THE GORING UNVEILS THE TREE-MENDOUS TREE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ASPREY LONDON
The Goring, a grand hotel with impeccable manners and a mischievous sense of humour, unveils its 2026 Christmas tree partnership with British heritage house Asprey London. Bringing together two British icons, the Tree-mendous tree is an expression of the spirit that unites them: a spectacularly whimsical centrepiece celebrating the joyful chaos that makes Christmas truly magical.
Notorious for its spectacular Christmas parties, The Goring always pulls the stops out during the festive season and this year the iconic hotel will continue to raise the bar with its Tree-mendous Tree designed by Asprey's long-time creative collaborator Max Hurd.
The Tree-mendous Tree playfully reimagines the traditional Christmas tree. Crowned with an oversized bow that has slipped from the top before finding itself elegantly tied halfway down, the dramatic ribbon tails soar towards the ceiling playfully. Decorations are scattered in disarray to nod to the mayhem of the festive season.
The installation embodies both Asprey and The Goring’s dry wit and personality, inviting guests to look beyond the twinkling lights. Asprey has spent 245 years creating extraordinary objects that balance impeccable craftsmanship with imagination, humour and character.
Founded in 1781, Asprey has become synonymous with British luxury, craftsmanship and innovation. Asprey’s story is inseparable from that of British royalty. Known as “The Queen’s Gift Shop", Asprey has always regarded this epithet as both a privilege and a responsibility. This enduring association dates back to 1862, when Queen Victoria granted the House its first Royal Warrant for dressing and writing cases and travelling bags. Asprey has held a Royal Warrant ever since, for every British monarch through to Queen Elizabeth II. Asprey’s creations have also shaped cultural history through bespoke commissions for some of the most defining figures of the modern era - from a cigar case for Winston Churchill, to a chess set commissioned by Beatles’ Ringo Starr, and Margaret Thatcher’s famed black handbag. Today, its collections continue to celebrate storytelling, craftsmanship and the unexpected, encouraging discovery and delight in the smallest details.
CEO of The Goring, Jeremy Goring, comments: "We wanted a tree that's elegant, a little imperfect, and just the right amount of mad - much like Christmas at The Goring."
John Rigas, Chairman of Asprey London, adds: “Asprey and The Goring share an appreciation for things done beautifully, with character and a sense of humour. Max Hurd’s tree will bring the playful side of Asprey into a wonderful, welcoming setting, with details that invite guests to look a little closer and smile.”
Since opening its doors in 1910, The Goring has remained one of London's most beloved addresses for an impeccably English Christmas, full of timeless elegance and festive spirit. This season, guests can gather beneath the Tree-mendous Tree before enjoying Michelin-starred dining by Executive Chef Graham Squire, festive afternoon tea in The Veranda and endless glasses of mulled wine beside roaring fires – because no Christmas at The Goring would be complete without a little magic and a little mischief.
PURPLE UMBRELLA AWARDS 2026 CELEBRATE HOSPITALITY’S RISING STARS AT 10TH ANNIVERSARY BAFTA 195, PICADILLY
Umbrella Training marked the 10th anniversary of the Purple Umbrella Awards with a sparkling evening of celebration at BAFTA 195, Piccadilly, recognising the exceptional apprentices, mentors, employers and organisations helping to shape the future of hospitality.
Bringing together hospitality leaders, employers, training partners and rising talent from across the industry, the milestone ceremony recognised the achievements of this year’s finalists and winners, celebrating the drive, commitment and determination behind their success.
From chefs and hotel professionals to future hospitality leaders, the winners represented the breadth of talent entering and progressing through the industry, demonstrating the vital role apprenticeships play in creating meaningful career opportunities.
Adele Oxberry, Chief Executive & Founder of Umbrella Training, said:
“The calibre of entries this year was exceptionally high, and it was fantastic to see so many apprentices going above and beyond - not only in their roles, but also through the contribution they are making to their teams, employers and the wider hospitality industry.
“For young people at risk of becoming not in Education, Employment or Training (“NEET”), and those who may not have the traditional qualifications or connections to get a foot on the career ladder, apprenticeships can open doors and provide a pathway into a rewarding career.
“At Umbrella Training, we believe everyone deserves opportunity and it is so important to celebrate these inspiring journeys - from the apprentices themselves to the mentors, employers and colleagues who supported them.”
Guests were treated to entertainment from wordsmith and poet Sonny Green, live DJ and dancing, as well as the awards presentation itself. The awards recognised hospitality apprentices across Levels 2 to 5, chef apprentices, mentors and individuals who have achieved outstanding success through their apprenticeship journey.
