Awards News

Dallas hotels win big in 2025 World's Best Awards by Travel + Leisure

Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa is the No. 2 best resort in Texas.

Photo courtesy of Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa

Several renowned Dallas-Fort Worth hotels and resorts were just declared the best in the world by Travel + Leisure readers, according to the publication's annual World's Best Awards.

Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa and Grapevine's Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center were honored among the top five best resorts in Texas, and six more distinguished Dallas-Fort Worth properties made the cut among T+L's list of the 15 best hotels in Texas and in the U.S.

Every year, Travel + Leisure surveys its readers to determine the ultimate travel experiences around the world, which include the top hotels, resorts, travel destinations, and more. The 2025 survey had more than 180,000 responses from T+L readers with over 657,000 votes across 8,700 accommodations, cruise lines, and other properties.

Omni PGA Frisco ranked as the No. 2 best resort in Texas, just one spot lower than its 2024 ranking. The resort is a relative newcomer in Dallas' rapidly expanding list of travel lodgings, as it's only been open for a little more than two years. The report said this golf-focused retreat is an impressive place to stay for visitors that have a "packed itinerary," regardless if that includes spending time on the green or not.

"This resort has it all — golf, spa, dining options of all types and an amazing activity schedule," a T+L reader said.

The Gaylord Texan Resort is a popular favorite among Dallas-area travelers, and it ranked as the 5th best Texas resort for 2025. In 2018, the resort debuted its $120 million Vineyard Tower, which added 303 deluxe guest rooms and 86,000 square feet of meeting space.

Pool at Gaylord Texan resort The family-friendly pool at the Gaylord Texan has a lazy river and more than enough chaise lounges. Photo courtesy of Gaylord Texan

The publication celebrated the five winners – the remaining three located in Texas' other major metros – for their lavish atmospheres that makes guests feel like they've escaped the hustle and bustle of their respective cities.

"Our top five resorts in Texas are all scenic sanctuaries in or nearby the state’s biggest cities, offering an abundance of activities for visitors looking for relaxation and recreation," the report said.

The full list of best Texas resorts, in order, are:

The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, Houston
Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa, Frisco
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antonio
Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin
Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine

Best hotels in Dallas-Fort Worth
The region's most opulent hotel, Hotel Drover in Fort Worth, was crowned the best hotel in the Metroplex for the second year in a row. It also earned the No. 1 title in 2022. The hotel has only been open for four years, but it has remained a clear reader favorite, as it previously booked a top-five spot in Travel + Leisure's best Dallas-Fort Worth hotel list in 2023.

Hotel Drover succeeds at providing guests with a flawless level of service and accommodations, while its dining attractions add to the overall opulence of the property's amenities. The report goes on further to say that "no hotel attracted Dallas fans more" than this Western-themed getaway.

Hotel Drover lobby library The lobby of the Hotel Drover contains a library and a Lucchese boot boutique.Photo courtesy of Hotel Drover

"Hotel Drover, Autograph Collection, located in Fort Worth’s historic Stockyards, pulls in plenty of charm in its design, including across its rooms that resemble luxury ranch lodging with exposed beams, dark wood headboards, and colorful textile touches," the report said. "There's also a Lucchese boot boutique in the lobby, so every guest can snag a pair to bring home as the ultimate Texas souvenir."

A reader said they would recommend this Fort Worth hotel over any other place in Texas, and declared it "the definition of Texas" thanks to its attentive staff, thoughtful Western decor, and its classic Southern food.

In a press release, general manager Aaron Ide said the entire Hotel Drover team was honored to receive the worldwide recognition.

"This recognition is a reflection of our passionate team and the authentic Western experiences we strive to create," Ide said. "It’s especially meaningful to receive this honor during the 30th anniversary of the World’s Best Awards, and we are proud to represent the vibrant spirit of Fort Worth."

Dallas' iconic Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek ranked as DFW's second-best hotel for the second consecutive year, and it was the No. 1-winner in 2023. This legendary hotel has continued prospering and growing its reputation since it was acquired by a Dallas investor firm in 2022, and has since earned a prestigious One Key status in Michelin's inaugural Texas guide in 2024.

