• The Capella Bangkok was named hotel of the year, and Capella was also voted the leading luxury hotel brand. Japan shines as the most popular holiday hotspot, and Viceroy at Ombria Algarve won best new hotel.

• Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement award, a press release said. 

The world’s leading hotels, airlines, airports, cruise lines, and destinations, as voted for by the 32 million globetrotting members of the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty program, were unveiled at the annual luxury travel awards ceremony, the ULTRAs (Ultratravel Awards), on Monday, 17th November 2025, in Dubai.

Recognizing the best of the best in global travel, the ULTRAs is a must-attend event for the luxury travel and tourism elite, organized by Global Hotel Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands and operator of award-winning loyalty program GHA DISCOVERY.

Staged at Dubai’s glamorous beachfront lifestyle destination, Nikki Beach Club, the ULTRAs acknowledged travel leaders across 17 categories. Each winner was voted for by GHA DISCOVERY’s global membership and the readers of Ultratravel magazine.

The awards were presented by well-known radio personality Tom Urquhart and popular presenter and content creator Lily Coleman, with a raft of celebrity sports stars in attendance, including three rugby union world cup winners, former England International and British & Irish Lions star Simon Shaw MBE, former South Africa internationals Bryan Habana and Schalk Brits, and former Japan international Akihito Yamada.

The lineup of 2025 winners included Capella Bangkok, which was hailed as the ‘Ultratravel Collection Hotel of the Year,’ and Capella also took home the title of ‘Luxury Brand of the Year’; Viceroy at Ombria Algarve in Portugal, named ‘Best New Hotel in the World’; and The Leela Palace Udaipur, honored as the ‘Best Sustainable Hotel.’

Among the most celebrated hotels, Pan Pacific London was crowned ‘Best Hotel in Europe’; The Murray, Hong Kong, a Niccolo Hotel, won ‘Best Hotel in Asia’; Ciragan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul triumphed as ‘Best Hotel in the Middle East/Turkey/Africa,’ and Castaway Island, Fiji, was voted ‘Best Hotel in Oceania/Pacific.’ Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas was recognized as ‘Best Hotel in the Indian Ocean,’ and The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel, was named ‘Best Hotel in the Americas/Caribbean.’

Dubai-based Emirates once again claimed the title of ‘Best Airline in the World’ and also was honored for ‘Best Premium Economy Class,’ demonstrating its continued leadership in global aviation. This achievement was further underscored by the recognition of Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, who received a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award for his outstanding service to the global aviation industry, presented to him by Nick Perry, Chairman of Ultratravel.

Dubai International Airport, the busiest airport globally for international passenger traffic, was named ‘Best Airport in the World.’ Singapore Airlines took home the title for the ‘Best First Class,’ and Qatar Airways secured the ‘Best Business Class’ title.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) was selected as "the best luxury cruise line," while Japan was revealed as the "favorite holiday country," just a little more popular than runners-up Italy and Thailand.