Purple Umbrella Awards 2026 Winners
Best Level 2 Apprentice
Winner: Veronica Hoxha – Bvlgari Hotel London
Highly Commended: Elias De Graaff – Soho House
Best Level 3 Apprentice
Winner: Kelly Reynolds – Farncombe Estate
Highly Commended: Lara Saab – Great Scotland Yard, Unbound Collection, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Highly Commended: Pedro De Sousa – The Store Oxford
Best Level 4 Apprentice
Winner: Shamsad Chowdhury – Klarent Hospitality – DoubleTree by Hilton London Chelsea
Highly Commended: Samuel Harton – The QHotels Collection
Highly Commended: Evelina Juralyte – Gather & Gather, CH&CO
Best Level 4 Luxury Leaders Apprentice
Winner: Jonathan Ciammella – Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel, Belgravia
Highly Commended: Samuel Milbery – The Chancery Rosewood
Alessandra Motisi – The Stafford London
Kamaldeep Singh – Clermont Hotel Group
Best Level 5 Apprentice
Winner: Sylwia Umelo – Klarent Hospitality – DoubleTree by Hilton Dartford Bridge
Highly Commended: Joanne Thorniley – The QHotels Collection
Highly Commended: Louis Fouché – Clermont Hotel Group
Best Chef Apprentice Level 2
Winner: Georgina Knatchbull – Home Grown Hotels
Highly Commended: Tariq Spalding – The Felix Project
Best Chef Apprentice Level 3
Winner: Harry Lamble Thomas – The Store Oxford
Highly Commended: Thomas Williams – Home Grown Hotels
Best Apprentice Mentor
Winner: Tom Sheppard – Home Grown Hotels
Highly Commended: Kerry Allen – The QHotels Collection
Highly Commended: Nick Hughes – The QHotels Collection
Best Apprentice from Another FE Provider
Winner: Megan Jenkins – BaxterStorey
Highly Commended: Joanne Baggaley – BaxterStorey
Special Achievement Award
London’s Community Kitchen
Led by Taz Khan MBE and Suzy Jakeman BEM, London’s Community Kitchen received the Special Achievement Award in recognition of its outstanding work supporting unemployed Londoners into sustainable hospitality careers through Umbrella Training’s Taste of Culinary Skills Bootcamp.
The organisation was also recognised for its continued commitment to tackling food insecurity across London’s communities, demonstrating the powerful role hospitality skills and employment opportunities can play in creating positive change.
Diamond Anniversary Award
Harry Murray MBE MI FIH
To mark the 10th anniversary of the Purple Umbrella Awards, Harry Murray MBE MI FIH was presented with the inaugural Diamond Award.
A passionate champion of apprenticeships and early careers, Harry has supported the Purple Umbrella Awards since their inception, serving as a judge for all ten years and tirelessly advocating for the development of future hospitality talent.
His recognition provided a fitting tribute to a decade of the awards and to the many people who have championed apprenticeships and helped thousands of individuals build careers in hospitality.
Special Recognition Awards Winners:
Hospitality Passion: Joseph Zanaty, Luxury Family Hotels
Hospitality Resilience: Kerry Allen, The QHotels Collection
Hospitality Collaboration: Lime Wood Hotel
Hospitality Ambition: Lam Lam Lamgie Yip, The Corinthia
Hospitality Excellence: Samuel Milbery, The Chancery Rosewood
Hospitality Apprenticeship Initiative: The QHotels Collection
As the Purple Umbrella Awards look towards the next decade, Umbrella Training remains committed to championing apprenticeships and inclusion, supporting employers and mentors, and opening doors to the next generation of hospitality talent.
2026 MICHELIN KEYS ANNOUNCED
The Chancery Rosewood in London’s Mayfair and Cromlix in Stirlingshire are among three hotels across the UK and Ireland to have been awarded two Michelin Keys in the 2026 Michelin Guide.
The Michelin Key, introduced in 2023 as the hotel equivalent of the Michelin Star, recognises hotels judged by Michelin Guide inspectors to offer an exceptional stay. The first Michelin Key selection for the UK and Ireland was announced in October 2024.
This year’s selection sees 18 new hotels added to the guide, bringing the total number of Michelin Key properties across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland to 138. The portfolio now comprises 11 Three Key hotels, 47 Two Key hotels and 92 One Key hotels.
There were no new additions to the top Three Key category this year. The accolade remains reserved for a select group of properties, including Claridge’s in London, Gleneagles in Auchterarder and The Newt in Somerset.
Three hotels awarded Two Keys
The Chancery Rosewood, which opened in September 2025 following the transformation of the former US Embassy in Mayfair, was awarded Two Keys, with inspectors recognising the property for its “class and refinement”.
Cromlix, the luxury country house hotel in Stirlingshire, also secured Two Keys following its recent upgrade, while Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh completed this year’s Two Key additions.
Fifteen hotels receive One Key
Fifteen hotels across the UK and Ireland were awarded their first Michelin Key.
Among the new additions are The Newman in London’s Fitzrovia, operated by Kinsfolk & Co and opened in February, and Six Senses London in Bayswater, IHG’s first UK property under the Six Senses brand, which opened in March.
