Capella Sydney wins ULTRAs hotel of the year as London hosts luxury travel awards

The ULTRAs named top hotels, airlines and travel brands at the Tower of London on Oct. 1, with Capella Sydney taking hotel of the year and Emirates again winning best airline in the world. The awards, voted on by Ultratravel readers and 38 million GHA DISCOVERY members, underscore where luxury travelers see standout service and experiences.

Why it matters: - The ULTRAs are a read on what luxury travelers value most across hotels, airlines, airports and cruise lines. - The awards reflect votes from Ultratravel magazine readers and 38 million GHA DISCOVERY members, giving the results broad industry visibility. - The winners signal which brands are setting the pace in high-end travel across regional and global markets.

What happened: - The 2026 ULTRAs were held at the Tower of London on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. - The ceremony took place in the Jewel House and The White Tower. - The awards covered 18 categories across global luxury travel. - Capella Sydney was named Ultratravel Collection Hotel of the Year. - Anantara Hotels & Resorts was voted Luxury Brand of the Year. - Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas in Thailand was named Best New Hotel in the World. - Pan Pacific London was crowned Best Hotel in Europe. - Capella Bangkok won Best Hotel in Asia/Pacific. - Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl in Doha won Best Hotel in the Middle East/Africa. - The Leela Palace New Delhi was recognized as Best Hotel in India/Indian Ocean. - The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel, New York, was named Best Hotel in the Americas/Caribbean. - Emirates won Best Airline in the World and Best Airline in the Middle East. - Regent Seven Seas Cruises won Best Luxury Cruise Line. - Japan was named Favorite Country for a Holiday. - Singapore Changi Airport won Best Airport in the World. - Lufthansa won Best Airline in Europe. - Singapore Airlines won Best Airline in Asia/Australasia. - Delta Air Lines won Best Airline in the Americas. - Louis Vuitton won the newly launched Favorite Luxury Lifestyle Brand award.

The details: - The ULTRAs, or Ultimate Luxury Travel Related Awards, are organized by Nick Perry, chairman of Ultratravel. - Global Hotel Alliance and Ultratravel run the Ultratravel Collection joint venture. - The awards are based on votes from Ultratravel readers and GHA DISCOVERY members. - The event was hosted by Natalie Pinkham and Gethin Jones. - Guests included Hugh Bonneville, Sarah-Jane Mee, Simon Shaw, Alun Wyn Jones, Serge Betsen and Andrew Mehrtens. - William E. Heinecke, founder and chairman of Minor International, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. - GHA CEO Chris Hartley said the ULTRAs reflect the standards and experiences that matter most to luxury travelers. - Louis Vuitton was recognized as a favorite among GHA DISCOVERY members for its travel range.

Between the lines: - The results show how loyalty-program voting is increasingly shaping recognition in luxury travel. - The spread of winners across regions points to a more competitive global market, with strong brands gaining recognition beyond their home bases. - The new luxury lifestyle brand category suggests the ULTRAs are widening beyond hotels and airlines into adjacent premium travel spending. - A media event at Pan Pacific London before the ceremony focused on hospitality trends, including expansion, traveler expectations, technology and innovation. - The panel featured Choe Peng Sum of Pan Pacific Hotels Group, Simon Naudi of Corinthia Hotels and Gonzalo Aguilar of Minor Europe & The Americas.

What's next: - The ULTRAs will likely continue to serve as an annual benchmark for luxury travel performance. - Brands that won in 2026 can use the recognition to bolster marketing, loyalty engagement and international expansion. - The industry conversation around technology and changing traveler expectations is set to keep shaping future awards and strategy.

The bottom line: - The 2026 ULTRAs confirmed that luxury travel leadership is being spread across more brands, more regions and more categories.