The Best Women-Owned High-Design Hotels Around the World

With Women’s History Month falling in March, what better time to recognize women who own some of the top hotels in the world? In a crowded space where properties open at a fast clip globally and have for the last decade or more, female hoteliers are still surprisingly a rare breed, says Caren Kabot, the CEO of the luxury travel company Solo Escapes. “You see women in the hotel industry working in PR and marketing jobs, but a limited amount, albeit more than before, are actually at the helm as owners,” she says.

Upscale hotels with women leading the way are unique compared with other high-end properties, according to Kabot. “These entrepreneurs tend to have vibrant personalities and an attention to detail that makes the hotels the great places of hospitality that they are,” she says.

From a former monastery on the Amalfi Coast and a safari camp in Kenya to one of the chicest spots in New York to hang your hat, below are seven women-owned hotels. We encourage you to book a stay for at least a night and ideally longer. You’ll get to experience travel with a feminine touch. 

Angama Mara, Maasai Mara, Kenya

Nicky Fitzgerald sees a steady stream of repeat clients at her renowned safari lodge thanks to her lively spirit and exceptional service. Her daughter Kate also helps keep the property up to mark. Located in the Maasai Mara in one of the iconic spots from the film “Out of Africa,” Angama Mara offers decked-out tented suites complete with outdoor space and driving and walking safaris to view incredible game. 

D’Angleterre, Copenhagen

Set in Copenhagen’s main city square, Kongens Nytorv, the Hotel d’Angleterre opened in 1755 and is a legendary institution in the city. Else Marie Remmen is the owner and has a passion for design. Her accomplishments include overseeing a multi-year, multimillion-dollar property renovation and reopening it in 2013. It features an elegant Scandinavian design, a Michelin-starred restaurant, a champagne bar, and a destination spa. 

 Loire Valley Lodges, Loire Valley 

The chic Parisian art dealer Anne Caroline Frey owns this property in the heart of France’s Loire Valley that’s set amid 750 acres of forest. It has 18 luxurious treehouse lodges, each designed by a different contemporary artist, and art on display throughout the grounds that are from Frey’s private collection. Highlights for guests include nature walks and bike rides, spa treatments, and dining in the area’s many renowned restaurants.  

The Royal Portfolio, South Africa

The success of this collection of luxury lodges and resorts in South Africa—including The Silo in Cape Town, La Residence in the Cape Winelands, and the Royal Malewane safari lodge in Kruger National Park—is all due to owner Liz Biden. Impossibly stylish, she makes each guest feel like they’re her closest friend. She has also personally designed each of her five properties, including curating their extensive art collections, which are comprised almost exclusively of contemporary art from southern Africa. 

The Lowell Hotel, New York

Fashionable and personable, Dina De Luca Chartouni is the co-owner of The Lowell Hotel, arguably one of the toniest spots to check into in the city. She’s also heavily involved in every aspect of the hotel’s design, from the art that hangs on the walls to the renovation of the rooms and public spaces, and created DDC28, the property’s brand of heavenly bath and beauty products. When you’re at The Lowell, don’t miss visiting Majorelle restaurant and Jacques bar—both have a setting by the Yves Saint Laurent gardens in Marrakech. 

Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa, Amalfi Coast

A former Montessori nursery teacher, Bianca Sharma fell in love with an abandoned 17th-century monastery while vacationing on the Amalfi Coast in 2000 and decided on a whim to buy the property and turn it into a luxury hotel. Her dream came to fruition in 2012 when Monastero Santa Rosa eventually debuted. Carved into a cliff, it still has features of the original monastery including vaulted ceilings and arched windows but now offers an infinity pool, picturesque landscaped gardens, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and the best spa on the Amalfi Coast.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como Italy  

Open for more than 100 years, the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo is owned and run by the charming Valentina De Santis, who prides herself on having a personal relationship with most of her regular guests. Set in an elegant Art Nouveau palazzo, the property has a sumptuous feel and offers views of the lake and mountains beyond. Among the amenities offered are several restaurants, including a lakeside seafood spot, three swimming pools, and a spa. 

Hotel Effie, Destin, FL

This newcomer along the "Emerald Coast" along Florida's family-friendly Panhandle region is grand both in terms of scale and design. Opened last year, the property features 250 rooms and suites and is the brainchild of Sara Becnel, who also had a strong hand in the property's overall conception and design -- from flooring and fixtures to upholstery and paint colors. Well aware of the unique needs of female travelers, Becnel ensured that elements such as lighting and bathroom amenities are also female focused -- a hospitality sentiment inspired by her great-grandmother, who was the ultimate Southern hostess. Indeed, the hotel was named after Becnel's grandmother — and even features the matriarch's iconic rocking chair in its lobby.