As a professional travel journalist and TV host, I’ve visited more than 70 countries and slept in hundreds of hotels. And I’ll admit, most of the accommodations were unremarkable. I’d key into my room and find a comfortable enough mattress with white pillows and tucked-in sheets. But every now and then, a hotel will break the cookie-cutter mold and surprise me with an extraordinary bed.

The Hot List is our annual round-up of the most exciting hotel openings in the world. This year's definitive guide includes 51 hotels, from New York smarts to New Zealand escapes.