The results are finally in, people! And picking this year's winners wasn't easy. We debated the quirky, the high design, the affordable luxe and over-the-top; we grilled our network of more than 200 global correspondents; we polled experts and insiders; and we had a few in-office shouting matches (it all ended well, thankfully). Here, our picks for the 20 best new hotels on the planet. By Siobhan Reid
Best Big City Sleep
THE FINALIST
Hotel Emma, Texas
THE WINNER
Cotton House Hotel, Autograph Collection, Spain
It's been a while since a hotel debuted in Barcelona that wowed us this much. But the second the Cotton House opened its doors we fell hard. A former stomping ground for Barcelona's cotton barons, the property dazzles from the moment you step into the lobby, where the air is filled with the hotel's custom cotton scent. Original marquetry floors, a sweeping marble staircase and a stately Neo-Classical facade are all nods to the building's 19th century roots, while a sexy rooftop pool, buzzy eatery, cocktail bar and lush terrace—all conceived of by interior designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán—provide modern thrills. The hotel's location in Eixample is the perfect base for taking in all things cultural, architectural and gastronomical—don't miss the nearby La Boqueria Market for tapas and the finest Jamón ibérico you'll ever taste, or the Passeig de Gràcia—one of Barca's main shopping avenidas. Once you've explored the city, unwind with a great read in the hotel's library, or retire to your elegant, all-white guestroom, with oversized windows that look out onto the city rooftops.
