The world's best hotel groups, according to you
Best Hotel Group
Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
Belmond
Taj Hotels
Oberoi Hotels & Resorts has made a triumphant return to the top spot in this year's award for the world's best hotel group. After a one-year hiatus in the most recent (2023) awards, when Greek all-inclusive brand Ikos ended the group's three-year reign, Indian-based Oberoi is Telegraph readers' favourite once again.
Our 2023 awards were the first since before the pandemic and thus reflected a period when Britons were holidaying much closer to home than usual. Groups such as Oberoi, which operates 13 hotels in India, along with a handful of properties across Egypt, Indonesia, Mauritius, Morocco and Saudi Arabia, saw much less of us.
Happily that era is over and winter-sun destinations such as these are firmly back on the map. Oberoi was founded in 1934 and has remained in the family of the same name, with a mantra of 'the guest is everything'. It has recently welcomed a new Indian opening, Oberoi Vindhyavilas Wildlife Resort in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. Our reviewer described a stay here as 'the best, most intimate and most Indian way to see endangered Bengal tigers. This luxury camp-style base for safaris comes with respect for local culture and the grace, elegance and unparalleled service of India's most lauded hotel group'.
Another hotel will follow nearby, Oberoi Rajgarh Palace, near to the Khajuraho temples. The palace dates back to the Bundela Dynasty in the late 1800s and original features have been carefully preserved. Its 70 acres are home to lush gardens, an infinity pool and lakeside fine dining.
Climbing into second place from third in 2023 is Belmond. While its luxury trains are having an exciting year, its hotel portfolio too continues to develop. The Splendido property in Italy's Portofino has just completed the first phase of a four-year renovation courtesy of Martin Brudnizki, including its pool area.
Another Indian brand, Taj Hotels, came in third place, a huge jump from number 21 in the previous awards. Taj is much larger than Oberoi, with several hundred hotels across India and the world, and more openings planned, but dates back even further, to 1903.
Rachel Cranshaw
Best Villa Operator
Vintage Travel
Oliver's Travels
Simpson Travel
Offering a roster of carefully selected villas across Europe – all with pools – Vintage Travel has taken the top spot in this category for a third consecutive time, having also been named Best Villa Operator at our 2019 and 2023 awards. In business for more than 30 years, its customers praise its commitment to seeking out lesser-known spots within well-loved destinations, as well as its recognition that there remains a place for 'old-school' service within the industry (allowing travellers to browse and book via brochure and telephone, for example, rather than only online).
After taking third place at our 2023 awards, Oliver's Travels moved up to second this year, following a year of record-breaking revenue during what co-founder Oliver Bell described as 'a landmark period' for the company. Established in 2013 by Bell and Ravi Sabharwal, the brand continues to focus on offering unique properties across the world – reflected in the tag line 'why do ordinary?' – in destinations as varied as the UK, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and East Asia.
In third place this year is Simpson Travel, with its hand-picked selection of villas and boutique hotels. The company continues to be recognised for its personal, knowledgeable service – in particular, its provision of direct access to experts with first-hand, on-the-ground experience of the accommodation offerings and local areas.
Best Cottage Operator
Boutique Retreats
Mr and Mrs Smith
Sykes Cottages
This has been one of the Award's most hotly-contested categories and this year proves no different. Only one of the top three entries from 2023 has held its position on the podium.
More frequently recognised for its hotel and villa listings, Mr & Mrs Smith has dropped from first to second place. With grand, characterful properties, its cottage collection continues to grow and the stylish homes on its roster offer impeccable service. Many, as you may expect from such a provider, are attached to some of the country's finest hotels; Cliveden, Thyme and Chewton Glen, for example. These provide the privacy of a self-catered break with the added benefit of access to hotel facilities and restaurants. Most of its stays also come with an added little extra too – a bottle of champagne or a box of chocolates, perhaps.
During the last iteration of the Awards, Sykes Cottages had tumbled from second place (in 2019) to eighth. This year, it has fought its way back onto the podium, finishing third. With more than 30 years in the industry, Sykes is one of the biggest UK cottage providers and has a huge directory of over 22,500 holiday homes across the UK and Ireland. It has a solid reputation for affordability, and offers everything from romantic weekend getaways to mansions sleeping more than 20.
Scooping up first place this year is Boutique Retreats, which has soared to the top after taking fourth place in 2023. Standing on a platform of carefully curated luxury, the arrival of Boutique Retreats at the top of the charts demonstrates the emphasis that our discerning readers place on quality over quantity (the provider has just 274 UK cottages on its books) and the value of a well-crafted holiday experience.
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