Asia hotels dominate 2026's 50 'best' rankings

Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing has achieved a ranking of No 7 on The 50 Best Hotels 2026 list.

The annual ranking, formerly known as The World's 50 Best Hotels, was announced in Paris on Sept 15. The list is compiled from votes by more than 800 independent travel and hospitality experts across 13 regions, according to the organizers. The ranking covers the top 50 hotels, alongside an extended list of 51–100, which included two more hotels on the Chinese mainland.

Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing climbed from No 14 in 2025 to No 7 this year, making it the highest-ranked hotel on the Chinese mainland and one of the six Asian hotels to enter the top 10.

Located in the historical hutong area near Beijing's Central Axis, the hotel comprises 42 courtyard houses and incorporates the traditional siheyuan residential form into its accommodation design.

Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen (Guangdong province) entered the extended list at No 90, marking its first appearance among the world's top 100 hotels. Located in the city's central area, the hotel opened in 2022 and has 178 rooms and suites, plus a range of restaurants, bars and other facilities.

The Peninsula Shanghai made its debut at No 99, giving Shanghai its first hotel in this year's top 100 ranking.

Hong Kong also had a strong showing, with three hotels in the top 50 and two more in the extended list. Rosewood Hong Kong retained the No 1 position for a second consecutive year.

The 2026 ranking included seven Rosewood properties. The Hong Kong hotel's consecutive top ranking also highlights its long-standing connection with the city, where the Rosewood brand has planted its roots. The hotel group was also named the Ferrari Trento Most Admired Hotel Group for 2026, an award determined by the same academy.

The 2026 results reflect the continued presence of Asian hotels near the top of global rankings. Six of the top 10 hotels are located in Asia, including three in Bangkok, two in Hong Kong, and one in Beijing.