Elsewhere, Edinburgh restaurant-with-rooms Lyla, founded by chef Stuart Ralston, has been awarded One Key, alongside Fowlescombe Farm in Devon, which opened as a hospitality retreat in May 2025.
Full list of 2026 Michelin Key additions across the UK and Ireland
One Key
- Seaham Hall Hotel, Durham, England
- The Torridon, Highlands, Scotland
- Glenlo Abbey Hotel, Galway, Ireland
- Marlfield House Hotel, Gorey, Ireland
- Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa, St Andrews, Scotland
- Fowlescombe Farm, Devon, England
- Manor House Lindley, West Yorkshire, England
- Priory Wareham, Dorset, England
- Tillingham Winery, East Sussex, England
- Lyla Restaurant & Rooms, Edinburgh, Scotland
- The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin, Ireland
- Pan Pacific London, City of London, England
- Six Senses London, London, England
- The Newman, London, England
Two Keys
- Cromlix, Stirlingshire, Scotland
- Gleneagles Townhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland
- The Chancery Rosewood, London, England
The latest awards underline the continued expansion and diversification of Michelin’s hotel recognition across the UK and Ireland, spanning established luxury properties, country retreats, city hotels and newer hospitality concepts.
See the full list below:
https://guide.michelin.com/gb/en/article/travel/all-the-michelin-key-hotels-in-the-uk-ireland
ADA COSMETICS TO UNVEIL THREE NEW HOTEL COLLECTIONS AT INDEPENDENT HOTEL SHOW LONDON
land&water enters the hotel amenity market for the first time, alongside London debuts for iSPA and The Skinfluencer.
ADA Cosmetics will unveil three new hotel amenity collections at Independent Hotel Show London, led by the world premiere of land&water as a hotel collection.
The company will exhibit alongside BWT Water Dispensing and BWT water+more as part of PINK PLANET GROUP, marking the group’s first appearance at IHS London. Across stands 1820 and 1830, the three companies will present solutions for hotel amenities, drinking water and professional water treatment.
land&water Enters the Hotel Amenity Market
Born at Watergate Bay Hotel on Cornwall’s north coast, land&water brings a distinctly British story to the ADA Cosmetics portfolio.
Inspired by the coast and the outdoors, the skincare and lifestyle brand combines skincare with essential oils and a fresh citrus, green and woody fragrance profile.
At IHS London, ADA Cosmetics will introduce land&water’s first hotel amenity collection, developed for use in guestrooms and spa environments.
Also making their London debut are iSPA and The Skinfluencer.
iSPA brings a mineral-inspired skincare approach to hospitality, with a focus on spa and wellness environments.
The Skinfluencer draws on contemporary skincare routines and the growing influence of ingredient-led beauty, bringing a vitamin-infused concept to the hotel amenity space.
SmartCare and Refillution: Smarter Replenishment for Hotels
The three collections will be presented in SmartCare, ADA Cosmetics’ dispenser system designed to combine hygienic use with efficient replenishment and lower packaging requirements.
ADA Cosmetics will also showcase Refillution, its patented, fully automated refill technology. The system enables controlled and traceable replenishment and is designed to reduce packaging while simplifying refill processes for hotel teams.
Visitors will also be able to explore a wider selection of ADA Cosmetics’ hospitality portfolio, including ELEMIS, Penhaligon’s, The Curious Botanist and ELEMENT_RY with Actimood® technology, as well as the bespoke ADA Atelier service.
ADA Cosmetics as Part of PINK PLANET GROUP
ADA Cosmetics’ presence at IHS London will also highlight its role within the broader PINK PLANET GROUP portfolio.
Together with BWT Water Dispensing and BWT water+more, the group brings complementary expertise to hospitality across three areas: personal care amenities, guest drinking water and professional water treatment.
BWT Water Dispensing will present BWT Diamond Mineralized Water, which uses patented BWT technology to transform local tap water into mineralized drinking water directly at the point of use. Producing drinking water within the hotel can help reduce transport, storage and handling while giving properties greater control over availability and presentation.
BWT water+more will showcase professional water treatment solutions for coffee and tea preparation. Its systems optimise the mineral composition of water to support consistent beverage quality while helping protect professional equipment from scale and deposits.
By exhibiting together at IHS London for the first time, ADA Cosmetics, BWT Water Dispensing and BWT water+more will show how solutions across amenities and water can support more efficient hotel operations while maintaining the quality, hygiene and experience guests expect.
Meet ADA Cosmetics and PINK PLANET GROUP at Independent Hotel Show London, stands 1820 and 1830.
For more information about ADA Cosmetics, visit ada-cosmetics.com.
For more information about PINK PLANET GROUP, visit pinkplanetgroup.com.
To arrange a personal press meeting, please contact us at ada@faktor3.de.
