Pasadena, United States of America
All stays
8,719
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Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Kowloon Shangri-La
Surat Thani, Thailand
Kimpton Kitalay Samui
Milan, Italy
The Carlton, a Rocco Forte Hotel
Grand Bay, Mauritius
La Maison 20 Degrés Sud
Da’an District, Taiwan, China
Kimpton Da An Taipei
Costa Navarino, Greece
W Costa Navarino
Asheville, United States of America
Kimpton Hotel Arras
Kansas City, United States of America
Crossroads Hotel
Atlanta, United States of America
The Hamilton Alpharetta, Curio Collection By Hilton
Fes, Morocco
Riad Laaroussa
Malaga, Spain
La Zambra Resort
Zurich, Switzerland
Baur au Lac
Sydney, Australia
Crystalbrook Albion
Marrakech, Morocco
Riad Dar Saad - Hammam & Spa
Oranjestad, Aruba
Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba
The Hamptons / Montauk, United States of America
The Maidstone
Washington D.C., United States of America
Hotel Zena Washington DC
Heidelberg, Germany
Heidelberg Suites
Frankfurt, Germany
25hours Hotel The Trip
Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku
Zion National Park, United States of America
Under Canvas Zion
The Complete Stay
How The World's Best reads a hotel
Four connected views keep the guest experience in focus while reading the property as a place, an operation and a current promise.
The Place
Architecture, landscape, stewardship and the clarity with which the property belongs to its setting.
Sense of place · Design and stewardship · Landscape · Destination relationshipThe Room
Sleep, privacy, proportion, light and the practical comfort that shapes the hours a guest spends alone.
Sleep and quiet · Privacy · Comfort and usability · ConditionThe Stay
Service, dining, wellbeing and the pace of the experience from arrival through departure.
Service and recovery · Dining · Wellbeing · Pace and consistencyThe Record
A current, coherent operation supported by evidence strong enough to carry every published claim.
Current operation · Continuity · Evidence · Integrity of claimsEditorial independence
How decisions are protected
Hotels cannot pay to enter, receive a GEM distinction, improve their editorial account or secure a Best 100 position.
01Commercial separation+
Hotels cannot buy directory inclusion, a GEM distinction, favourable editorial language or a place in the Best 100. Advertising, licensing and partnerships are agreed separately.
02Conflicts and recusal+
Editors and contributors disclose employment, ownership, consultancy, investment and close personal ties. A material conflict removes that person from the decision.
03No geographic quotas+
No country, city, brand, price point or property type receives a reserved place. Context matters, but it does not lower the standard.
04Current identity+
The record belongs to one property in one place. A change of address, concept, ownership, management or operating condition can require a fresh review.
05Corrections+
Substantiated factual errors are checked against the evidence file and corrected. A difference of editorial opinion is not treated as a factual error.
06Product separation+
Directory publication, a GEM rating and the annual Best 100 are separate decisions. No one result implies either of the others.
Every hotel is read against the same declared identity, evidence and publication rules.
Read the hotel framework