For the third straight year, Macau has been declared the five-star hotel capital of the world, according to Forbes Travel Guide’s 2025 Star Rating Awards.
The Chinese city – nicknamed the ‘Las Vegas of Asia’ thanks to its thriving gambling industry – is recognised as having 24 five-star hotels overall, the list now including Epic Tower at Studio City Macau and Raffles at Galaxy Macau.
London has 20 five-star hotels in the rankings, with The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel; and Raffles London at The OWO new additions for 2025.
Europe also had a strong showing outside the UK, gaining five-star hotels in Baku, Azerbaijan; Costa Navarino, Greece; Cannes, Florence and Madrid.
Meanwhile, the U.S gained four new five-star hotels – The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort, in Scottsdale, Arizona; The Maybourne Beverly Hills, in Los Angeles, and two in Montana – RiverView Ranch and Spa Montage Big Sky.
For the third straight year, Macau has been declared the five-star hotel capital of the world, according to Forbes Travel Guide’s 2025 Star Rating Awards. Raffles at Galaxy Macau, pictured, is one of the Chinese city’s new five-star hotels
Epic Tower at Studio City Macau, pictured, has been awarded top marks by Forbes in this year’s list, and Macau – nicknamed the ‘Las Vegas of Asia’ thanks to its thriving gambling industry – now has 24 five-star hotels overall
London has 20 five-star hotels in the rankings, with The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel; and Raffles London at The OWO (pictured) new additions for 2025
Dubai and Abu Dhabi also got a new five-star hotel each (One&Only Royal Mirage – The Residence in the former and The St. Regis Abu Dhabi in the latter), while top marks were awarded to the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, too.
Along with Macau, Asia saw hotels in Hong Kong, Hanoi, Vietnam, and Singapore awarded five stars by Forbes, plus the Rosewood Guangzhou in China.
It joins Madrid’s newly-awarded Rosewood Villa Magna and Rosewood London on a 14-strong list of five-star Rosewood hotels throughout the world.
This year, Forbes’ list includes more than 2,100 properties across 90 countries and features 336 five-star hotels, 645 four-star hotels, plus 567 recommended ones.
Pictured is Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel. The property, on the French Riviera, is one of the new five-star hotels added to Forbes’ list for 2025
The Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino (pictured), in Greece, is one of Europe’s new five-star hotels, along with properties in Baku, Azerbaijan; Florence and Madrid
The U.S gained four new five-star hotels – The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort, in Scottsdale, Arizona ; The Maybourne Beverly Hills, in Los Angeles, and two in Montana – RiverView Ranch (above) and Spa Montage Big Sky.
New destinations on this year’s list include Brunei; Costa Navarino, Greece; Finland; Haikou, Xiamen and Xi’an, China; Kazakhstan; Malaga, Spain; Montenegro; Oualidia and Tamuda Bay, Morocco; Phu Quoc, Vietnam; Romania; and Salzburg, Austria.
Amanda Frasier, FTG’s President of Standards & Ratings, says: ‘Forbes Travel Guide’s Star Award winners exemplify excellence in hospitality.
‘This year’s list reflects the changing landscape of luxury with properties setting the standard for authentic experiences, unparalleled amenities, enhanced well-being and the delivery of unforgettable moments.
‘We are thrilled to recognise their dedication to creating world-class experiences for today’s discerning guest.’
Dubai has a new five-star hotel, the One&Only Royal Mirage – The Residence. Pictured is one of the hotel’s very brightly coloured Garden Villa Bedrooms
Top marks were awarded to the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island. Pictured is one of the villas in the hotel, which comes with its own terrace, and a private pool
Pictured is the Deluxe Victoria Harbour Suite at The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong – awarded five stars by Forbes this year
Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve (pictured), in Ubud, Bali, was one of 336 five-star hotels in this year’s Forbes Travel Guide
