and Israel. Read on for more on this repeat, wellness-centric winner — and see how the other brands scored with our readers.
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20. Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts

Credit: Courtesy of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

Score: 89.26

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19. Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

Credit: Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Score: 89.53

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18. St. Regis Hotels & Resorts

Credit: Courtesy of St. Regis Hotels & Resorts

Score: 89.84

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17. Thompson Hotels

Credit: Courtesy of Thompson Hotels

Score: 89.88

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16. Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts

Credit: Courtesy of Banyan Tree

Score: 90.64

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15. Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris

Credit: Courtesy of Taj

Score: 91.25

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14. Montage Hotels & Resorts

Credit: Courtesy of Montage Hotels & Resorts

Score: 91.33

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13. Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas

Credit: Courtesy of Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas

Score: 91.44

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12. COMO Hotels & Resorts

Credit: Courtesy of COMO Hotels and Resorts

Score: 91.48

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11. Aman

Credit: Courtesy of Aman

Score: 91.57

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10. Auberge Resorts Collection

Credit: Courtesy of Auberge Resorts

Score: 91.64

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9. Alila Hotels & Resorts

Credit: Courtesy of Alila Hotels and Resorts

Score: 91.81

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8. The Peninsula Hotels

Credit: Courtesy of The Peninsula Hotels

Score: 92.04

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7. The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts

Credit: Courtesy of The Leela Hotels & Resorts

Score: 92.13

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6. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Credit: Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Score: 93.38

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5. One&Only Resorts

Credit: Courtesy of One&Only

Score: 93.88

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4. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts

Credit: Courtesy of Oberoi Hotels & Resorts

Score: 94.51

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3. Oetker Collection

Credit: Courtesy of Oetker Collection

Score: 94.80

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2. Red Carnation Hotel Collection

Credit: Courtesy of Red Carnation

Score: 95.33

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1. Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas

Credit: Courtesy of Six Senses

Score: 96.77

"Perfect marriage between luxury and sustainability," said one reader of this 14-resort brand, with properties in Thailand, Vietnam, Oman, and Portugal, among other locations. For example, Six Senses has banned the use of plastic water bottles. Another core tenet is wellness: sleep and nutrition consultants help guide guests toward a healthier path (though they can still kick back with a cocktail on the beach). "Grow With Six Senses," the kids’ program, engages the littlest guests. At Six Senses Yao Noi, which is No. 1 in Southeast Asia this year, they can try aerial yoga, while at the new property in Fiji, they can cook using a solar oven. “There isn’t anything else like Six Senses,” raved one fan. "I cannot even put it into words."

See all of our readers' favorite hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2018.

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By Jacqueline Gifford