50 Best, owned by global media business William Reed, has become The 50. The company says the new identity brings together globally recognised rankings, awards, content and the Discovery platform under one clear and distinctive master brand.
First launched as a single restaurant ranking in 2002, the brand is now recognised as a global authority on the best restaurants, bars, hotels and vineyards, says the company. It is reimagined as The 50, aiming to bring greater clarity to its role as a force for good - connecting a global community and powering a more positive future for hospitality.
Grounded in 25 years’ authority built through its rankings and awards, The 50 creates a broader platform for impact by uniting the hospitality industry and unlocking its collective knowledge, added the company.
Through editorial content, event experiences and convening communities, The 50 aims to connect consumers, industry and commercial partners, inspiring discovery and strengthening collaboration.
Rikki Tidball, managing director of events, The 50, says: “Hospitality is ultimately about human connection, and that will remain central to everything we do. The 50 gives us a stronger platform to bring people together, unlock new opportunities and support the long-term success of our industry. This enables us to help power the business of hospitality in every corner of the world.”
Lisa Green, managing director of content, The 50, says: “The 50 creates a platform for year-round storytelling, opening up new ways to champion the voices, ideas and innovations shaping hospitality. Through content, conversation and cultural relevance, we can extend our impact beyond the rankings themselves to tell the stories that matter and inspire our global community.”
The 50 establishes a more distinctive, confident look and feel, the company continued - anchoring the portfolio under a simpler, more cohesive identity while offering deeper engagement with consumers. The new visual identity, to be deployed across The 50’s growing portfolio of brands and platforms, features a gemstone comprising 50 unique pieces. Every facet represents a different perspective, personality and story – individually distinctive but collectively greater than the sum of their parts.
Building on the same principles that have always defined 50 Best, The 50 says it remains committed to recognising and celebrating the best in hospitality fairly, with independent voting Academies, established methodologies and third-party adjudication underpinning the integrity of its rankings.
Audiences will first see the new brand through a refreshed visual identity, simplified naming conventions, a unified website and a more consistent brand experience across all channels. The first awards programme to adopt the new identity will be The 50 Best Hotels 2026, taking place in Paris in September, with the new branding rolling out progressively across the wider portfolio of rankings, awards and platforms throughout the rest of 2026 and beyond.
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