Forbes Travel Guide Announces London As Its First Destination In Europe For Its Prestigious Five Star Rating System

LONDON, April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Forbes Travel Guide has today announced its expansion into Europe, bringing its globally recognised Star Rating programme to central London's top hotels and spas. Six hotels and two hotel spas have been awarded the coveted Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating. These properties join an elite group of 76 hotels and 35 spas across North America and Asia that have achieved the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star status. London is among the top three destinations worldwide with the greatest concentration of Five Star properties in the more than 140 markets rated and inspected by Forbes Travel Guide.

A further 16 hotels and 7 spas in London have earned the distinguished Forbes Travel Guide Four Star rating, joining 226 Four Star hotels and 136 Four Star Spas worldwide.

Michael Cascone, President and Chief Operating Officer of Forbes Travel Guide, said, "London is a world-class city, and we are pleased to introduce our global Star Rating system to the United Kingdom and Europe through the inaugural ratings awards. It comes as no surprise that London's hotels and spas performed strongly against our global hospitality standards. The personalized service and attention to detail delivered at the city's top properties places them among the finest hospitality experiences in the world."

Forbes Travel Guide, formerly Mobil Travel Guide, has provided the most comprehensive ratings and reviews of hotels, restaurants and spas since its founding in 1958. The Forbes Travel Guide inspection process includes unannounced visits by a professional inspector culminating with a formal incognito inspection from which the property is measured against 500 standards. These standards weigh facility and service performance, with a primary emphasis on guest engagement and service delivery, across 17 categories of evaluation, including Arrival Service and Guest Room, with nine classifications such as Courtesy & Manners and Graciousness, Thoughtfulness, and Sense of Personalized Service.

Forbes Travel Guide's system of inspections and ratings sets it apart as the undisputed authority on the finest hotels, restaurants and spas across North America and in Asian markets including Beijing, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Shanghai, and now London. The next European destination to be unveiled will be Paris in 2014.      

London, the destination, and its award-winning properties are showcased on Startle.com, the online home of Forbes Travel Guide. The site features access to many of the world's leading hospitality brands and travel industry experts, with credible reviews and original answers to travellers' questions from Forbes Travel Guide's editors, tastemakers and inspectors.

For a complete list of Forbes Travel Guide's Star Rated properties visit http://www.startle.com/landing/london2013.  For a detailed explanation of how Forbes Travel Guide compiles its Star Ratings, visit www.startle.com, the online home of Forbes Travel Guide.

ABOUT FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE and STARTLE.COM
Forbes Travel Guide, formerly Mobil Travel Guide and originator of the prestigious Five Star Ratings and certifications, 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 rigorous and objective standards, providing consumers the insight to make better-informed travel and leisure decisions. Startle.com is the exclusive online destination of Forbes Travel Guide star-rated properties worldwide.  It is a luxury travel and lifestyle platform that combines the objectivity and heritage of the Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating system with insightful recommendations from a hand-selected group of tastemakers and travel experts.  Startle provides detailed information on Star Rated hotels, restaurants and spas and gives its registered members exclusive access to special offers and curated experiences from select Startle partner properties.

For more information about Startle and Forbes Travel Guide, visit www.startle.com.

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SOURCE Forbes Travel Guide