The Best Hotels of 2025: 25 Game-Changing Stays Around the World
Discover the top 25 hotels debuting in 2025 that are raising the bar for luxury, design, and destination immersion.
The Best Hotels of 2025: AFAR’s Guide to Game-Changing Stays
Each year, AFAR’s network of editors and experts scours the globe to spotlight the most impressive new and newly renovated hotels. For 2025, the chosen 25 properties aren’t just beautiful places to stay—they represent a fresh vision for hospitality, with sustainability, local connection, inspired design, and guest experience at the forefront. Whether you’re looking for an urban retreat, an immersive wilderness camp, or a heritage masterpiece, these hotels are destinations in themselves.
Why 2025 Is a Landmark Year for Hotels
- Rejuvenated Icons: Classic hotels have reopened with cutting-edge restoration and modern amenities.
- Game-Changing New Builds: Visionary architecture and design reframe expectations in both remote and urban destinations.
- Sustainability Leadership: From low-waste culinary concepts to environmentally sensitive operations, many debut properties lead the way in eco-minded travel.
- Loyalty & Accessibility: More luxury and boutique hotels are now bookable with loyalty points, making world-class stays accessible to savvy travelers.
- Deep Destination Connection: The best 2025 openings create community ties, invite local makers, and inspire deeper cultural immersion.
Top 25 Best New and Reimagined Hotels of 2025
Cape Grace (Cape Town, South Africa)
Why it stands out: As a beloved harborside icon, Cape Grace’s recent transformation fuses art deco flair with South African naturalist touches. The Library Lounge invites guests to linger with rare books and regional wines, while the bespoke interiors by 1508 London pay homage to the property’s grand heritage.
- Location: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
- Loyalty: Accor Live Limitless
- Highlight: Yacht marina views, renewed interiors, and local curation
Dusit Thani (Bangkok, Thailand)
Why it stands out: An enduring Bangkok landmark returns following a billion-dollar overhaul by André Fu. Spacious, modernized rooms now overlook Lumpini Park, while original hand-painted columns and a golden spire recall the hotel’s 1970s heyday. New additions—including a retro-themed bar, acclaimed Italian dining, and e-hybrid Porsche airport transfers—blend tradition with next-gen luxury.
- Location: Adjacent to Lumpini Park, central Bangkok
- Highlight: Doubling room size, iconic architecture, and culinary innovation
Four Seasons Hotel Osaka (Osaka, Japan)
Why it stands out: A tale of two hotels: 154 Western-style rooms, and on the 28th floor, the city’s first urban ryokan featuring tatami-matted suites by heritage brand Nishikawa. The spa and infinity pool overlook Osaka Castle, and pioneering low-waste dining elevates the city’s already renowned food scene.
- Location: Osaka skyline
- Culinary: Cantonese at Jiang Nan Chun, creative sushi at Sushi L’Abysse Osaka
- Highlight: Urban ryokan concept, spa with panoramic city views
Rosewood Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Why it stands out: Housed in a historical orphanage turned Palace of Justice, Rosewood Amsterdam honors Dutch heritage while offering world-class contemporary comfort. This is the most anticipated hospitality debut in Amsterdam this decade, artfully blending local craft, grand architecture, and thoughtful service.
- Location: Amsterdam city center
- Highlight: Restored historic structure, exceptional design details
1 Hotel Seattle (Seattle, USA)
Why it stands out: Planted within Seattle’s buzzy South Lake Union, this hotel merges calming biophilic design with a robust sustainability ethos. Guests enjoy serene, plant-filled spaces and local partnerships, shaping a tranquil yet immersive urban base.
- Location: South Lake Union, Seattle
- Highlight: Eco-conscious design, sustainable operations
The Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara Safari Camp (Masai Mara, Kenya)
Why it stands out: As the Ritz-Carlton brand’s first-ever luxury safari camp, this August 2025 debut pairs tented suites with private plunge pools and elevated, stargazer-ready decks. Guests can book with Marriott Bonvoy points, making exclusive wildlife experiences more accessible.
- Location: Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
- Loyalty: Marriott Bonvoy
- Highlight: Immersive safari, luxury tents, game drives
Waldorf Astoria New York (New York, USA)
Why it stands out: Following an eight-year restoration, Park Avenue’s legendary hotel re-emerges with 375 rooms, refined Art Deco style, and historical salons. Hilton Honors members can now redeem points for a stay in one of the city’s most storied addresses.
