50 Best Rebranding: The Ranking Brand Becomes "The 50"

The 50 Best rebranding marks the biggest brand change in the ranking platform’s 25-year history. “50 Best” is becoming “The 50”—a new global umbrella brand that brings together all rankings, awards, content, and the discovery platform under a unified identity. The international media company William Reed remains the owner.

From Restaurant Rankings to a Global Authority

The brand was launched in 2002 as a single restaurant ranking and has since evolved into an internationally recognized authority on the best restaurants, bars, hotels, and wineries. According to the announcement, the “50 Best” rebranding is intended to further strengthen this role: In the future, “The 50” is intended to serve as a force for positive change in the hospitality industry, connect a global community, and promote a more positive future for the industry.

The foundation remains the authority built up over more than 25 years through globally recognized rankings and awards. Through editorial content, event experiences, and community networking, the goal is to connect consumers, industry representatives, and commercial partners.

New design with 50 facets

Rikki Tidball, Managing Director of Events at 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.»

Lisa Green, Managing Director of Content at The 50, adds: «The 50 creates a platform for year-round storytelling, opening up new ways to champion the voices, ideas, and innovations shaping the hospitality industry.»

The new visual identity, which is intended for use across the growing portfolio of brands and platforms, is based on a gemstone motif with 50 individual facets. According to the press release, each facet represents a different perspective, personality, and story—distinct on their own, but together they are more than the sum of their parts.

Proven methodology remains in place

Building on the same principles that have always distinguished *The 50 Best*, *The 50* states that it remains committed to the fair recognition and celebration of the best establishments in the hospitality industry. Independent voting academies, established methodologies, and third-party evaluations will continue to ensure the integrity of the rankings.

The public will initially experience the new brand through a revamped visual identity, simplified naming conventions, a unified website, and a more consistent brand experience across all channels. The first awards program to adopt the new identity will be “The 50 Best Hotels 2026,” which will take place in Paris in September. The new brand identity will be rolled out gradually across the entire portfolio of rankings, awards, and platforms throughout 2026 and beyond.

The 50 Group includes, among others, The 50 Best Restaurants with regional editions for Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and North America; The 50 Best Bars with their respective regional editions; The 50 Best Hotels; The 50 Best Vineyards; The 50 Discovery, the World’s Best Sommeliers‘ Selection, and The 50 Scholarship. William Reed, which owns The 50 Group, is solely responsible for organizing the awards, the voting system, and the respective lists.

For more information on the 50 Best rebranding and the new brand, The 50, visit https://www.the50.com.

Person in charge at The 50: Rikki Tidball, Managing Director of Events; Lisa Green, Managing Director of Content