Mandarin Oriental has once again claimed the top spot in Luxury Travel Intelligence’s (LTI) annual ranking of the world’s best luxury hotel brands, marking its third consecutive year at the summit.
The accolade comes as LTI’s founder issues a stark warning about a growing talent gap that could undermine the sector’s long-term reputation.
The 2025 report, compiled using LTI’s proprietary algorithm, evaluates 130 weighted touchpoints across brand performance, ethos, investment strategy, and service delivery. Unlike property-specific rankings, LTI’s methodology focuses on how well a brand maintains its standards globally, reflecting its commitment to excellence and consistency.
Mandarin Oriental achieved a score of 81.8%, narrowly edging out Aman (80.7%) and Bulgari (80.6%). Notably, Four Seasons surged from 12th to 6th place, while Banyan Tree entered the rankings for the first time at 14th.
Top 5 luxury hotel brands 2025:
- Mandarin Oriental – 81.8% (1st in 2024)
- Aman – 80.7% (5th)
- Bulgari – 80.6% (2nd)
- Oetker Collection – 80.0% (3rd)
- Rosewood – 78.3% (8th)
The full list includes 15 brands, with scores ranging from 69.0% to 81.8%, underscoring the competitive nature of the ultra-luxury hospitality landscape.
A sector under pressure
While the rankings celebrate excellence, LTI’s founder Michael Crompton used the occasion to spotlight a growing concern: the widening gap between capital investment and human resource development. Crompton warns that the influx of ultra-luxury properties is not being matched by a sufficient pool of experienced management and staff.
“In 2023, we flagged the imbalance between impressive new developments and the availability of seasoned professionals to run them,” Crompton said. “That gap is now critical. Brands cannot rely on well-meaning but inexperienced locals under the guise of ‘relaxed luxury’. Today’s traveller expects—and deserves—flawless service.”
Crompton advocates for early-stage investment in talent, ideally during the construction phase of new properties. By embedding brand ethos and service standards from the outset, hotels can ensure consistency across their global portfolios. LTI plans to update its algorithm in 2026 to track how brands respond to this challenge.
A dynamic, data-driven approach
LTI’s evaluation resets annually, meaning previous scores do not influence current rankings. This approach allows for meaningful fluctuations and reflects the sector’s evolving nature. The organisation engages with a wide network of stakeholders—from brand CEOs to frontline staff and guests—to ensure its insights remain both rigorous and relevant.
For business travellers seeking the assurance of excellence, the Luxury Travel Intelligence’s (LTI) rankings offer more than just a list—they provide a lens into the operational integrity and long-term vision of the world’s most prestigious hotel brands.
As the luxury hospitality sector continues to expand, the true differentiator may no longer be marble lobbies or rooftop pools, but the calibre of the people who deliver the experience.