2024 proved a fascinating year in travel. Being in the admittedly absurd position of reviewing hotels as part of my job, I am here to share the verdict. Though the tech-driven future of hospitality is coming in hot (think cloud-based management systems like Mews or booking with large language models), absolutely nothing has changed about the fine art of service. The best hotels still foster discovery and human connection by taking great pride in personalized luxuries. The worst hotels are coldly and overtly transactional; the QR code, point of sale grifters who’ve leaned hard into ‘optimization’ at the expense of romance. And their kitchens, to borrow a phrase from Amor Towles’ great novel, A Gentlemen in Moscow, wouldn’t know a goose from a grouse!
Click HERE to see which hotels made the cut!