CASTLE HOTEL IGNITES ‘FIELD TO FORTRESS’ VISION WITH STUNNING CULINARY APPOINTMENT
Four-star Northumberland castle hotel, Langley Castle, has made a bold statement of intent in its 40th anniversary year, as it strives to become one of the UK’s premier ‘foodie’ destination hotels.
The fortified medieval castle hotel, housed within seven-foot-thick walls, which have proudly stood within a 10-acre estate near Hexham since 1350, has lit the blue touchpaper under what it describes as a ‘from field to fortress’ strategy. It has announced the stunning culinary appointment of its first-ever Culinary Director and put Scottish food hero Mark Greenaway, in the driving seat of its new vision.
Rather than following a centuries-old practice of repelling the Scots and sending them back over the border, the former English knight’s home has warmly welcomed this renowned champion of Scottish culinary art into its kitchen. Mark will now be instrumental during a period in the castle’s history that will put food close to the top of excuses to stay at Langley Castle, if not making it the number one reason.
The Scottish chef and cookbook author has lived up to his name and truly made his mark during his career. Highlights have included appearances on The Great British Menu in 2012 and 2013, Saturday Kitchen and Sunday Brunch. He opened his first restaurant, Mark Greenaway at Picardy Place, Edinburgh, in 2011, before moving the eatery to North Castle Street. The three-rosette restaurant was closed in 2018, to enable Mark to implement a new more relaxed dining concept at the former Waldorf Astoria property, the Caledonian Hotel. Here, ‘Grazing by Mark Greenaway’ quickly acquired a reputation for food excellence.
Five years ago, he made the move into the London scene by opening Plant, based in Covent Garden, offering diners both British classics and a taste of his childhood. In addition, two Mark Greenaway cookbooks – Perception and Progression - now grace the bookshelves of food lovers nationwide.
With these credentials, and a passion for cooking with the seasons and showcasing the very best of local and regional produce, Mark will be creating menus built upon the ethos of using flavours and first-class, yet sometimes simple ingredients, in exciting ways, to turn them into wow-factor dishes. On top of this, the local focus underpinning his fine dining menus will also offer the staying guest at Langley Castle, or pre-booked local or passing diner, true sense of place.
His culinary vision will infuse all food served at Langley Castle, whether in the current 2AA Rosette ‘Josephine’s’ restaurant, the contemporary Pavilion or the chandelier-lit and spine-tingling Drawing Room. Menus will be in constant evolution as seasons and weeks pass by, with this constant ‘menu evolution’ philosophy covering fine-dining tasting and a la carte menus, as well as relaxed dining choices.
Other remarkable food experiences – seemingly simple but devilishly detailed - will span special occasions, afternoon teas, Sunday lunches and weddings.
Surprises, extraordinary creations and highly Instagrammable dishes lay ahead for those dining at Langley Castle, as Mark pours decades of culinary experience and food-love into each and every menu choice.
Langley Castle’s general manager, Mohamed Serag, says, “The castle has never had a culinary director at the helm, which demonstrates our intention to make Langley Castle one of the key places to head for an experience that intertwines 676 years of history with extraordinarily delightful, fresh and seasonal food. Under Mark’s direction, food will become a more integral part of our offering to the visiting guest and local diner than ever before, providing every reason for our customers to unwind in a setting like no other, with centuries of history surrounding them. Attracting Mark Greenaway to Langley Castle has been a real coup in what is our 40th anniversary year as a hotel and restaurant.”
Mark Greenaway adds, “This is an exciting and brand-new challenge, with an opportunity for me to take a blank page and create a vision that brings Northumberland produce to the fore and puts seasonal fine dining centre stage. I have big ambitions for Langley Castle and want to take my entire culinary team on an exciting journey that will be challenging but extraordinarily rewarding.
“The message is for food-lovers to make a bee line for Northumberland and understand the role that food can play in enriching a stay at a venue that is truly like no other. Our intention is to create memories on a plate and make our food the catalyst for conversations about dishes that will still be being held in many years to come.”
To discover more about Langley Castle, head to www.langleycastle.co.uk
FAT BADGER GROUP RETURNS TO BWH HOTELS GB WITH SEVEN YORKSHIRE PROPERTIES
BWH Hotels GB has strengthened its premium portfolio with the return of all seven Fat Badger Group hotels to the portfolio, as it enters its next phase of growth following significant investment across the group’s hotel estate.
The partnership gives Fat Badger access to BWH Hotels GB’s global reach, commercial expertise and sales network, while its hotels retain their individual identities.
