Forbes Travel Guide today unveiled its 59th list of worldwide Star Rating recipients, continuing its exceedingly selective approach for recognizing the world’s finest properties and rewarding gracious, intuitive service.
For 2017, the award winners include 38 new Five-Star hotels, 75 new Four-Star hotels and 85new hotels in the Recommended category. Other first-time recipients include seven Five-Star restaurants, 16 Four-Star restaurants and 21 Recommend restaurants. The list also honors nine new Five-Star spas and 35 new Four-Star spas.
As it continues to expand globally, Forbes Travel Guide now rates properties in 42 countries throughout the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, with plans to add the Middle East and Africa for 2018. Newly added 20 international destinations for 2017 include: Bali, Barcelona, Bogota, Budapest, Cartagena, County Kildare (Ireland), Dublin, Kyoto, Lima, Lisbon, Manila, Melbourne, Monte Carlo, Munich, Osaka, Santiago, Seoul, St. Tropez, Sydney, Venice and Zurich.
“This year’s Star-Rated properties — the largest and most global group in the company’s history — achieved an impeccable standard of excellence in hospitality, underscoring our overall mission of positively contributing to the international tourism industry as well as the individual hotel experience,” said Gerard J. Inzerillo, Chief Executive Officer of Forbes Travel Guide.
“We are excited to recognize the 2017 Star Rating recipients, an exceptional collection of hotels, restaurants and spas with a strong culture of service. In an online environment of confusion and clutter, Forbes Travel Guide is the most trusted source of information to assist guests in making informed decisions,” Inzerillo said. “We are proud to congratulate everyone associated with the prestigious properties recognized today.”
To celebrate this year’s award, Star-Rated winners are invited to the Forbes Travel Guide All-Star Celebration in New York City on March 2. Attendees will enjoy a mouth-watering selection of dishes prepared by award-winning chefs and legends of the international culinary world, including: Jose Garces, Amada; Christian Pratsch, Asiate; Daniel Boulud, Daniel; Mario Batali and Joe and Lidia Bastianich, Del Posto; Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Jean-Georges; Geoffrey Zakarian, The Lambs Club; and Michael White, Vaucluse.
HIGHLIGHTS, TRENDS & FUN FACTS FOR 2017
• Just the Numbers
o Among the total 1,463 winners, there are 175 Five-Star, 477 Four-Star and 239Recommended hotels.
o Overall, 62 Five-Star, 179 Four-Star and 73 Recommended restaurants earned distinctions.
o In the spas category, a total of 56 Five-Star and 207 Four-Star spots achieved awards
• Beauty in Diversity
o While the 2017 group of winners is the most diverse in terms of size, location and style, one overarching theme that ties them together is that each delivers its own distinctive experience. New Five-Star hotels range from the brand-new fresh and inventive Faena Hotel Miami Beach and the recently restored grand dame Ritz Paris to over-the-top all-suite hotel The Ritz-Carlton, Macau. Boutique hotels also made a strong Five-Star showing, including Cabo San Lucas’ 87-room The Resort at Pedregal, London’s 30-room Hotel 41 and Rome’s 14-suite Portrait Roma.
• Stars All Around
o An elite group of (11) properties earned Five-Star awards for their hotel, restaurant and spa. These triple Five-Star winners include: Banyan Tree Macau; The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs; The Cloister in Sea Island, Georgia; Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego; The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong; Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas; Mandarin Oriental, Macau; Mandarin Oriental, Miami; Montage Laguna Beach; Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island; and Wynn Las Vegas.
o Altira Macau and Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong received a total of four Five-Star awards for the hotel, spa and two restaurants.
o Crown Towers Macau won a total of five Five-Star awards for the hotel, spa and three restaurants.
o Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong and Wynn Macau set a new record, achieving a total of six Five-Star awards for the hotel, spa and four restaurants.
• Where the Hotel Stars Shine Brightly
o In Singapore, 3 Hotels earned Five-star award including: Capella Singapore, Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, and The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore.
o Pan Pacific Singapore, a new winner, proudly joined the existing 8 Four-Star Hotels in Singapore
o Globally, cities with the most Five-Star hotels include: Macau (10), Paris (10), London (9) and Hong Kong (8). Macau and Paris remain neck and neck with one new winner each in 2017.