Though Rosewood Mansion didn't nab the top spot on T+L's list, it did claim the No. 1 spot in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 rankings of the best resorts in Texas.

Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek terrace Photo courtesy of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

The full list of Dallas-Fort Worth winning hotels, in order, are:

Hotel Drover, Autograph Collection, Fort Worth
Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas
The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas
The Adolphus, Dallas
Omni Dallas Hotel

Best hotels in the U.S.
Fort Worth's esteemed Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection was one of three Texas properties to earn acclaim on T+L's separate list of the "15 Best City Hotels in the U.S." Bowie House ranked as the 14th best hotel nationwide, and a T+L reader said it "set the standard for luxury hotels in Fort Worth."

"Another Southern favorite, Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection (No. 14) was applauded for its culinary offerings, expertly curated art and decor, and 'professional' and 'friendly staff,'" the report said.

Bowie House bar Bowie House boasts all of the Southern charm one would expect to find in a Texas hotel.Photo courtesy of Bowie House

The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston and Hotel Emma in San Antonio were the only other two Texas hotels to earn spots on the list of the best hotels in the country.

Other Texas awards
San Antonio was deemed one of the best U.S. travel destinations in 2025, ranking 12th out of 15 total cities.

In a release, Travel + Leisure editor in chief Jacqui Gifford said the 2025 World's Best Awards "reflect a travel landscape in motion."

"From a high-desert city in the American Southwest to a quiet Greek island, our readers are seeking depth, character, and a strong sense of place," Gifford said. "We're thrilled to honor the hotels, destinations, and travel companies that are delivering those transformative experiences."

The best hotels in Houston, in order are:

The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston
Hotel ZaZa
Four Seasons Hotel Houston
JW Marriott Houston Downtown
Hilton Americas-Houston

The best hotels in Austin, in order, are:

Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection
Austin Proper Hotel & Residences
Four Seasons Hotel Austin
Fairmont Austin
Archer Hotel Austin

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Hotel reno

Luxury hotel near DFW Airport unveils major refresh and new dining

Photo courtesy of Ricardo Marriott

House of Toro is the new chophouse at The Ricardo Marriott.

A longtime Westlake luxury hotel is ready to unveil a major renovation and rebrand to the public: The former Marriott Westlake has reopened as The Ricardo Marriott, named for famed Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, the original designer of the hotel and its surrounding Solana Plaza.

According to a release, the 293-room property near DFW Airport recent underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation that included several new dining concepts and social spaces, along with new design elements, guest room refurbishments, and a pool refresh.

Dallas-based Coury Hospitality led the overhaul of the Marriott, Bonvoy Collection hotel.

"The Ricardo Marriott represents an exciting new chapter for this property,” said Andrew Casperson, President of Coury Hospitality, in a statement. “This transformation goes beyond a renovation. It reflects an intentional effort to honor the building’s architectural significance while introducing a renewed identity that is bold, design-driven, and reflective of Westlake’s evolving character.”

The renovations aimed to honor and augment Legorreta's original, 1987 design for the building and its campus, featuring his signature bold geometry and vibrant colors. (Legorreta's other well-known local building is the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, which features similarly striking colors and shapes.)

"Legorreta’s architecture anchors the experience, creating a strong sense of arrival, while refreshed interiors introduce layered materials, contemporary furnishings and curated color that elevate the guest journey," says the release.

The centerpiece of the renovation are the food and beverage offerings:

A new restaurant called House of Toro Chophouse & Patio serves as the hotel’s signature chophouse.
Black Pearl Lounge offers cocktails, light bites, and tableside caviar service.
Solana Lounge & Kitchen provides all-day dining with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Café31 offers Lavazza coffees, fresh pastries, and grab-and-go options.

The hotel also features more than 15,000 square feet of updated meeting and event space, along with outdoor areas and a new-and-improved pool. The spaces are designed to accommodate a range of uses, from corporate meetings to weddings and social events, the release says.

The Ricardo Marriott is now open and welcoming guests, at 1301 Solana Boulevard, Building 3, Westlake.

dfw airport renovation hotels