The seven properties, due to launch imminently under BWH Hotels’ premium BW Premier Collection brand, are:
- Royal Whitby in Whitby, BW Premier Collection by Best Western
- The Yorkshire in Harrogate, BW Premier Collection by Best Western
- White Hart Hotel & Apartments in Harrogate, BW Premier Collection by Best Western
- Hotel Clementine in York, BW Premier Collection by Best Western
- The Fat Badger York, BW Signature Collection by Best Western
- Guy Fawkes Inn in York, BW Premier Collection by Best Western
- Black Horse Inn in Kirkby Fleetham, BW Premier Collection by Best Western
The Guy Fawkes Inn property, said to be the birthplace of the notorious gunpowder plotter Guido Fawkes, has recently benefitted from circa £3.5m investment, including the acquisition of a neighbouring Grade I listed building three years ago and a subsequent conversion. The building was already operating under the Guy Fawkes Inn name, with 27 stunning new bedrooms opening this summer, growing the group’s total keys count to 411.
On the Yorkshire coast, Royal Whitby has also seen significant growth following investment in the property. After a record-breaking summer the hotel’s average daily rate has more than tripled since Fat Badger took on the property in 2024.
Further investment is planned across the estate, including a major development at the Black Horse Inn, where the group is planning to incorporate a farmhouse, village farm shop and 24 luxury lodges set around the property's lakes.
Tim Rumney, CEO of BWH Hotels GB, said: “Fat Badger Group is a fantastic addition to our premium portfolio as we continue to grow our presence in this market.
“These are established properties with strong identities and local reputations. They don’t need us to tell them who they are. They need the reach, insight and commercial support to help more customers discover them and support their next phase of growth.
“Fat Badger knows our model and has chosen to return at an important stage in its growth. That’s a strong endorsement of the value we offer independent hoteliers, putting the commercial engine behind great hotels while allowing them to retain what makes them unique.”
Simon Cotton, managing director at Fat Badger Group, said: “We’ve never been a business that stands still. We’ve invested heavily over the last couple of years, honing in on the uniqueness of every property, creating new bedrooms and developing the F&B offer, because we believe in our people and product.
“We’re now at a different stage in the evolution of the group and starting to see the benefit of that investment. Our food and beverage offering is performing strongly, with our restaurants across North Yorkshire, including The Pickled Sprout and our Fat Badger pubs, becoming destinations in their own right. The next opportunity is to bring that same profile to our hotels and take them to the next level. We don’t take that progress for granted, particularly given the challenges being felt across the industry.
“Coming back to BWH Hotels GB is part of that next stage for us. We know the group and what it can bring to an independent operator, and the value of that distribution and commercial reach makes even more sense to us now. We want to keep our properties performing at the top of their respective comp sets, and BWH Hotels gives us another route to help achieve that.
“There’s always something else we want to improve, build or create, and this partnership gives us another way to do that.”
The decision to return comes as the cost of reaching and acquiring hotel customers through online channels reaches new highs.
Fat Badger Group’s ambition is to build on the momentum already established across its hotels from room rates to introducing the properties to new international audiences.
As part of the partnership, the group will access BWH Hotels GB’s global distribution and loyalty programme, alongside sales and marketing support, revenue expertise and industry insights.
The group will also have access to BWH’s specialist venues desk to help drive corporate, meetings and events business.
The return forms part of BWH Hotels GB’s continued growth across its premium portfolio, with the group having added a further 411 bedrooms to its portfolio, taking the total number of new bedroom signings to 702 over the past 12 months.
For more information on BWH Hotels GB, visit joinbwhhotels.co.uk.
ROSEWOOD HONG KONG NAMED NO.1 IN THE 50 BEST HOTELS 2026 FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR
The fourth annual edition of The 50 Best Hotels has been unveiled at a prestigious awards ceremony, recognising exceptional and pioneering hospitality experiences from across the globe.
For the first time since its inception, the awards ceremony was held outside London, bringing travel industry leaders and enthusiasts together at Les Salles du Carrousel in Paris to celebrate exceptional hotel experiences from around the world. The event showcased new benchmarks in hospitality excellence while inspiring travellers and industry professionals alike.
Rosewood Hong Kong (No.1) has once again been recognised as The World’s Best Hotel, following its ranking as No.1 in 2025 and No.3 in 2024. The hotel also therefore clinched The Best Hotel in Asia title. Rising 65 storeys above Victoria Harbour, this contemporary landmark has become a distinctive presence on Hong Kong’s skyline since opening its doors in 2019. The hotel was conceived by acclaimed Taiwanese designer Tony Chi, whose refined approach is reflected throughout its 413 rooms and suites, as well as its impressive collection of eleven restaurants and bars.
Wellness is central to the experience, with the renowned Asaya occupying multiple levels of the property. Its nine treatment rooms offer an extensive programme spanning therapeutic, aesthetic and holistic treatments, complemented by a spectacular infinity pool overlooking the harbour. For those seeking a more private retreat, two Asaya Lodges sit apart from the main building on a sun terrace, each offering its own spa chamber and sleep-enhancing technology for an immersive approach to rest and wellbeing.
