2 days Ago By Katherine Scott
Two Australian hotels have been recognised in the coveted World’s 50 Best Hotels list by a global academy of well-travelled experts in the hotel and travel industry, with Brisbane’s brutalist-inspired urban resort The Calile named Best Hotel in Oceania for the second year running . The Calile came in at No.25 on the World’s 50 Best Hotels list for 2024.
The Calile, operated by TFE Hotels, ranked No.25 this year, sliding down the rankings from No.12 in 2023, while new entry, Hobart’s Marriott-run The Tasman – which Traveller awarded a perfect score – just made the top-50 list at No.
49. The Tasman in Hobart made the list at No.49.
Credit: Adam Gibson The top-ranked hotels for 2024 were announced at a ceremony at London’s Guildhall on Tuesday, September 17, with luxury Thailand hotel Capella Bangkok, located on the Chao Phraya River, climbed 10 places in the list to be crowned the world’s best hotel for 2024. The world’s best hotel ..
. Capella Bangkok. It marks the second edition of the annual hotel rankings for the 50 Best group, best-known for its annual global top-50 restaurants and bars lists.
Compiled by UK-based company William Reed Business Media, the hotel rankings’ debut in 2023 marked the group’s first global launch since turning its attention to bars in 2009. Last year’s winner, the luxurious Passalacqua on the shores of Italy’s Lake Como, came in at No.2 in the 2024 rankings.
Last year’s top-ranked hotel Passalacqua, located on the serene shores of Lake Como in Italy. The Calile co-owner Catherine Malouf, who attended the London ceremony, said: “To have been selected two years in a row marks a significant affirmation of The Calile’s place on the global hotel industry stage. “This is a win for our team, our collaborators, our loyal guests and a win for Brisbane as a destination, and we are humbled to again represent Australia and be recognised as leading in the Oceania region.
” The Calile general manager Chris Kemlo, also in attendance, described the honour as a great win “for Brisbane and Australian tourism”. The 1950s-style “urban resort” takes design cues from brutalism ..
. The Calile exterior. The 175-room luxury hotel, at the heart of the CBD James Street precinct, was designed by renowned architecture firm Richards and Spence, who combined 1950s design with elements of brutalism, resulting in a striking curvy white-brick facade, polished concrete interiors, and a mostly sun-bleached palette of opulent golds and soft sage, sandy, blue and pink hues.
Computer render of The Eve Hotel, which opens in Redfern in November. It’s a significant year for TFE Hotels group, who are behind The Calile and on track to open one of the year’s most anticipated new Sydney hotels in November, luxury boutique urban resort The Eve in Redfern. The stylish 102-room property, set to feature a lavishly landscaped rooftop pool and restaurant, will be at the centre of a new hospitality precinct spearheaded by Liquid & Larder, whose venues include The Rover in Surry Hills and Bistecca in the CBD.
Harbour views from the Aurora Suite terrace at The Tasman, Hobart. Credit: Adam Gibson Beyond the top-50 rankings, some properties received special awards, with Italy’s Passalacqua (No.2) nominated Best Boutique Hotel, the Maldives Soneva Fushi (No.
8) named Best Beach Hotel, the newly opened Raffles London at The OWO (No.13) singled out as the Highest New Entry, and Mexico’s Maroma, Riviera Maya (No.18) awarded the Eco Hotel Award.
The inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels prompted criticism in 2023 for its Europe-heavy inventory, and this year’s top-50 rankings were no exception. However, Asia dominated the list with 15 entries, led by Capella Bangkok (No.1), Rosewood Hong Kong, The Upper House, Hong Kong and Raffles Singapore.
Europe represented strongly with 12 top-50 rankings, led by Lake Como’s Passalacqua, Paris’ Cheval Blanc, London’s Claridge’s, and Raffles London at The OWO. The academy chair position for the Oceania region, which includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, is helmed by Melbourne-based food and travel critic Michael Harden, however it’s not known how many of the 580 jurors voting in the awards are Australian or Oceania-based. Raffles London at The OWO was singled out as the Highest New Entry.
Other comparable annual hotel rankings have demonstrated varying degrees of interest for Australian stays. US-owned publications Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler didn’t feature a single Australian option in their respective World’s Best Awards top-100 for 2024. The World’s 50 Best Hotels rankings is based on the votes of a collective of 580 jurors spanning nine geographical regions and comprising hoteliers, travel journalists, hotel educators and seasoned luxury travellers.
Panel members submit seven votes, in order of preference, based on stays over a two-year period ending in April 2024. The World’s 50 Best lists have been criticised for favouring European venues and demonstrating a lack of diversity, though measures have been taken to address some of these shortfalls, including mandating a 50/50 gender balance among jurors. Any hotel is eligible; there is no essential criterion for a property to qualify for a vote, and hotels aren’t required to “pay to play”.
The 2024 World’s 50 Best Restaurants list saw Australia drop off the top-50 rankings completely, with just one Sydney restaurant – Saint Peter – honoured in the top-100 list at No.98. The World’s 50 Best Hotels for 2024.
