The 58th List of worldwide Star Rating recipients from Forbes Travel Guide were announced today with 42 new Five-Star hotels, 101 new Four-Star hotels and 57 new hotels in the Recommended category.
Forbes Travel Guide rates properties in 29 countries throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific region. It expects to double its size again in the next year by expanding into the Middle East and Africa.
There are 154 Five-Star hotel winners this year, the highest ever for the travel guide. The award recognises intuitive, gracious service.
This year two new restaurants earned Five-Star awards contributing to the 56 restaurants in this award category. Two new spas achieved Forbes Travel Guide’s highest honour, totalling 47 Five-Star spas.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts made the strongest showing among hotel brands with six new Five-Star Hotels in Florence, Italy; Geneva, Switzerland; Hangzhou, China; Papagayo, Costa Rica; Paris, France; and Whistler, Canada. The hotel group nabbed 26 of the 51 Five-Star hotel list spots. This is the first time it has achieved six new Five-Star hotels in a single year.
In Europe
Paris was the biggest winner among new destinations with nine Five-Star Hotels:
- Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris
- Hôtel Plaza Athénée
- La Réserve Paris
- Le Bristol Paris
- Le Meurice
- Le Royal Monceau — Raffles Paris
- Mandarin Oriental, Paris
- The Peninsula Paris
- Shangri-La Hotel, Paris
Italy also scored high with eight hotels earning Five-Star accolades in the country’s first year as a rated destination:
- Rome: Hotel De Russie, Hotel Eden, Hotel Hassler Roma, J.K. Place Roma
- Florence: Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, Hotel Savoy, Portrait Firenze
- Milan: Mandarin Oriental, Milan
In Asia Pacific
Mainland China now has a total of 10 Five-Star hotels with three first time winners this year
- Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou
- The Ritz-Carlton Pudong, Shanghai
- Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou
In Japan, Palace Hotel Tokyo became the first Japanese-branded hotel ever to receive the Five-Star recognition.
The Peninsula Hotels achieved two new Five-Star awards in Bangkok and Tokyo.
MGM Macau achieves its first Five-Star bringing the destination total to nine Five-Star hotels joining Paris with the Most Top Hotels.
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund became the first Waldorf Astoria to achieve Five-Star for its Spa.
Singapore continues to retain its status as the leading Southeast Asia country with:
- Three Five-Star Hotels: Capella Singapore, The Fullerton Bay Hotel and Mandarin Oriental Singapore
- Two Five-Star Restaurants: Iggy’s and Waku Ghin join Joël Robuchon Singapore
- Two Five-Star Spas: Auriga Spa at Capella Singapore and The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Singapore
Four-Star ranked hotels in Singapore include Fairmont Singapore, Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, InterContinental Singapore, Marina Bay Sands, Raffles Singapore, The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore and Shangri-La Hotel Singapore. Recommended Hotels in Singaproe include Conrad Centennial Singapore, Goodwood Park Hotel, Pan Pacific Singapore, Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel, The St. Regis Singapore and W Singapore, Sentosa Cove.
Four Star Spas in Singapore include Banyan Tree Spa at Marina Bay Sands, Remède Spa Singapore and The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore.
In The Americas
Langham Hotels and Resorts received its first Five-Star award the the US for The Langham Chicago for both its hotel and Chuan Spa.
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club became the only Five-Star hotel on Cape Cod. It joined Five-Star properties from New York City with eight Five-Star Hotels, Las Vegas with five Five-Star hotels and Park City, Utah with two Five-Star hotels.
Forbes Travel Guide rates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Costa Rica, England’s Home Counties, London, the French Riviera, Paris, Berlin, Florence, Milan, Rome, Geneva, Bangkok, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo. This year a total of the following were rated:
- 410 Four-Star hotels
- 187 Four-Star restaurants
- 180 Four-Star spas
- 159 Recommended hotels
- 68 Recommended restaurants
Forbes Travel Guide will strengthen its Asia Pacific presence in Melbourne and Sydney, Bali, Seoul, Manila, Kyoto and Osaka by 2017.
Check out the full list for the Forbes Travel Guide 2016 Star Award Winners here.