Faye Huggett, Director of Community for The 50 Best Hotels, comments:
The 50 Best Hotels 2026 captures a defining moment for global hospitality, and we are delighted to celebrate the world’s most exceptional hotels that continue to shape how people travel, connect and experience culture. Rosewood Hong Kong retaining its No.1 position for a second consecutive year underlines Asia’s continued influence at the very highest level, while Europe’s strong representation and this year’s ten new entries point to a dynamic, diverse and competitive global hotel landscape. As The 50 evolves, our ambition is to continue to champion the people, places and ideas setting the agenda for the future of hospitality.
The No.2 spot goes to Capella Bangkok, a refined riverside retreat set along the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. The hotel, which ranked No.1 in 2024, has risen from its No.3 ranking in 2025. Elsewhere in the Thai capital, Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River takes the No.3 spot.
Asia is home to 18 ranked hotels in total, including two additional properties in Bangkok, further solidifying the city’s reputation as a global travel hub: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (No.10) and new entry, Aman Nai Lert (No.48). Mandarin Oriental Qianmen in Beijing takes the No.7 spot. In Hong Kong, Upper House Hong Kong ranks at No.8 and The Peninsula Hong Kong features at No.46. Japan is home to four ranked hotels: Aman Tokyo (No.11), Bulgari Tokyo (No.24), Patina Osaka (No.33) – recipient of the Nikka Best New Hotel Award - and Park Hyatt Kyoto (No.37). Further enhancing Asia’s presence, Raffles Singapore places at No.17 and The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai (No.30) climbs eight places. Two hotels in Indonesia feature on the list: Desa Potato Head (No.21) and Nihi Sumba, which has re-entered the list at No.35.
In Dubai, Atlantis The Royal (No.4) is winner of both The Best Hotel in the Middle East and the Best Beach Hotel Award, and Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab (No.15) has climbed five places.
Europe leads the 2026 rankings, with 21 hotels featured among The 50 Best Hotels, making it the continent with the strongest representation on this year’s list. Italy and France both have six properties featured, whereas the UK is home to four. Austria, Greece, Monaco, Switzerland and Türkiye each have one hotel included. The highest-ranking European entry is Passalacqua (No.5) in Lake Como, which additionally wins the Best Boutique Hotel Award for the third consecutive year. This award recognises the highest-ranked hotel that meets the criteria of a boutique property. According to The 50, a boutique hotel is defined as having fewer than 50 rooms, operating independently of a major hotel chain or group, and offering personalised service alongside distinctive characteristics that reflect its destination.
The following Italian hotels also featured: Four Seasons Firenze (No.12), Bulgari Roma (No.32), and new entries Casa Maria Luigia (No.18) in Modena, which has also won the Lavazza Highest New Entry Award, Portrait Milano (No.39) and San Domenico Palace in Taormina (No.50). In Paris, Hôtel de Crillon (No.14) has climbed nine places, with three other hotels in the capital included: Le Bristol (No.19), Cheval Blanc Paris (No.20) and new entry, Plaza Athénée (No.41). Elsewhere in France, Hôtel du Couvent in Nice ranks at No.38 and wins the Johnnie Walker Art of Design Award, while Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc re-enters the list at No.44.
The UK is home to four winning properties, with the capital city claiming three: Claridge’s (No.13), Raffles London at The OWO (No.28) and The Connaught (No.49). Outside of London, Estelle Manor in Witney (No.43) has risen four places. Elsewhere in Europe, Four Seasons Astir Palace (No.27) in Greece, SeiBellissimi Art of Hospitality Award winner Badrutt's Palace (No.36) in Switzerland, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo (No.40) in Monaco and Hotel Sacher Vienna (No.42) secure places in the list. In Türkiye, The Peninsula Istanbul (No.31) has also entered the list for the first time.
North America is home to six winning properties. Chablé Yucatán (No.9) in Chocholá is one of four hotels in Mexico to make the ranking, including One&Only Mandarina (No.23) in Riviera Nayarit, Las Ventanas al Paraíso (No.25) in Los Cabos, winner of the WhistlePig Highest Climber Award, and Maroma (No.47) in Riviera Maya. The United States has two new entries on the list: San Ysidro Ranch (No.22) in Santa Barbara and Amangiri (No.45) in Canyon Point.
Elsewhere, in South America, Rosewood São Paulo (No.6) has risen 18 places and, also in Brazil, Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro ranks at No.29. Africa is home to two hotels on the list: Royal Mansour (No.26) in Marrakech and Mount Nelson in Cape Town, which re-entered the list at No.34. Oceania has one hotel included: Capella Sydney (No.16) in Australia.
The Johnnie Walker Art of Design Award has been presented to Hôtel du Couvent in France. The award reflects how design in hotels goes beyond architecture to create a multi-sensorial experience for visitors, shaping the guest experience and often elevating the expected into the extraordinary.
