Forbes Travel Guide has today announced its largest set of rated hotels yet. Across 29 countries and more than 100 of the top global destinations, the acclaimed brand has unveiled its 58th annual list of top luxury properties worldwide, with 154 properties earning a coveted five star rating.
The list includes 42 new Five-Star hotels, 101 new Four-Star hotels and 57 new hotels in the Recommended category.
“We are delighted to recognize the 2016 Star Rating recipients, a phenomenal group of hotels, restaurants and spas,” said Gerard J. Inzerillo, Chief Executive Officer of Forbes Travel Guide. “These properties set an unimpeachable standard of excellence in hospitality at a moment when the proliferation of voices claiming to provide unbiased ratings online is exploding. With Forbes Travel Guide-rated properties, there is no ambiguity, no doubt: based on a stringent set of standards developed and refined over six decades, our ratings are now accepted and embraced worldwide. We are proud to congratulate each of the owners, property managers and their teams, and everyone associated with the prestigious properties recognized today. Together, we help discerning consumers make better luxury travel decisions worldwide.”
We have long been huge followers of this list–and, full disclosure, have written for Forbes Travel since 2008– which means we can fully attest to the methodology used to rate and rank these hotels as the world’s finest.
Forbes Travel Guide now rates properties in 29 countries throughout The Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region and expects to double its size again in the next year with expansion into the Middle East and Africa. The 2016 Five-Star hotel winners now total 154 — the most in Forbes Travel Guide’s history. The company continues its uniquely selective process for recognizing the finest properties in the markets it rates, rewarding intuitive, gracious service — which makes winning an award one of the most prestigious achievements in the industry.
In addition to the Five-Star hotel winners, two new restaurants earned Five-Star awards, bringing the total to 56. Two new spas achieved Forbes Travel Guide’s highest honor, pushing the tally to 47 Five-Star spas. See the complete Star Rating list here.
Forbes Travel Guide also recognized a total of 410 Four-Star hotels, 187 Four-Star restaurants and 180 Four-Star spas, as well as its list of 159 Recommended hotels and 68 Recommended restaurants in the markets it rates — 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.
Who Won Big?
Four Seasons snagged arguably the “top brand” nod, launching six new five star hotels (Florence, Geneva, Hangzhou, Costa Rica, Paris, and Whistler) as well as 26 existing Five Star properties.
Paris was the world’s biggest winner for “new” five star hotel awards, debuting nine properties to the top list: 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; and 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 continues to be a hot luxury destination, boasting four Five-Star hotels (Hotel de Russie, Hotel Eden, Hotel Hassler Roma, J.K. Place Roma). Florence clinched three Five-Star awards (Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, Hotel Savoy, Portrait Firenze) and Milan took one (Mandarin Oriental, Milan)
The boutique trend continued, with properties like London’s The Goring and Rome’s J.K. Place gaining top honors.
Interested in staying closer to home? The Caribbean and Mexico also scored big wins. In the Caribbean, large branded hotels such as Puerto Rico’s Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve joined independent boutique properties like Barbados’ Sandy Lane Hotel in earning first-time Five-Stars. Mexico had six Five-Star hotels on the list in Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Punta Mita.
Congratulations to some of our favorite properties – we’re only sad that it will be harder than ever to score a reservation thanks to these top honors!
Shown: Esperanza in Los Cabos, a Forbes Five Star winner.