The world-renowned luxury retreat recently reopened after a $25m refurbishment and that refresh has paid off, seeing the century-old estate named in the just-released list acknowledging some of the world’s best accommodations.
While it did not crack the top 50 (the list of 1-50 the World’s 50 Best Hotels for 2025 is to be revealed on October 30) Huka Lodge was revealed as number 88 in the extended list of No.51 to No.100 that has been released for the first time. It is the first time an Aotearoa property has been recognised in the awards.
Voted for by the ‘World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy’ the annual list is a prestigious recognition. In order to celebrate a wider spread and depth of the world’s outstanding hotels, the brand decided to release their list of 50-100 this year.
Europe tops the list with 17 hotels ranked, including nine properties in Italy such as Hotel Cipriani (No.72), Casa Maria Luigia (No.82) and Portrait Milano (No.99). Sweden’s Ett Hem (No.89) and Türkiye’s Maçakızı (No.96) represent their respective destination’s first ranked hotels since the awards’ launch in 2023.
Aman Nai Lert in Bangkok tops the extended list at No.51 with 16 properties in Asia ranked. Hong Kong and Kyoto each feature two hotels including The Peninsula Hong Kong (No.54) and Aman Kyoto (No.74). The list also features three properties in India including The Johri (No.93) and Amanbagh (No.100).
New York dominates North America’s rankings, with four hotels including: The Fifth Avenue Hotel (No.75) and The Greenwich Hotel (No.77). Elsewhere on the continent, The Beverly Hills Hotel (No.65) and San Ysidro Ranch (No.68) feature on the inaugural extended list. Three properties in Mexico feature including Four Seasons Tamarindo (No.55) and Montage Los Cabos (No.67).
South America is home to two properties: Hotel das Cataratas in Iguassu Falls (No.76) and Palacio Nazarenas in Cusco (No.87), both Belmond hotels.
See the full list of properties ranked 51-100.
