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.
How do we define Asia’s most iconic hotel?
There’s no shortage of iconic hotels in Asia. But some go from excellent to unforgettable by combining exceptional service, arresting architecture and rich heritage. These properties have a way of lingering in your memory long after a stay, whether that’s thanks to a particular bar, an unforgettable view or the role they’ve played in shaping a destination’s identity.
Voting is open to Cathay members from 1 to 21 June. In the meantime, learn more about the nominees below.
The nominees
Rosewood Hong Kong
Rising above the Kowloon waterfront, Rosewood Hong Kong has come to define a new kind of unabashed luxury in the city, with a consistent presence in the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards. Many of its 413 rooms and suites – designed to feel like refined private residences, complete with art, books and layered textures – look out over Victoria Harbour. And with nearly a dozen restaurants and bars, the hotel has become a gourmet destination in its own right. DarkSide, one of Hong Kong’s best cocktail bars, draws a loyal following for its live jazz and rare spirits, cementing the property’s place at the centre of the city’s contemporary dining and nightlife scene.
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.