Karryon: World Travel Awards 2025 Grand Final luxury travel winners shine at prestigious event

Established in 1993, World Travel Awards are considered the pinnacle of industry awards, bestowed on the very best in tourism and hospitality, from air, cruise and touring to hotels, destinations, attractions and more.

Here are the World Travel Awards 2025 luxury award category recipients recognised for their outstanding experiences across all aspects of travel.

For a premium experience in the air, Emirates was awarded World’s Leading Airline – First Class, while Qatar Airways scooped World’s Leading Airline – Business Class (along with World’s Leading Airline) for its innovative Qsuite.

For the ultimate airline lounge experience, the World’s Leading Airline Lounge – First Class went to Emirates First Class Lounge at Emirates Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport; while Etihad Airways Premium Lounge at Zayed International Airport was awarded World’s Leading Airline Lounge – Business Class.

The World’s Leading Airport Lounge 2025 accolade went to No1 Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 2. ADANI Lounge International by TFS Performa at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, India won World’s Leading Airport Lounge – First Class.

For private jet charters, China’s Deer Jet was recognised as the World’s Leading Private Jet Charter and Bahrain-based Executive Lifestyle for Leading Private Jet Travel Experience.

Hotels and resorts that scooped prestigious luxury awards included properties and hospitality brands across the world.   

Ikos Resorts, with beachfront resorts in Greece and Spain, was named Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort Brand and Leading Luxury Green All-Inclusive Resort Brand for 2025.

Malta-based Corinthia Hotels received the World’s Leading Luxury Hotel Brand award, and One&Only Resorts got the gong for Leading Luxury Resort Brand.

Luxury experience award winners included Abercrombie & Kent for Leading Luxury Safari Company, Maharajas’ Express for Leading Luxury Train and London-based Ciconia Exclusive Journeys for Leading Luxury Tour Operator.

AllinBlusive, which provides private yacht cruises in Greece and Spain, was awarded the World’s Leading Private Cruise Company.

Ultra-luxury specialist agency NUBA, based in Madrid, was named the World’s Leading Luxury Travel Agency 2025.

