Mandarin Oriental has once again taken the top spot among luxury hotel brands. For the fourth year in a row, Luxury Travel Intelligence (LTI) has ranked the group first in its annual brand ranking, with an overall score of 81.1 per cent.
Unlike rankings that rate individual hotels, LTI looks at the consistency of whole brands. Its independent assessment applies 134 criteria, among them how well a brand delivers on its own promises and values, the quality of leadership and service, and continued investment in new and existing hotels. Each year’s evaluation starts from scratch, so previous results carry no weight. For 2026 the ranking has grown from 15 to 20 brands; to qualify, a brand needs a portfolio of at least eight hotels.
A group in expansion
“Being named the world’s best luxury hotel brand for the fourth consecutive year is a great honour, and above all a recognition of our exceptional colleagues around the world,” says Laurent Kleitman, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental. He points to the group’s ability to combine legendary service with experiences that are personal, culturally rooted and tied to the character of each destination.
The award comes while the group pursues a ten-year vision that aims to double its portfolio. Today Mandarin Oriental operates 47 hotels, 16 residences and 44 Exceptional Homes in 30 countries and territories, with a large number of further properties in development. Part of the Jardine Matheson Group, it has grown from its Asian roots of more than 60 years ago into a global brand, and says it wants to stay true to that heritage while giving guests closer encounters with people, culture and place.
The top ten of 2026
Behind the leader, the order has changed considerably. Oetker Collection climbs from fourth to second place, only half a point behind Mandarin Oriental, while Aman, last year’s runner-up, drops to ninth. Two of the five newcomers go straight into the top ten: Capella and Airelles.
| Rank | Brand | Score | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mandarin Oriental | 81.1 % | 1 |
| 2 | Oetker Collection | 80.6 % | 4 |
| 3 | Bulgari | 80.2 % | 3 |
| 4 | Four Seasons | 78.7 % | 6 |
| 5 | Rosewood | 78.0 % | 5 |
| 6 | Dorchester Collection | 76.9 % | 12 |
| 7 | Belmond | 76.6 % | 11 |
| 8 | Capella | 76.1 % | new |
| 9 | Aman | 75.5 % | 2 |
| 10 | Airelles | 75.2 % | new |
The other three new entries, COMO, Jumeirah and Ritz-Carlton, follow in places 17 to 19, and Banyan Tree closes the list of 20.
More Mandarin Oriental on Luxvisor
The group’s recognition this autumn is not limited to brand rankings. Earlier this month, Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast in Malaysia received its first MICHELIN Key.
Roger Hohl
Roger Hohl has been at the helm of Luxvisor since 2006. From his base in Switzerland he travels to test what the luxury travel industry promises, from the seat at 40,000 feet to the last course of a tasting menu, and writes about it with an independent eye.
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