Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

Opened March 2011 It's a tall order, so to speak, but Ritz-Carlton has done it: The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, rising from the 102nd to 118th floor of the International Commerce Centre and dominating the city skyline with sweeping views of Victoria Harbour, is officially the world's tallest hotel. And the service is just as lofty: With 312 state-of-the-art rooms, the property features six restaurants and an alfresco rooftop lounge, complete with fire pits, that measures 1,600 feet above sea level. Ritz-Carlton is zeroing in on Asia as a key market for expansion: The luxury chain has recently opened properties in Okinawa, Japan, and Shanghai; an additional 13 properties are planned for Bali, Vietnam, India, Japan, and China -- where eight more hotels are on the drawing board -- by 2017. From $870