World's Best The Top 20 Hotel Brands in the World in 2018 By Jacqui Gifford Jacqui Gifford Instagram Twitter As the editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure, Jacqui Gifford is always on the next plane. She constantly scouts for new hotels, shops, and restaurants to give readers the latest news and trends, and frequently appears as an expert guest on television networks, including NBC, CBS, ABC, CNBC, and MSNBC. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on July 10, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: 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. 01 of 20 20. Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts Courtesy of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Score: 89.26 02 of 20 19. Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Score: 89.53 03 of 20 18. St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Courtesy of St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Score: 89.84 04 of 20 17. Thompson Hotels Courtesy of Thompson Hotels Score: 89.88 05 of 20 16. Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts Courtesy of Banyan Tree Score: 90.64 06 of 20 15. Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris Courtesy of Taj Score: 91.25 07 of 20 14. Montage Hotels & Resorts Courtesy of Montage Hotels & Resorts Score: 91.33 08 of 20 13. Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas Courtesy of Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas Score: 91.44 09 of 20 12. COMO Hotels & Resorts Courtesy of COMO Hotels and Resorts Score: 91.48 10 of 20 11. Aman Courtesy of Aman Score: 91.57 11 of 20 10. Auberge Resorts Collection Courtesy of Auberge Resorts Score: 91.64 12 of 20 9. Alila Hotels & Resorts Courtesy of Alila Hotels and Resorts Score: 91.81 13 of 20 8. The Peninsula Hotels Courtesy of The Peninsula Hotels Score: 92.04 14 of 20 7. The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts Courtesy of The Leela Hotels & Resorts Score: 92.13 15 of 20 6. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts Score: 93.38 16 of 20 5. One&Only Resorts Courtesy of One&Only Score: 93.88 17 of 20 4. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts Courtesy of Oberoi Hotels & Resorts Score: 94.51 18 of 20 3. Oetker Collection Courtesy of Oetker Collection Score: 94.80 19 of 20 2. Red Carnation Hotel Collection Courtesy of Red Carnation Score: 95.33 20 of 20 1. Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit