Soneva Fushi has once again been honoured by The World’s 50 Best Hotels, ranking No. 8 as the only resort in the Maldives to make the Top 50 list and winning the Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award for the second consecutive year. The Lost Explorer Award recognises the hotel placed highest in the ranking that is located within 20 metres of a beach. The World’s 50 Best Hotels were announced at a captivating awards ceremony held in London and included industry-defining hotels across six continents worldwide.

This evening’s awards ceremony once again brought together the global travel and hospitality community to celebrate the world’s best hotels. Held at the historic Guildhall, the event showcased exceptional hotel experiences that will inspire consumers, travellers and hoteliers around the globe.

Soneva Fushi, nestled in the Maldives’ Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is the original barefoot hideaway. The resort’s 63 private villas are nestled in a verdant expanse of rich jungle or perched above sparkling waters. With magical experiences at every turn, guests can stay entertained with visiting experts as part of the Soneva Stars calendar, explore 14 dining destinations, discover transformative wellness at Soneva Soul and make time for play at The Den – one of the largest children’s playgrounds in South Asia.

“We’re thrilled to be back in London celebrating the second edition of The World’s 50 Best Hotels. Bringing together so many influential figures from the travel industry to honour and celebrate the world’s finest hotel experiences is truly a special moment. Our heartfelt congratulations go out to every hotel on the list, each of which has clearly made a lasting impression on our Academy of travel experts. We hope 2024’s list inspires travel lovers to choose a truly spectacular destination for their next trip,” comments Tim Brooke-Webb, Managing Director for The World’s 50 Best Hotels.

“I am delighted that Soneva Fushi has been recognised once again by The World’s 50 Best Hotels as number 8 in the world, the ‘World’s Best Beach Resort’ for the second year in a row, and once again the only Maldives property in the top 50 list. At Soneva, we are a family that strives with passion in the pursuit of true luxury, offering exceptional experiences that enrich the lives of our guests whilst minimising our impact on the environment,” says Sonu Shivdasani, CEO and Co-Founder of Soneva.

The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024 was revealed as part of a live countdown from No.50 to No.1. The ranking is complemented by a host of special awards and reflects the very best travel experiences around the globe, collated from the votes of 600 anonymous experts. This voting panel – the 50 Best Hotels Academy – comprises a balanced mix of hoteliers, travel journalists, educators and seasoned luxury travellers, led by a group of industry-leading Academy Chairs.

To access The World’s 50 Best’s media centre, click here