Cambodia’s grand hotel heritage has received another international spotlight, with Raffles Hotel Le Royal named the country’s No. 1 city hotel in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia-Pacific 2026, and sister property Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor taking the No. 2 position.
The results mark a strong showing for Raffles Cambodia, whose two landmark properties in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap continue to stand among the most storied luxury hotels in Southeast Asia.
The awards also recognised the hotels across several experience-led categories. Raffles Hotel Le Royal was ranked No. 2 in Cambodia for best hotel swimming pools, while Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor placed No. 4 in the same category and also earned the No. 4 ranking for best hotel spas. Dagmar Lyons, General Manager of Raffles Hotel Le Royal, was also named one of Cambodia’s best General Managers.
“We are deeply honoured that Raffles Hotel Le Royal has been named Cambodia’s best city hotel,” Lyons said. “This recognition belongs to our entire team who bring the spirit of 1929 to life every day while delivering the warm, intuitive service for which Raffles is renowned.”
In Siem Reap, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor was celebrated not only as one of Cambodia’s finest city hotels, but as a historic gateway to one of the world’s great cultural wonders.
“It is a great privilege to see our luxury hotel recognised among Cambodia’s finest,” said Joseph Colina, General Manager of Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor. “As a historic gateway to the wonders of Angkor, we are proud to preserve and share this extraordinary legacy.”
The recognition comes during a renewed focus on the shared history of the two Raffles Cambodia properties. The brand recently launched the “Grand Path of History” tour and a new history book tracing the golden age of travel in Southeast Asia. At Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, a permanent exhibition now showcases rare photographs, video footage, architectural drawings and other vintage artefacts connected to the hotel’s past.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal first opened in Phnom Penh in 1929 and remains one of Cambodia’s most elegant addresses. Today, the hotel features 175 rooms and suites and continues to reflect the glamour of its early years, reimagined through a careful restoration completed in 2019. The project preserved the hotel’s heritage while introducing a bold contemporary style inspired by French colonial, Khmer and Art Deco influences.
Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor opened in Siem Reap in 1932, originally serving archaeologists, adventurers and early travellers drawn to the temples of Angkor Wat. Nearly a century later, the hotel remains closely tied to that spirit of discovery. Its rooms, suites and villas retain the character of 1930s French Art Deco design while incorporating Cambodian influences and modern comfort.
Both Raffles Cambodia properties were also among only 10 hotels in the country awarded MICHELIN Keys in the MICHELIN Guide’s inaugural Cambodia edition last year. Raffles Hotel Le Royal has also been recognised by Condé Nast Traveler readers, who voted it the No. 2 hotel in Southeast Asia in the publication’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards.
The two hotels have increasingly been presented as a complementary journey through Cambodia’s past and present. Last year, they introduced the exclusive seven-day “A Tale of Two Cities” stay, linking Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in a multi-property itinerary described as “a journey like no other, where grand history, enchanted glamour and extraordinary adventure entwine.”
For travellers, the latest rankings reinforce what has long defined Raffles in Cambodia: heritage, elegance, service and a deep connection to place. In Phnom Penh, that story unfolds through the capital’s diplomatic, cultural and architectural history. In Siem Reap, it continues in the shadow of Angkor, where the romance of early travel still feels very much alive.
