Mandarin Oriental has been named the world's best luxury hotel brand for 2025, marking the third consecutive year atop Luxury Travel Intelligence's rankings. The Hong Kong–based group operates about 40 hotels and branded residences across 26 countries, and it has three U.S. locations, including a prominent tower above Columbus Circle in New York City. The award reflects an algorithm that analyzed roughly 130 touchpoints, spanning overall brand performance, staff quality and management, and the guest experience across properties rather than focusing solely on individual hotels.
Aman Resorts jumped several spots to No. 2, overtaking Bulgari and Oetker Collection, which finished third and fourth, respectively. Aman New York officially opened its doors on Aug. 2, 2022, signaling continued expansion of the luxury brand into landmark urban outposts. Rosewood rounded out the top five, while among the winners Mandarin Oriental, Aman, Rosewood, Auberge Resorts, Four Seasons and Peninsula all operate in New York.
Beneath the top tier, the list includes a mix of globally known houses and newer labels. Bulgari and Oetker Collection stay in the top five, followed by Rosewood, Four Seasons, Six Senses, Auberge Resorts, Rocco Forte, One&Only, Belmond, Dorchester Collection, Peninsula, Banyan Tree and Raffles, rounding out the 2025 top 15. The Five-Star story around the Peninsula brand is highlighted by the Hong Kong flagship and the fact that the Peninsula became the first luxury group to have every hotel receive a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating. The Dorchester Collection’s flagship hotel is cited for its wartime history and reinforced-concrete construction that helped shape mid‑20th‑century luxury design.
Four Seasons is also highlighted in the rankings; the Four Seasons Hotel New York reopened on Nov. 15, 2024, following renovations that refreshed a staple of Manhattan luxury. The list’s breadth showcases an industry that prizes consistency in service alongside the sense of place that distinguishes each brand’s properties. Among the brands with New York footprints are Mandarin Oriental, Aman, Rosewood, Auberge, Four Seasons and Peninsula, underscoring the city’s role as a global luxury hub.
The complete top-15 list includes Mandarin Oriental, Aman, Bulgari, Oetker Collection, Rosewood, Four Seasons, Six Senses, Auberge Resorts, Rocco Forte, One&Only, Belmond, Dorchester Collection, Peninsula, Banyan Tree and Raffles. The lineup blends storied luxury houses with newer labels that have pushed into marquee urban addresses, a trend that aligns with how travelers increasingly seek both heritage and innovation in equal measure. The rankings were reported by the New York Post and are based on Luxury Travel Intelligence’s 130-point framework assessing brand performance, staff quality and management, and the overall guest experience across the brand portfolio.
The sources and context for the rankings reflect a broader industry emphasis on brand depth and the capacity to deliver consistent, high-level service across multiple properties. The prominence of New York in the top tier—alongside strong showings from brands like Aman, Rosewood and Peninsula—illustrates the city’s enduring pull for global luxury travelers and the role of flagship properties in defining a brand’s reach.
