Forbes Travel Guide Announces 2014 Star Ratings

ATLANTA, Jan. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Forbes Travel Guide today unveiled its 56^th list of Star Rating recipients worldwide, including 15 new Five-Star hotels,16 new Five-Star restaurants and five new Five-Star spas. The total number of Five-Star hotels now numbers 97 worldwide, the most in Forbes Travel Guide's history.

Forbes Travel Guide also recognized 296 Four-Star hotels, 186 Four-Star restaurants and 149 Four-Star spas, as well as its list of 82 Recommended hotels and 42 Recommended restaurants in the markets it rates, the United States, Canada, London, Beijing, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai and Singapore.

This year's list includes newly-opened hotels as well as hotels that recently completed renovations, confirming an uptick in investment in the luxury hotel industry, as well as an increase in interest among travelers choosing luxury accommodations worldwide.

"We are delighted to recognize the outstanding commitment to service and guest experience exemplified by our 2014 Star Rating recipients," said Michael Cascone, President of Forbes Travel Guide. "This year's growing number of Five-Star recipients comes at a time when the outlook for luxury travel remains strong. At the core of what we do is recognizing and advocating for properties delivering the best in guest service. We are thrilled to be associated not only with our newest Star Rating recipients, but all of our Star Rated properties worldwide."

A Snapshot of the List: A Diversity of Luxury Destinations and Experiences

Among 2014 Rating Recipients:

• Following renovations, Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco and The Pierre New York, A Taj Hotel achieved Five Stars, while The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, Four Seasons Hotel Toronto and Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto – all recently constructed hotels – earned the Five-Star designation. Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver also achieved a Five-Star rating.                               
• California's hotels earned the most Five-Star ratings of any U.S. state with 17, including four new additions this year: El Encanto in Santa Barbara, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa near San Diego, Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills and Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco.                                                               
• Smaller markets fared well with The Ranch at Rock Creek in Philipsburg, Montana, earning a Five-Star rating – the first time that a hotel in Montana has been awarded that designation.         
• Two new Shanghai hotels achieved Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star ratings -- The Four Seasons Pudong Shanghai, and Mandarin Oriental Pudong Shanghai. This brings the total number of Five-Star hotels in Shanghai to four. China now boasts 19 Five-Star hotels in the markets rated by Forbes Travel Guide.

Luxury Brands Continue to Shine

Worldwide luxury hotel brands, such as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, made strong showings, with new build and renovated hotels earning the Five-Star rating.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has more than tripled its number of honored hotels over the past decade, making it the brand with the most Five-Star recipients for 2014 – a total of 18 hotels in 11 destinations.

Both Wynn Macau and Encore Macau, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, Mandarin Oriental hotels in Miami, Las Vegas and Hong Kong, as well as The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, scored a unique achievement, the "Triple Five-Star", earning a Five-Star rating in all three categories recognized by Forbes Travel Guide - hotel, restaurant and spa.

Recognizing The Finest Restaurants and Spas

Eleven international restaurants are first-time Five-Star recipients, including Caprice at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, Jade Dragon at Crown Towers Macau, Amber Restaurant at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, and Iggy's at the Hilton Singapore Hotel.

In the U.S., New York's Del Posto and Chicago's Grace also received Five-Star ratings.

There are now 48 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star restaurants in Asia and the U.S., and seven in New York alone.

Among spas, The Remede Spa at The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Miami; The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco; The Spa at Pebble Beach; The Banyan Tree Spa Macau and The Spa at Crown in Macau are the newest Five-Star additions, resulting in a total of 41 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star spas.

The complete 2014 Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating List includes nearly 1,000 hotels, restaurants and spas in the U.S., Canada, London, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Macau and Singapore.

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For a detailed explanation of how Forbes Travel Guide compiles its Star Ratings, visit www.forbestravelguide.com/about/ratings.

To view the complete list of 2014 Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating recipients, visit http://www.forbestravelguide.com/about/awardwinners

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About Forbes Travel Guide:

Forbes Travel Guide, formerly Mobil Travel Guide, is the originator of the prestigious Five Star Rating system, and has provided the travel industry's most comprehensive ratings and reviews of hotels, restaurants and spas since 1958. Forbes Travel Guide has a team of expert inspectors who anonymously evaluate properties against up to 800 rigorous and objective standards, providing consumers the insight to make better-informed travel and leisure decisions. Forbes Travel Guide is the gold standard for luxury hospitality ratings worldwide. For more information about Forbes Travel Guide, visit www.forbestravelguide.com.

ForbesTravelGuide.com combines the objectivity and heritage of the Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating system with insightful recommendations from a hand-selected group of travel experts, tastemakers and Forbes Travel Guide inspectors. ForbesTravelGuide.com is the exclusive online destination for Forbes Travel Guide's list of Star Rated hotels, restaurants and spas, and gives its registered members exclusive access to special offers and curated experiences from select Forbes Travel Guide partners.

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SOURCE Forbes Travel Guide