Public vote opens for The Phoenicia Malta to win top global luxury travel award

For the second year running, The Phoenicia Malta has again joined some of the world’s leading luxury hotels on the shortlist for the 2025 Luxury Travel Gold List Awards – and an online public vote will decide if this much-loved local destination will win.

Last year, the iconic hotel made history as the first in Malta to be shortlisted for a Gold List Award – one of the most prestigious accolades in international hospitality. For 2025, The Phoenicia Malta once again joins the finalists in the Luxury Hotel category, which recognises established hotels or resorts worldwide that have more than 61 rooms and deliver an outstanding luxury experience.

Celebrating the very best in luxury travel from Australia, the Indo-Pacific and across the globe, the Luxury Travel Gold List Awards set the benchmark for excellence across hotels, airlines, cruises and tour operators, recognising the most progressive experiences and destinations across land and sea. Before the public votes, judges consider various criteria to create the shortlist, from dining, spa and wellness offerings to personalised service, room design and the quality of facilities and amenities, and how these details support the core pillars of authenticity, design and sustainability.

As Malta’s first luxury hotel, The Phoenicia Malta’s blend of historic elegance and contemporary comfort has earned it a place once again on the shortlist, highlighting its delivery of exceptional guest experiences. With 132 rooms and suites, seven acres of landscaped gardens, an infinity pool and an award-winning spa, the property offers guests a five-star retreat on the doorstep of the capital city of Valletta. Its flagship restaurant, Contessa, has become a culinary destination in its own right, while the Bastion Pool, Bar & Restaurant and Palm Court Lounge continue to attract both travellers and locals for a distinctly Maltese luxury experience.

The hotel also made headlines earlier this year for its commitment to sustainability, achieving GSTC certification and adding to its status as a Sustainability Leader with The Leading Hotels of the World. Together with other accolades, including a Forbes Four-Star rating and membership of the Serandipians/TravellerMade network, this latest Gold List recognition reinforces The Phoenicia Malta’s impressive reputation on the international stage.

For General Manager Robyn Pratt, the announcement is a milestone not just for the hotel, but for Maltese hospitality. “To be shortlisted for the second year running is a great honour, and is another credit to the dedication of our team and the trust of our guests. This is an opportunity to showcase Malta’s world-class hospitality on a global platform, and so we ask if our friends, partners and guests would support us with their votes, to secure this global win for Malta.”

With the 2025 Luxury Travel Gold List Awards public vote now open online, anyone can vote for their favourites in each category before voting closes on Thursday, 6 November. What’s more, every vote automatically enters the voter into a draw to win a stay at the new 25hours Hotel The Olympia in Sydney, Australia. This year’s Gold List winners will be announced in December, ahead of the 2025 Luxury Travel Gold List Awards celebration in February 2026.

Vote for The Phoenicia Malta in the 2025 Luxury Travel Gold List Awards at: www.luxurytravelmag.com.au/the-gold-list/voting?category=resorts