Minor Hotels has achieved its strongest-ever recognition at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific, securing a record 31 awards and reinforcing its growing influence across the region’s premium hospitality and resort sector.
The group’s latest performance marks a sharp rise from 26 awards in the previous cycle, reflecting stronger guest recognition, deeper brand loyalty, and expanding demand for luxury travel experiences across Asia Pacific. The results place Minor Hotels among the most visible hospitality groups in a highly competitive market where service, design, wellness, destination value, and personalised experiences continue to shape traveller decisions.
The achievement is especially important for the group’s flagship luxury brand, Anantara Hotels & Resorts, which was voted the number one Favourite Hotel Brand of the Year. This recognition highlights Anantara’s strong emotional connection with travellers and its continued success in delivering culturally rooted, high-end hospitality across resorts, city hotels, wellness retreats, and experiential destinations.
Anantara Leads With Strong Brand Loyalty
Anantara’s top brand ranking stands at the centre of Minor Hotels’ awards success. The brand has built its luxury identity around immersive stays, local culture, refined service, and destination-led design. This formula has helped it gain recognition across beach resorts, urban hotels, upcountry retreats, spas, pools, and private villa experiences.
For the wider tourism sector, this result points to a clear trend. Luxury travellers are no longer choosing hotels only for room quality or location. They are seeking properties that connect them with place, offer wellness and privacy, and provide experiences that feel personal rather than standardised.
Minor Hotels’ success across multiple countries also reflects its ability to serve different travel styles. From heritage towns and river journeys to island villas and city hotels, the group’s portfolio now appeals to leisure travellers, honeymooners, families, wellness guests, cultural explorers, and high-spending international visitors.
Laos Gains Global Luxury Attention
One of the most notable wins came in Laos, where Avani+ Luang Prabang was named the number one Best Hotel in the region. Located in a UNESCO World Heritage setting, the property’s recognition strengthens Luang Prabang’s position as a rising luxury travel destination.
The hotel’s success was further supported by leadership recognition, with General Manager Max Chin named number one Best General Manager. This highlights the importance of property-level service excellence in shaping guest satisfaction and award outcomes.
Avani+ Luang Prabang also performed strongly in hotel pool and spa categories, showing how wellness, design, and local atmosphere are becoming essential parts of luxury travel demand in heritage destinations.
Maldives Resorts Strengthen Ultra-Luxury Appeal
The Maldives remained a major pillar of Minor Hotels’ awards success. Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas delivered one of the group’s strongest individual performances, earning five major honours, including high rankings for house reefs, resorts, villas, spas, and pool experiences.
Its recognition reflects the continued strength of the Maldives as a global luxury tourism leader. Travellers are increasingly drawn to resorts that combine marine biodiversity, privacy, overwater and beachfront accommodation, wellness, and high-touch service.
Niyama Private Islands Maldives also gained significant recognition, with The Crescent ranked among the region’s most outstanding villa experiences. Its Drift Spa was also acknowledged among leading wellness offerings, reinforcing the Maldives’ reputation for highly personalised island escapes.
These results support the destination’s broader appeal among luxury travellers seeking privacy, nature, space, and experiential hospitality.
Thailand Remains A Core Luxury Tourism Market
Thailand continued to play a central role in Minor Hotels’ regional performance. Anantara Layan Phuket Resort ranked strongly among beach and island resorts, while its Layan Life wellness concept gained recognition in the spa category.
On Koh Samui, Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort also earned a place among leading beach and island properties, strengthening Minor Hotels’ presence in southern Thailand’s luxury leisure market.
In northern Thailand, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort ranked highly among upcountry hotels, supported by recognition for its jungle-facing pool experience. The property reflects the rising demand for nature-led luxury, conservation awareness, and immersive stays beyond traditional beach destinations.
In Bangkok, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel entered the top city hotel rankings, highlighting renewed interest in high-end urban hospitality in major Asian capitals.
Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, And Malaysia Add Regional Depth
Minor Hotels’ performance extended across Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, Anantara Hoi An Resort ranked second among Best Upcountry Hotels, supported by its riverside setting and heritage-led guest experience. Anantara Quy Nhon Villas also received recognition for wellness, strengthening the group’s position in Vietnam’s emerging coastal luxury market.
In Indonesia, Anantara Ubud Bali Resort ranked among leading upcountry hotels, reinforcing Bali’s continued strength as one of Asia’s most competitive luxury leisure destinations.
Cambodia also contributed to the group’s awards momentum. Anantara Angkor Resort and FCC Angkor by Avani earned positions among Best City Hotels, while Anantara Angkor received additional recognition for its pool facilities.
In Malaysia, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas was recognised across resort and pool categories, supporting the growth of high-end coastal tourism in the country.
River Cruises And Loyalty Expand The Hospitality Ecosystem
Minor Hotels’ recognition also extended beyond traditional hotel stays. Mekong Kingdoms ranked second among Best River Cruises, while Loy Pela Voyages ranked fourth, highlighting growing demand for slow travel, cultural journeys, and luxury river experiences across Southeast Asia.
This shows how hospitality groups are increasingly building complete travel ecosystems that include accommodation, wellness, transport, cruising, dining, and destination experiences.
Another important milestone came from GHA DISCOVERY being named the number one Hotel Loyalty Programme. As part of the Global Hotel Alliance, Minor Hotels uses Minor DISCOVERY to strengthen repeat travel, cross-brand engagement, and personalised rewards across its international network.
Minor Hotels Strengthens Its Luxury Travel Future
Minor Hotels’ record 31 awards mark more than a strong industry performance. They confirm the group’s rising influence in Asia Pacific luxury tourism and its ability to align with changing traveller expectations.
With Anantara leading brand recognition, Avani gaining momentum in heritage destinations, Maldives resorts driving ultra-luxury appeal, and river journeys expanding the group’s experiential reach, Minor Hotels is strengthening its position across the full spectrum of high-end travel.
As luxury guests continue to prioritise authenticity, wellness, privacy, culture, and personalised service, Minor Hotels is well placed to shape the next phase of premium hospitality growth across Asia Pacific and beyond.
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