Announcement: Your 2025 Luxury Travel Gold List finalists are here

The Luxury Travel Gold List Awards 2025 shortlist has been revealed, showcasing the best of the best in 18 categories spanning cruises, hotels and resorts, experiences, travel agencies and tour operators

The wait is finally over, your Luxury Travel Gold List Awards 2025 shortlist has been revealed. Celebrating the very best in global luxury travel, the Gold List has long been the benchmark for excellence, shining a spotlight on the brands, destinations and experiences that continue to inspire our readers to explore the world in style.

Now in its 20th year, the Gold List spans 18 categories, across cruises, hotels and resorts, experiences, travel agencies and tour operators. Each finalist has been carefully considered by our expert judging panel, representing the pinnacle of service, design and innovation in luxury travel.

But the Gold List isn’t decided by judges alone, we want to hear from you. Reader voting opens on 2 October 2025, giving you the chance to share your voice and help crown the 2025 winners. And by casting your vote, you’ll also go in the running for an exclusive prize, with full details to be announced soon.

Without further ado, we present to you the 2025 Luxury Travel Gold List Awards shortlist. Congratulations to all category finalists!

Wellness Retreat or Resort

• Chiva-Som Hua Hin, Thailand
• COMO Shambhala Estate, Indonesia
• Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Australia
• Intaaya, Indonesia
• Kamalaya, Thailand
• Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Indonesia
• Namia River Retreat, Vietnam

Sustainable Luxury Resort

• andBeyond Mnemba Island, Tanzania
• Cap Karoso, Indonesia
• Elements of Byron, Australia
• Kokomo Private Island, Fiji
• Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Indonesia
• Six Senses Fiji, Fiji
• The Brando, French Polynesia
• The Datai Langkawi, Malaysia
• Uga Ulagalla, Sri Lanka

New Hotel or Resort Design

• Gorilla Forest Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary, Uganda
• Huka Lodge, New Zealand / Aotearoa
• Raffles Sentosa, Singapore
• The EVE Hotel Sydney, Australia
• The Standard, Singapore
• Uga Halloowella, Sri Lanka

Luxury Family Experience

• Atlantis, The Palm, United Arab Emirates
• Regent Phu Quoc, Vietnam
• Kokomo Astrolabe Adventure at Kokomo Private Island, Fiji
• Meeting Santa in Lapland by 50 Degrees North, Finland
• Surf With Six Senses at Six Senses Fiji
• The Sumba Foundation, NIHI Sumba, Indonesia
• Villa Le Corail, A Gran Meliá Hotel, Vietnam

Luxury Hotel or Resort – ANZ & South Pacific

• Capella Sydney, Australia
• COMO The Treasury, Australia
• Kokomo Private Island, Fiji
• qualia, Australia
• Six Senses Fiji, Fiji
• The Landing, New Zealand / Aotearoa
• The Ritz-Carlton, Perth, Australia
• W Melbourne, Australia
• W Sydney, Australia

Luxury Travel Agency

• FBI Travel
• Global Jetsetting
• Imagine Cruising Pty Ltd
• Noosa Cruise and Travel
• Travel Associates
• Travel Project

Luxury Travel Advisor (Individual) – Australia

• Ash Chin, Sojourns Of
• Dimitri Giannakopoulos, FBI Travel
• Michelle Adler, FBI Travel
• Natalie Cherry, Noosa Cruise and Travel

Luxury Tour Operator

• Abercrombie & Kent
• Entree Destinations
• Exotic Destinations
• Golden Eagle Luxury Trains
• Ormina Tours
• Walk into Luxury

Luxury Hotel Restaurant or Bar

• Flaggerdoot, Jackalope Hotel, Australia
• Lake House Restaurant, Lake House Daylesford, Australia
• Mary Mary, The Tasman, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Australia
• Mi Xun Teahouse, The Temple House, China
• Oku Omakase Atelier and Salon de Boeuf, Regent Phu Quoc, Vietnam
• Sugarloaf at Flockhill, Flockhill Lodge, New Zealand / Aotearoa
• Trivet, JW Marriott Auckland, New Zealand / Aotearoa
• Warabi, W Melbourne, Australia

Luxury Hotel Brand

• A&K Sanctuary
• Anantara
• Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
• Gran Meliá
• ME by Meliá
• Meliá Hotels & Resorts

Indigenous Experience

• Australia’s Iconic Kimberley, Ponant Explorations, Australia
• Tundra to Table, Quark Expeditions, Greenland and Canadian High Arctic
• Wintjiri Wiru, Ayers Rock Resort (Voyages), Australia

Luxury River Cruise Brand

• AmaWaterways
• APT Luxury Travel
• Aqua Expeditions
• The Au Co Cruise
• Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
• Viking

Luxury Ocean Cruise Brand

• Aqua Expeditions
• Crystal
• Explora Journeys
• Le Commandant Charcot
• Oceania Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Seabourn
• The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
• Viking

Luxury Expedition Cruise Brand

• Aqua Expeditions
• Fiordland Discovery
• Ponant Explorations
• Scenic Eclipse
• Seabourn
• Silolona Sojourns
• True North
• Viking

Gourmet Luxury Tourism Experience – ANZ

• Cultural Island Discovery with Robbie Congoo, Hamilton Island, Australia
• Dining Experience at Mount William Station, Mount William Station, Australia
• Hearth x Fervor Culinary Experience, The Ritz-Carlton, Perth, Australia

Emerging Brand to Watch

• Crystal
• Ennismore
• Luxe Tours
• Morris Nautical
• The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Luxury Hotel (61+ rooms)

• Cap Karoso, Indonesia
• Capella Sydney, Australia
• The EVE Hotel Sydney, Australia
• The Hotel Britomart, New Zealand / Aotearoa
• The Phoenicia Malta, Malta
• The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, Australia
• The Tasman, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart, Australia
• The Upper House, Hong Kong
• W Brisbane, Australia
• W Sydney, Australia

Boutique Hotel, Resort, or Lodge (1 – 60 rooms)

• COMO The Treasury, Australia
• Flockhill Lodge, New Zealand / Aotearoa
• Huka Lodge, New Zealand / Aotearoa
• Intaaya, Indonesia
• Kokomo Private Island, Fiji
• Lancemore Milawa, Australia
• Mt Mulligan Lodge, Australia
• Okahirongo Elephant Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary, Namibia
• Passalacqua, Italy
• Royal Davui Island Resort, Fiji
• Six Senses Fiji, Fiji