9 Tallest Hotels in the World (and How They Were Built)
From shimmering skyscrapers in Dubai to twisting towers in Shanghai, the tallest hotels in the world are more than just places to stay, they’re engineering marvels that redefine what’s possible in high-rise construction.
Building a hotel that soars above the clouds involves overcoming extraordinary challenges like high wind loads, deep foundation design, rapid construction sequencing, clash detection and innovative material use.
For those curious about the digital side of construction, our article on clash detection in BIM breaks down how virtual models prevent real-world disasters before a shovel hits the ground.
Below, we explore nine of the world’s tallest hotels (including ultra-tall mixed-use towers with hotel floors), uncovering the construction techniques, structural innovations, and fascinating details behind each one.
Burj Khalifa – Armani Hotel, Dubai (UAE) – 828 m, hotel floors 1–8, 38–39 (Opened 2010)
Housed within the iconic Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, the Armani Hotel spans multiple floors at the base and middle of this mixed-use skyscraper.
Designed by Giorgio Armani himself, it blends minimalist style with understated luxury, all within one of the most structurally ambitious towers ever built.
Key Details:
* Tower Height: 828 m / 2,717 ft
* Hotel Floors: 1 to 8, plus 38–39
* Rooms: 160
Engineering Highlights:
* Buttressed core structural system
* 3.7 m thick raft foundation with 192 deep piles
Features:
* Interiors designed by Giorgio Armani
* Separate hotel entrance and elevators
* Cold-water circulating system to combat Dubai heat
Fun Fact: The Armani Hotel plumbing system is engineered to keep water genuinely cold at extreme elevations.
Merdeka 118 – Park Hyatt, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) – 679 m, hotel floors 141–158 (Opened 2024)
Situated at the very top of Malaysia’s tallest skyscraper, the Park Hyatt occupies the highest hotel floors in Southeast Asia.
Merdeka 118 is a mixed-use megatower and a symbol of national pride, the hotel component is pure luxury perched above Kuala Lumpur’s skyline.
Key Details:
* Height: 679 m / 2,227 ft
* Hotel Floors: 141 to 158
* Rooms: 232 + 28 suites + 30 serviced apartments
Engineering Highlights:
* Concrete core with steel outrigger trusses
* Triple platinum green building certifications
Features:
* Infinity pool and sky bar at ~147th floor
* Double-deck express lifts
* Dedicated hotel sky lobby
Fun Fact: The tower name “Merdeka” means independence and faces the national stadium where Malaysia declared freedom in 1957.
Shanghai Tower – J Hotel, China – 632 m, hotel floors 84–110 (Opened 2021)
Located in the second-tallest building in the world, J Hotel Shanghai Tower occupies the top 30 floors of this twisting, futuristic megatower.
This mixed-use skyscraper combines office, retail, and hotel space in a sustainable design that leans into wind resistance and vertical efficiency.
Key Details:
* Height: 632 m / 2,073 ft
* Hotel Floors: 84 to 110 (lobby on 101st)
* Rooms: 165 (including 34 suites)
Engineering Highlights:
* 120° twisted double-skin curtain wall
* 1,000-ton tuned mass damper
* High-speed elevators (18 m/s)
Features:
* Sky lobby with panoramic views
* Observation deck and bar above 500 m
* Emergency refuge floors
Fun Fact: Guests can see the sunset twice – once at the top and again after riding the elevator to the ground.
Rosewood Guangzhou (CTF Finance Centre), China – 530 m, hotel floors ~93–108 (Opened 2019)
Perched in the upper section of the CTF Finance Centre, the Rosewood Guangzhou blends exclusive hotel suites with high-end serviced residences.
Part of a multifunctional skyscraper that includes retail and offices, this hotel delivers on luxury while demonstrating the technical complexities of vertical mixed-use construction.
Key Details:
* Tower Height: 530 m / 1,739 ft
* Hotel Floors: ~93 to 108
* Rooms: 251 + 23 serviced residences
Engineering Highlights:
* Composite mega-frame with reinforced corners
* Tuned mass damper and elevators reaching 21 m/s
Features:
* Sky Mansion event space
* 5G-enabled infrastructure
* Infinity pool on upper floors
Fun Fact: Guests use multi-stage lifts that double as observation experiences.
Ciel Hotel, Dubai Marina (UAE) – 365 m, 82 floors (Opening 2025)
Note: Ciel in Dubai will be the tallest hotel-only building in the world upon completion in late 2025.
Unlike other towers on this list, it is dedicated entirely to hotel use, not mixed-use development.
