Methodology. We scored 2,250 luxury hotels on a single 0–10 rubric — rooms, service, location, design, dining and value — then aggregated. Brand and destination tables include only those with five or more rated hotels, so a single standout can't distort an average. Full methodology →
Highest-scoring luxury hotel brands
Among brands with at least five rated properties, these average the highest. The spread is narrow at the top — a sign of how consistent the leading groups have become.
| # | Brand | Avg score | Hotels rated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singita | 9.8 | 5 |
| 2 | Capella | 9.65 | 6 |
| 3 | One&Only | 9.6 | 7 |
| 4 | Aman | 9.57 | 22 |
| 5 | Bulgari | 9.54 | 7 |
| 6 | Belmond | 9.53 | 22 |
| 7 | Rosewood | 9.52 | 29 |
| 8 | Six Senses | 9.5 | 11 |
| 9 | Banyan Tree | 9.48 | 5 |
| 10 | Mandarin Oriental | 9.46 | 30 |
| 11 | COMO | 9.44 | 11 |
| 12 | Four Seasons | 9.4 | 78 |
| 13 | Park Hyatt | 9.4 | 22 |
| 14 | Peninsula | 9.39 | 10 |
| 15 | St. Regis | 9.34 | 24 |
Highest-scoring destinations
Destinations with at least five rated hotels, by average score. Island and safari regions dominate the top, where the product is newest and the competition for the affluent traveller fiercest.
| # | Destination | Avg score | Hotels rated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bali | 9.74 | 5 |
| 2 | St Barts | 9.7 | 5 |
| 3 | Okavango Delta | 9.68 | 5 |
| 4 | Sabi Sand | 9.68 | 5 |
| 5 | Serengeti | 9.68 | 5 |
| 6 | Barbados | 9.66 | 5 |
| 7 | Beijing | 9.66 | 5 |
| 8 | Munich | 9.66 | 5 |
| 9 | Rio De Janeiro | 9.66 | 5 |
| 10 | Shanghai | 9.66 | 5 |
| 11 | Tel Aviv | 9.64 | 5 |
| 12 | Provence | 9.63 | 6 |
How luxury hotels score overall
Of 2,250 scored hotels, 1,745 score 9.0 or higher and 582 reach 9.5+. Only 166 score 9.7 or above — the threshold for The HotelsForKings 100. The median sits at 9.2, confirming that "luxury" is a crowded middle with a very thin elite.
Frequently asked questions
Which luxury hotel brand scores highest in 2026?
Singita has the highest average HotelsForKings score among brands with five or more rated hotels, at 9.8/10 across 5 properties.
Which destination has the best luxury hotels?
Bali leads on average score (9.74/10) among destinations with five or more rated hotels, closely followed by other island and safari regions.
How many hotels does this analysis cover?
2,250 scored luxury hotels across our catalogue, each rated 0–10 on rooms, service, location, design, dining and value.
What is the median luxury hotel score?
The median scored hotel sits at 9.2/10; 166 hotels score 9.7 or higher, the bar for The HotelsForKings 100.
Does this show trends over time?
This is the 2026 baseline edition — a standings snapshot. Year-over-year movement (which brands and destinations are rising) begins with the 2027 edition, once we have two comparable years.
Can I cite these figures?
Yes — please credit HotelsForKings and link to this report. See our press page for ready-to-use statistics.
Related: The Luxury Hotel Price Index 2026 · The HotelsForKings 100 · HotelsForKings Awards 2026 · press & data.