There’s a spectrum of hotels across the world, from enormous resorts to tiny boutiques, budget-stays to flashy blowouts, and long-established business to brand-new ventures.
So, to decipher which new openings are the best, the Forbes Travel Guide sends a bunch of ‘incognito investigators’ out every year to assess the quality of service (which amounts to 70 percent of the score) as well as the quality of the facilities (the other 30 percent), and it compiles a roundup.
For 2025, 20 five-star hotels which have newly opened were included in the Star Awards, and one of these was The Maybourne Beverly Hills, a decadent place to stay with lovely views which is just around the corner from Rodeo Drive.
The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, given it sits between the 102nd and 118th floors of the city’s International Commerce Centre, is the tallest hotel in the world according to the Forbes Travel Guide, and it also claimed a place on this year’s list of the best new openings.
For something a little more secluded, the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island is a 50-villa resort hidden away among this gorgeous island’s lush tropical trees, on the doorstep of those classic clear seas and white sand.
However, there’s plenty more where these came from – read on for the best new five-star hotels in the world, or check out all the other hotels, cruises, restaurants and spas on the Forbes Travel Guide page here.
These are the best new five-star hotels in the world, according to the Forbes Travel Guide
- Capella Hanoi, Vietnam
- Castelfalfi, Italy
- RiverView Ranch, USA
- The Paiza Collection at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
- Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, Seychelles
- The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician, USA
- Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino, Greece
- Rosewood Villa Magna, Spain
- Epic Tower at Studio City Macau, China
- Raffles at Galaxy Macau, China
- The Maybourne Beverly Hills, USA
- The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, UK
- Raffles London at The OWO, UK
- The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, China
- Rosewood Guangzhou, China
- Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, France
- One&Only Royal Mirage - The Residence, UAE
- Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Indonesia
- Four Seasons Hotel Baku, Azerbaijan
- The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, UAE
More on the world’s very best hotels
Need more hotel inspiration for that blowout trip? We covered rankings by Fodor’s Travel, the World’s 50 Best Hotels, and a roundup by TripAdvisor.
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