Key Details:
* Height: 365 m / 1,197 ft
* Floors: 82
* Rooms: 1,004 + 147 suites
Engineering Highlights:
* 11,800 m³ concrete and 3,000 t steel foundation
* Wind tunnel and CFD-modelled design
Features:
* Rooftop infinity pool
* 300 m atrium with vertical gardens
* Observation deck and energy-efficient systems
Fun Fact: Its tapered oval shape was designed to “split” prevailing winds for added stability.
Gevora Hotel, Dubai (UAE) – 356.3 m, 75 floors (Opened 2018)
Built as a hotel-only skyscraper, Gevora Hotel stood as the world’s tallest hotel tower until it was overtaken by Ciel.
With a slim, golden silhouette, this tower had to overcome complex engineering challenges due to its relatively narrow footprint and height-to-width ratio.
Key Details:
* Height: 356.3 m / 1,168 ft
* Floors: 75
* Rooms: 528
Engineering Highlights:
* Narrow 30 × 30 m base with deep piles
* Composite core with 6 high-speed lifts
Features:
* Gold-tinted exterior
* Rooftop pool, spa, banquet facilities
* Fastest hotel elevator in Dubai
Fun Fact: Surpassed the JW Marriott Marquis by just 1 metre.
JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai (UAE) – 355.4 m, 82 floors (Opened 2012)
The world’s tallest twin hotel towers, JW Marriott Marquis was originally intended to be built on Sheikh Zayed Road, but was relocated and redesigned to accommodate Dubai Creek expansion.
These two hotel-only towers rise high with extensive leisure and business facilities across both blocks.
Key Details:
* Height: 355.4 m / 1,165 ft
* Floors: 82 per tower
* Rooms: 1,608 total
Engineering Highlights:
* Twin towers with reinforced concrete cores and outriggers
* Deep mat foundations near Dubai Creek
Features:
* 14 restaurants, spa, gym, and conference centre
* Podium with shared amenities
* Date palm–inspired design
Fun Fact: The twin-tower plan was a redesign solution to accommodate creek extension works.
Rose Rayhaan by Rotana, Dubai (UAE) – 333 m, 72 floors (Opened 2009)
This hotel-only tower was once the tallest of its kind before newer giants rose up around it.
Known for its alcohol-free hospitality and eye-catching rose-themed spire, Rose Rayhaan by Rotana is a more modest example of skyscraper construction done well – especially considering its 2009 opening date.
Key Details:
* Height: 333 m / 1,093 ft
* Floors: 72
* Rooms: 462
Engineering Highlights:
* Reinforced concrete with rose-inspired decorative spire
* Reduced from 380 m to 333 m for structural stability
Features:
* 8 high-speed lifts
* Pool, gym, restaurant options
* Alcohol-free environment
Fun Fact: It held the world’s tallest hotel title from 2009 to 2012.
Baiyoke Tower II, Bangkok (Thailand) – 330 m, 88 floors (Opened 1999)
A classic from the late ’90s, Baiyoke Tower II has long been a staple of the Bangkok skyline.
While not a hotel-only tower, the top half is home to the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, offering spectacular views, sky dining and a revolving deck – all engineered atop Bangkok’s tricky soft soil.
Key Details:
* Height: 330 m / 1,083 ft (with antenna)
* Floors: 88
* Rooms: 673
Engineering Highlights:
* Deep-pile concrete foundation for soft Bangkok clay
* Continuous dewatering during construction
Features:
* 360° revolving rooftop deck (84th floor)
* Sky bar, observation deck
Fun Fact: The revolving deck completes one full turn every five minutes.
Engineering Themes Across the Tallest Hotels
These awe-inspiring hotels aren’t just luxury escapes, they’re complex feats of design and planning.
If you’re curious how these multi-phase projects come together, check out our guide to the phases of construction projects.
Want to know which firms are behind the biggest builds? Our rundown of the largest construction companies in the world reveals the industry giants shaping skylines.
And for hotel towers like Ciel in Dubai, understanding IFC regulations for Dubai construction is essential to staying compliant while building vertically.
Foundations: Deep piles and raft systems tackle weak soil conditions.
Wind Resistance: Tapered forms, twisting façades, and dampers improve comfort.
Vertical Transport: High-speed express lifts and sky lobbies ensure guest flow.
Mixed-Use Complexity: Hotels must coexist with office and residential functions.
Construction Speed: Precasting, formwork systems and tight cycles help deliver megatalls on time.
These hotels are not just high in altitude, they’re also pinnacles of engineering creativity.
Whether you’re looking down from a sky pool or riding an elevator through the clouds, one thing’s certain: luxury has never been so vertically ambitious.