Bigger is not necessarily better, I think we can all agree on that. But if you are a traveler who likes a room with a view then taller usually wins out. There's serious argument in the travel world about how you measure the world's tallest hotel. Should it be a building that is entirely hotel, or is it allowed if the property in question only encompasses the highest floors of a multi-purpose building? I don't have the answer to that, but as a counterpunch to last weeks ezine of fresh air and outdoor adventure, this week features amazing engineering feats that can be a part of your hotel experience. This was definitely influenced by our visit a few weeks ago to the One World Observatory Deck in NYC.
To think there are hotel rooms that can give you similar views in other cities to that below!

1. Dubai - Gevora Hotel
There are many contenders in Dubai for sure, but in 2018 the Gevora (gold building in the photo) claimed the title of tallest hotel in the world, pipping the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai by a few feet in the process. These two are entirely hotels, so no cheating involved. Whilst only considered a 4-star property in Dubai, this is really the equivalent of 5-star almost anywhere else on earth, the standards are so high in the United Arab Emirates.
1,174 feet high.

2. Hong Kong - Ritz Carlton 
The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong currently holds the record for tallest hotel in the world if you allow for the little cheat of not occupying every floor. I could not stop taking photos of it back in November, but none captured the height properly, unlike the hotel photo provided below. You have to ride an elevator over 100 floors just to reach the lobby. The rooftop bar is also the highest bar in the world on Floor #118, but the hotel is much more than a few height records. Rooms and suites are spacious and more modern than many Ritz Carltons I've visited, and there are 2 on site restaurants with Michelin stars.
1,587 feet high.

3. Kuala Lumpur - Four Seasons Place (below)

We were fascinated by Kuala Lumpur's multicultural Malaysian energy when we last visited in 2009 and Kuala Lumpur is high on our list for a return trip.
Just 3 1/2 months ago the Four Seasons Place Kuala Lumpur opened its doors right next to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and immediately entered the Top 5 in height. Combining extraordinary dining, sleek and spacious accommodations and the genuine elevated Four Seasons service, it has jumped to the top of our luxury hotel recommendations for the city.
1,125 feet high.

4. Shanghai - Park Hyatt (above)
We missed out on Shanghai during our recent China tour, opting instead for Beijing, mainly for the opportunity to see the Great Wall of China, but next time, this hotel will be a frontrunner for our business. Any room or suite here will give you sweeping views of the city skyline and Huangpu River and the hotel's Water's Edge Spa (below) is renowned as one of the best in the city.
1,614 feet high.

5. Dubai - Burj Khalifa Armani Hotel
Be careful with this one.
The Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest building and has an amazing 163 storeys. It also contains a fantastic luxury hotel, the Armani. However, the highest floor the Armani occupies is the 39th, so you are literally only a quarter of the way up the building if you are on the top floor of the hotel. Whether you choose to stay in the hotel or not, the Burj Khalifa is absolutely worth a visit as a tourist attraction, and the 122nd floor restaurant At.mosphere is as spectacular as it gets for high-level dining, pun intended.
1,918 feet high.

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