World’s Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort 2025

Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

World’s Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort Brand 2025

Ikos Resorts

World’s Leading Luxury All-Suite Hotel 2025

Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, UAE

World’s Leading Luxury Beach Resort 2025

Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, UAE

World’s Leading Luxury Beach Resort & Spa 2025

The Chedi Muscat, Oman

World’s Leading Luxury Boutique Hotel 2025

Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, South Africa

World’s Leading Luxury Business Hotel 2025

InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong

World’s Leading Luxury Car Rental Company 2025

Sixt

World’s Leading Luxury Chauffeur Service 2025

Sixt Ride

World’s Leading Luxury City Hotel 2025

Conrad Dubai, UAE

World’s Leading Luxury City Resort 2025

Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Italy

World’s Leading Luxury Family Resort 2025

Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection, Greece

World’s Leading Luxury Green All-Inclusive Resort Brand 2025

Ikos Resorts

World’s Leading Luxury Green Resort 2025

Sani Resort, Greece

World’s Leading Luxury Halal Hotel 2025

Raffles Makkah Palace

World’s Leading Luxury Halal Hotel Brand 2025

Shaza Hotels

World’s Leading Luxury Honeymoon Resort 2025

Jade Mountain Resort, Saint Lucia

World’s Leading Luxury Hotel 2025

Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Saudi Arabia

World’s Leading Luxury Hotel & Residences 2025

Grosvenor House Suites, England

World’s Leading Luxury Hotel & Spa 2025

The Ritz-Carlton, Amman, Jordan

World’s Leading Luxury Hotel Apartments 2025

Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort, UAE

World’s Leading Luxury Hotel Brand 2025

Corinthia Hotels

World’s Leading Luxury Hotel Penthouse 2025

The Royal Mansion @ Atlantis The Royal, UAE

World’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2025

GoldenEye Villa, Jamaica

World’s Leading Luxury Island Destination 2025

Boracay, Philippines

World’s Leading Luxury Island Resort 2025

Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort & Spa

World’s Leading Luxury Landmark Hotel 2025

Armani Hotel Dubai, UAE

World’s Leading Luxury Lodge 2025

Malewane Lodge at Royal Malewane, South Africa

World’s Leading Luxury Private Island Resort 2025

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

World’s Leading Luxury Private Villa 2025

Villa Thandawena @ Jumeirah Thanda Safari, South Africa

World’s Leading Luxury Resort 2025

Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, UAE

World’s Leading Luxury Resort & Villas 2025

Jumeirah Saadiyat Island, UAE

World’s Leading Luxury Resort Brand 2025

One&Only Resorts

World’s Leading Luxury Safari Company 2025

Abercrombie & Kent

World’s Leading Luxury Suites Hotel 2025

Tower Club at lebua, Thailand

World’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator 2025

Ciconia Exclusive Journeys

World’s Leading Luxury Train 2025

Maharajas’ Express

World’s Leading Luxury Travel Agency 2025

NUBA

World’s Leading Luxury Villa Beach Resort 2025

Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa, Mauritius

World’s Leading Luxury Villa Resort 2025

Katara Hills Doha, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Qatar

World’s Leading Luxury Wedding Resort 2025

JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa, Vietnam

World’s Leading Private Cruise Company 2025

AllinBlusive Ltd

World’s Leading Private Game Reserve 2025

&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

World’s Leading Private Island Resort 2025

Vakkaru Maldives

World’s Leading Private Jet Charter 2025

Deer Jet

World’s Leading Private Jet Company 2025

Skytime Jets

World’s Leading Private Jet Travel Experience 2025

Executive Lifestyle

World’s Leading Airline 2025

Qatar Airways

World’s Leading Airline – Business Class 2025

Qatar Airways

World’s Leading Airline – First Class 2025

Emirates

World’s Leading Airline Lounge – Business Class 2025

Etihad Airways Premium Lounge @ Zayed International Airport

World’s Leading Airline Lounge – First Class 2025

Emirates First Class Lounge @ Emirates Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport

World’s Leading Airport – Customer Experience 2025

Hong Kong International Airport

World’s Leading Airport Lounge 2025

No1 Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 2

World’s Leading Airport Lounge – First Class 2025

ADANI Lounge International by TFS Performa @ Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, India

World’s Leading All-Suite Hotel 2025

THE VIEW Lugano, Switzerland

World’s Leading Boutique Beach Hotel 2025

The Postcard on the Arabian Sea, Maravanthe Beach, India

World’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2025

Charthouse Bahrain

World’s Leading Boutique Hotel Brand 2025

Aman Resorts

World’s Leading Boutique Hotel Collection 2025

Small Luxury Hotels of the World

World’s Leading Boutique Hotel Operator 2025

Amazing Evolution

World’s Leading Boutique Resort 2025

Vila Joya, Portugal

World’s Leading Boutique Villa Resort 2025

Porto Zante Villas & Spa, Greece

World’s Leading Classic Hotel 2025

Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel, Portugal

World’s Leading Desert Resort 2025

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, UAE

World’s Leading Design Hotel 2025

Raffles Doha, Qatar

World’s Leading Exclusive Private Island 2025

Jumeirah Thanda Island, Tanzania

World’s Leading Exclusive Retreat 2025

The Chedi Hegra, Saudi Arabia

World’s Leading Hotel Beach Villas 2025

Sugar Beach Luxury Villas @ Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, Saint Lucia

World’s Leading Hotel Collection 2025

Leading Hotels of the World

World’s Leading Hotel Penthouse 2025

Royal Penthouse @ Conrad Bahrain Financial Harbour

World’s Leading Hotel Residences 2025

Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah, UAE

World’s Leading Hotel Suite 2025

Katara Royal Suite @ Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Milan, Italy

World’s Leading Iconic Hotel 2025

Raffles Singapore

World’s Leading Iconic Resort 2025

Atlantis The Royal, UAE

World’s Leading Landmark Hotel 2025

The Ritz London, England

World’s Leading Landmark Resort 2025

Atlantis, The Palm, UAE

World’s Leading Leisure Resort 2025

Domes Zeen Chania, a Luxury Collection Resort, Greece

Read the full list here.