Rosewood wins the Ferrari Trento Most Admired Hotel Group Award. Voted for independently as part of the overall awards process, this special accolade recognises an exceptional hotel group that has introduced outstanding initiatives, innovations or improvements over the past three years. The award celebrates those whose efforts have had a demonstrable and meaningful impact on the wider hospitality industry.
Chablé Yucatán in Mexico is the winner of the Bombay Sapphire Eco Hotel Award. Chablé Yucatán places sustainability at the heart of its operations, with solar panels generating around 60% of the resort’s energy and a commitment to eliminating plastic water bottles. Its kitchens draw on produce grown in traditional Mayan ka’anche gardens, while the resort supports biodiversity through initiatives such as the protection of the endangered Melipona bee. As with its other global awards, The 50 partnered with the Sustainable Restaurant Association on the Bombay Sapphire Eco Hotel Award, inviting every hotel on the list to submit details of its sustainability initiatives and credentials for a rigorous assessment.
James McBride is voted by the Academy as the winner of the SevenRooms Icon Award. McBride is a South African-born hotelier and Co-Founder and CEO of Nihi Hotels, the hospitality group behind the acclaimed Nihi Sumba in Indonesia. With more than 35 years of experience, he has held leadership roles at some of the world’s leading luxury hotels, beginning his career with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. In 2012, he partnered with entrepreneur Christopher Burch to acquire Nihiwatu, a remote surf resort on Sumba Island, transforming it into the globally recognised luxury retreat we know today, centred on an “Edge of Wildness” philosophy. In 2026, Nihi Rote, sister property to Nihi Sumba, opened in south eastern Indonesia.
The evening also celebrated the recipients of the special awards announced in the lead-up to the ceremony. Among them was The Fifth Avenue Hotel (No.78) in New York City, which received the American Express Travel One to Watch Award. In addition, Switzerland’s Badrutt’s Palace (No.36) was honoured with the SeiBellissimi Art of Hospitality Award, recognising its exceptional service, meticulous attention to detail and outstanding guest experience.
The highest-ranked hotel in each continent is, by default, named The Best Hotel in that respective territory:
- Rosewood Hong Kong (No.1) wins The Best Hotel in Asia
- Passalacqua (No.5) in Italy wins The Best Hotel in Europe
- Atlantis The Royal (No.4) in Dubai wins The Best Hotel in the Middle East
- Chablé Yucatán (No.9) in Mexico wins The Best Hotel in North America
- Rosewood São Paulo (No.6) in Brazil wins The Best Hotel in South America, sponsored by Bocktailed
- Capella Sydney (No.16) in Australia wins The Best Hotel in Oceania
- Royal Mansour (No.26) in Marrakech wins The Best Hotel in Africa, sponsored by Monte Vibiano
The 50 Best Hotels 2026 marks the fourth edition of the prestigious global ranking, further cementing The 50’s position as a leading authority on exceptional hospitality. As the organisation continues to expand its global reach, its rankings celebrate the finest experiences across the world of restaurants, bars and hotels.
How the voting works
The Academy is the mechanism used to create The 50 Best Hotels list. None of the employees of The 50 nor any sponsors associated with the awards has any influence over the results. To ensure the more than 800-voter-strong Academy provides a fair representation of the global hotel scene, the Academy Chairs are split across 13 geographical regions. Each Chair is selected as an expert on the travel scene in their region, with outstanding hotel sector contacts. These Chairs each select a voting panel, ensuring a balanced selection of hoteliers, travel journalists, hotel educators, business travellers and consumer travel aficionados. A minimum of 25% of the panel will be renewed each year. All voters, aside from the Academy Chairs, will remain anonymous to eliminate the possibility of lobbying.
Each Academy member can vote for any hotel they have stayed in around the world, irrespective of their home region. Each voter casts seven votes for hotels in order of preference based on stays experienced in the three-year voting period. Voting is carried out individually and strictly confidentially on a secure site and remains confidential before the list announcement. Academy Chairs are not privy to, nor have any knowledge of, the votes cast by the voters in their respective regions; furthermore, they are not official spokespeople for The 50 brand.
Professional services consultancy Deloitte is the official independent adjudicator of The 50 Best Hotels. Deloitte has been granted full and independent access to The 50 Best Hotels voting process and data and has performed certain procedures to confirm the integrity and authenticity of the voting process and the resulting list.
THE PIG ANNOUNCES NEW PROPERTY
THE PIG has announced plans to expand its collection with a new property in Tunbridge Wells, marking what the group describes as a significant moment as it celebrates its 15th anniversary.
The hotel group has acquired an elegant Georgian building on The Pantiles in the Kent spa town, with further details about the new property and its plans to be revealed as the project develops.
Kevin Styles, CEO of THE PIG, said the acquisition represented an opportunity to explore how the brand’s distinctive approach could translate to a new setting.
