Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2026: Asia’s most iconic hotel
Welcome to the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards. Our annual awards celebrate the very best in travel, dining and lifestyle – as voted by you, our global community of tastemakers.
After counting the votes, we’re thrilled to announce the results of this year’s awards. Discover Asia’s most iconic hotel, as well as the three nominees that made it to the shortlist.
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Winner: Rosewood Hong Kong
Few categories in Asia could be more fiercely contested – which says a great deal about this year’s winner. Rising above the Kowloon waterfront, Rosewood Hong Kong defines a distinctly modern, unapologetic luxury and has become a regular presence in these awards. Rooms and suites feel like refined private residences, with sweeping views of Victoria Harbour. Boasting nearly a dozen restaurants and bars, the property has also evolved into a serious dining destination. DarkSide – among Hong Kong’s leading cocktail bars – draws an in‑the‑know crowd with live jazz and rare spirits, anchoring the hotel at the heart of the city’s contemporary dining and nightlife scene.
Shortlisted nominees
Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai
Set on the quieter side of Shanghai’s Huangpu River, Mandarin Oriental Pudong offers a more residential counterpoint to the city’s high-energy core. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame Shanghai’s ever-evolving skyline, offset by calm, art-filled interiors that feel deliberately removed from the pace outside. Setting it apart further is a sense of space that’s rare in the city. Standard rooms begin at 50 square metres, while the approximately 788-square-metre Presidential Suite includes a private garden terrace. Alongside its riverfront setting and expansive spa, the hotel has come to define contemporary luxury in Shanghai.
Raffles Hotel Singapore
Opened in 1887 as a modest 10-room bungalow, Raffles Singapore has since evolved into one of Asia’s most storied heritage hotels, known as much for its legacy and A-list guests as its grand white façade. The likes of Rudyard Kipling, Charlie Chaplin and Elizabeth Taylor all stayed here – and of course, the Singapore Sling was famously created at the Long Bar. A meticulous 2019 restoration preserved the hotel’s original layout and sense of history, while subtly modernising its interiors. Today, its 115 suites – with separate parlours, teak floors, marble bathrooms and dedicated butler service – continue to reflect the romance and grandeur of a bygone era.
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Following an extensive renovation, Park Hyatt Tokyo – immortalised in Lost in Translation – has never been better. It’s seen a top-to-bottom rework of all 171 rooms and suites, pairing its signature green carpeting and washi accents with softer, more contemporary lines and onsen-inspired bathrooms. Set high above Shinjuku, the Tokyo hotel ensures you’re in the heart of the action while still feeling serene, cinematic and removed from the buzz below. The 52nd-floor New York Bar continues to be a must-visit for its views, live jazz and impeccable service, while Kozue promises refined kaiseki and, on clear days, views of Mount Fuji.