The Gold List finds a new shape for 2027

The Luxury Travel Gold List is getting its most significant update in its 20-year history. From May 2027, the annual awards program will spotlight 30 exceptional travel experiences, unranked and alphabetical, selected by the editorial team and informed by a named Expert Panel

Luxury Travel will unveil a new format for its annual Gold List in May 2027, recognising 30 exceptional travel experiences through a selection process led by its editorial team and informed by a named Expert Panel – soon to be announced.

The global list will span luxury hotels, resorts and lodges, boutique properties, wellbeing retreats, and expedition, ocean and river cruise brands. Unranked and presented alphabetically, it will reflect the experiences Luxury Travel considers most compelling and relevant to its readers.

To curate the final 30, the editorial team will draw on the publication’s coverage over the past three years alongside recommendations from the industry’s most respected travel writers, editors and luxury travel advisors with recent firsthand experience.

Culture, Design and Wellbeing

The Expert Panel’s recommendations will be guided by Luxury Travel’s three refreshed editorial pillars – Culture, Design and Wellbeing. These encompass meaningful connections to place and local life, distinctive architecture and creative vision, and experiences that support restoration and personal growth.

“The Gold List is evolving into a more editorially-informed expression of what Luxury Travel stands for,” says Madelin Tomelty, Editor of Luxury Travel.

“We want it to be a considered annual edit that reflects the experiences, places and brands our audience should know about now, informed by credible firsthand expertise and shaped by the way luxury travel continues to evolve.”

There will be no public submissions or entry fees. Selection will rest solely with the editorial team, informed by the Expert Panel and independent of sponsorship or advertising relationships.

Gold List Honours and Readers’ Choice

Alongside the annual list, Gold List Honours will recognise a standout Boutique Property, Hotel, Resort, Wellbeing Retreat, Expedition Cruise Brand, Ocean Cruise Brand and River Cruise Brand. A special Editor’s Choice honour will also be awarded.

Following the May 2027 reveal, readers will be invited to take part in Readers’ Choice, voting for their favourite experience from the final 30.

The Gold List will feature across Luxury Travel’s print, digital, social and newsletter channels, with dedicated coverage of selected brands and Gold List Honour recipients.

Further details about the format, Expert Panel and selection process are available here.