Kevin added that the project would not simply be about expanding the group’s geographical footprint, but about adapting the THE PIG experience to its new surroundings.
Tunbridge Wells gives us an opportunity to take everything people love about THE PIG – warmth, generosity, brilliant food, character and a true sense of place – and explore how it can live in a slightly different setting and at a different rhythm, he said.
The group said it intends to respect the history of the Georgian building, as well as the existing business and its role within The Pantiles, as it develops its plans.
There is plenty of work ahead and much more to share as our plans develop, Kevin added.
For today, I simply want to thank everyone who has worked so hard behind the scenes to get us to this point – and all of you across the business who make growth like this possible.
Further information on the new THE PIG Tunbridge Wells property is expected to be announced in due course.
SALLY BECK TAKES SENIOR ROLE AT THE LANDMARK COLLECTION
The Landmark Collection has announced the promotion of Sally Beck FIH MI to Deputy Managing Director of The Landmark Collection and Managing Director of The Landmark London.
In her new role, Beck will work alongside Managing Director Brian Hladnik in leading The Landmark Collection, while taking direct responsibility for The Landmark London, the group’s five-star hotel in Marylebone.
The promotion marks a significant new chapter for Beck, one of London’s best-known hoteliers, who has served as General Manager of Royal Lancaster London since 2013. During her tenure, she has overseen a remarkable transformation of the hotel, delivering an £85 million refurbishment while the property remained fully operational and growing annual turnover from £30 million in 2013 to more than £60 million.
Under Beck’s leadership, Royal Lancaster London has also risen from #272 to #1 among London hotels on Tripadvisor and, in 2026, was ranked #1 in the UK, #2 in Europe and #4 in the world by Tripadvisor reviewers. Alongside its commercial success, Beck has driven a major cultural transformation at the hotel, establishing its ‘We Always Care’ values and placing team development, training and apprenticeships at the heart of the business.
The move also marks a return to The Landmark London for Beck. Prior to joining Royal Lancaster London, she spent more than a decade as Director of Sales and Marketing at The Landmark London, from 2001 to 2012, where she led the hotel’s global sales and marketing strategy.
Beck has received numerous accolades during her career, including Hotelier of the Year in 2019, a Master Innholder since 2018 and being named General Manager of the Year at the 2025 BEAM Awards. She is also the founder of The Hoteliers’ Charter, established in 2021 to champion positive workplace culture across the hospitality industry.
Beck says:
I am incredibly proud of everything we have achieved at Royal Lancaster London over the past 13 years, and particularly of the extraordinary team and culture we have built together. It has been a huge part of my life and career, so taking on this new role feels both exciting and very special.
The Landmark London is also a hotel I know and love, having spent more than a decade there earlier in my career, and I am delighted to be returning at such an exciting time. I look forward to working closely with Brian and our teams across The Landmark Collection as we build on the individual strengths of our hotels, continue to invest in our people and service, and shape the next chapter for the group.
The appointment comes as The Landmark Collection enters a new phase of development. The family-owned hospitality group recently transitioned from The Lancaster Landmark Hotel Company to The Landmark Collection, bringing together a portfolio of seven luxury and boutique hotels and residences in the UK and Thailand.
Its portfolio comprises The Landmark London, Royal Lancaster London, 15 Basil Street, Hotel Indigo London K West Shepherd’s Bush and Fountain House in the UK, alongside The Landmark Bangkok and Lancaster Bangkok in Thailand.
TRIO OF GENERAL MANAGERS APPOINTED ACROSS AIMBRIDGE HOSPITALITY EMEA
Three general managers (GMs) have been appointed across Aimbridge Hospitality EMEA’s UK and European portfolio, overseeing properties in Leeds, Bournemouth and Ghent.
Tim Reynolds has been appointed at the Hyatt Leeds, bringing extensive operational experience to the role across full-service hotels and brands including InterContinental, Radisson, Sofitel, Kimpton and, most recently, Starwood Hotels.
At the Holiday Inn Bournemouth, Mark Theobald takes the helm as GM, having worked as Deputy General Manager at Hampton by Hilton Stanstead for the last three years as well as gaining extensive operational experience across a variety of Aimbridge Hospitality properties.
And, in Ghent, Frederick Deman has been promoted to cluster GM for the Courtyard by Marriott Ghent, alongside the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Ghent.
David Anderson, President – Aimbridge EMEA, said: “It’s fantastic to see three appointments and moves within the business, welcoming new faces to GM roles and promoting existing talent from within our portfolio, too.
“At Aimbridge, we believe a great general manager is of critical importance to a hotel’s success. They have the ability to shape everything, from the guest experience to team morale and retention.
“I’d like to congratulate all three GMs on their appointments and look forward to seeing the impact of their experience and talent in their new roles.”
For further information about Aimbridge EMEA, visit www.aimbridgeEMEA.com