- Location: Park Avenue, Manhattan
- Loyalty: Hilton Honors
- Highlight: Restored Art Deco grandeur, 20% suite inventory
Tierra Atacama (San Pedro de Atacama, Chile)
Why it stands out: Reopened with a greater spotlight on Atacameño culture and natural excursions, Tierra Atacama offers immersive stargazing, access to geyser fields, salt lagoons, and hand-crafted design that celebrates the local landscape and community.
- Location: Atacama Desert, Chile
- Highlight: Indigenous craft, lunar landscapes, salt pans
Chicari Camp (Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique)
Why it stands out: An immersive camp experience invites guests to be part of Gorongosa’s remarkable wildlife recovery—think lions, pangolins, and more—in accommodation that champions conservation and community partnership.
- Location: Gorongosa National Park
- Highlight: Rewilding focus, luxury tents, wildlife experiences
Other Noteworthy 2025 Debuts
- Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria: A grand European hotel undergoing a sensitive, stylish reboot.
- Dar Tantora The House Hotel: Immersive Middle Eastern architecture and hospitality.
- Troutbeck (Hudson Valley, USA): A historic estate reimagined amid the Catskills’ bucolic beauty.
- Hotels embracing loyalty points: More brands, from Accor to Hyatt, now allow travelers to redeem points for truly unique stays, a trend reflected in this year’s picks.
Key Hotel Trends Shaping 2025
- Smaller footplates, greater luxury: Iconic properties like Dusit Thani and Waldorf Astoria have reduced total room numbers, doubling down on space and exclusivity per guest.
- Sustainability at the core: Innovative approaches—like low-waste culinary programs and thoughtful local sourcing—are now non-negotiable for top-tier debuts.
- Hybrid concepts: Urban ryokan suites at Four Seasons Osaka and remote glamping, such as the Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara, highlight a blending of traditional hospitality with modern comforts.
- Cultural immersion: Many hotels actively engage with their surroundings, hire local artisans, and curate programming that deepens guest connection to place.
Comparison Table: Urban Icons vs. Wilderness Retreats
| Hotel | Location | Type | Highlight Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waldorf Astoria New York | New York City | Urban Icon | Historic Art Deco restoration |
| Four Seasons Hotel Osaka | Osaka, Japan | Hybrid Urban/Ryokan | Modern ryokan suites, panoramic spa |
| Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara | Masai Mara, Kenya | Wilderness Retreat | Luxury safari tents, wildlife immersion |
| Tierra Atacama | Atacama, Chile | Remote Adventure Lodge | Stargazing, indigenous experiences |
Honoring Heritage, Embracing Modern Luxury
Many of 2025’s standout hotels exist at the intersection of reverence for history and bold innovation. The Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria preserves classic European elegance with state-of-the-art upgrades, while the Waldorf Astoria New York is reborn as a pillar of Manhattan grandeur with its Art Deco bones restored and new public spaces animated for today’s guests.
Sustainable, Thoughtful Hospitality
- Low-waste gastronomy is now a signature at properties like Four Seasons Osaka’s Sushi L’Abysse, reflecting a new industry standard.
- Community engagement is prominent at Tierra Atacama and Chicari Camp, giving travelers the rare chance to support local conservation and culture, not just observe it.
What to Expect at the Best Hotels of 2025
- Exquisite architecture blending old and new
- Locally driven dining led by award-winning chefs
- Immersive wellness programs featuring traditional therapies and world-class spa design
- Personalized experiences—from curated library lounges to safari game drives
- Loyalty perks making extraordinary stays within reach for frequent travelers
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How are these hotels selected?
AFAR’s editorial team collaborates with global travel experts to select hotels based on design innovation, guest experience, cultural connection, and impact on their destination.
Can I book these hotels using loyalty points?
Yes! Several of 2025’s top debuts—like Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara and Waldorf Astoria New York—are part of major programs such as Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and Accor Live Limitless, making them bookable with points for qualifying members.
What trends should travelers expect in hotel offerings beyond 2025?
Look for even deeper destination engagement, amplified sustainability initiatives, and bespoke wellness programming—many of which are pioneered by this year’s best new hotels.
What is the price range at these featured hotels?
Nightly rates range from several hundred dollars at boutique properties to over $1,000 for flagship suites and safari camps, with many options available for points redemption to offset cash rates.
Final Thoughts: Hotels as Destinations
2025’s most compelling hotels are much more than places to sleep—they serve as gateways to new cultures, pillars of conservation, and testaments to the enduring power of inspired hospitality design. Whether you seek city sophistication or retreat to wild landscapes, these properties help set the tone for transformative travel experiences now and in the years ahead.
