Forbes Travel Guide Launches In Shanghai, China

SHANGHAI, April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Forbes Travel Guide, the originators of the prestigious Five-Star ratings program in the U.S., added Shanghai, China as its newest global destination.  This announcement is marked by the addition of two properties, The Peninsula Shanghai and Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, to the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel list, while The Peninsula Spa by ESPA is the only property in Shanghai to achieve the Five-Star Spa award. These properties join an elite group of 57 hotels, 25 restaurants, and 30 hotel spas in the Americas and Asia to achieve the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star status.  Among the newly rated properties in Shanghai, 14 hotels and 8 spas were awarded the esteemed Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star award.

Shane O'Flaherty, Forbes Travel Guide President of Global Ratings and Inspections said: "In a short period of time, Shanghai has captured the minds and the hearts of our inspection team. Not only have the properties performed exceptionally well in high-end facilities and services, but the destination as a whole is truly one of the most exciting cities in the world."

In addition to the Star-Award winning properties, the travel experts at Forbes Travel Guide and its online home, Startle.com, will introduce five new editorially selected awards to highlight the outstanding attributes of the top hotels in Shanghai.  Five properties will be designated in the new category of Top Hotel awards. These winners include:

Top Boutique Hotel – The Langham, Xintiandi, Shanghai
Top Business Hotel - The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong
Top Historic Hotel – Fairmont Peace Hotel
Top New Hotel –Kerry Hotel, Pudong, Shanghai
Top Technology Hotel- The Peninsula Shanghai

Shanghai owns the highest number of Five- and Four-Star hotel and spa winners among the cities rated by Forbes Travel Guide. In 2011, the total tourism revenue of Shanghai reached CNY 278.654 billion with over 230.8 million domestic visitors and USD 5.835 billion from the 8.1 million overseas inbound visitors, as a result of increased international events, local lifestyle evolution, and developing infrastructure to meet the growing demands for luxury by discerning travelers.

The significant market demand for superior accommodations has accelerated both Shanghai's hotel facilities and international service standards.  The Peninsula Shanghai and Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund consistently delivered exceptional guest experience to achieve Forbes Travel Guide's Five-Star award.  The addition brings the total number of Five-Star Hotels to 59 worldwide. 

Forbes Travel Guide, formerly Mobil Travel Guide, is the originator of the prestigious Five-Star hospitality ratings and certifications system, and has provided the most comprehensive ratings and reviews of hotels, restaurants and spas since its founding in 1958. Its system of inspections and ratings sets it apart as the undisputed authority on the finest hotels, restaurants and spas across the U.S., in Asian markets including Beijing, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and now Shanghai, China.

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

Detailed inspections
The Forbes Travel Guide inspection process includes unannounced visits by a professional inspector during which more than 550 service standards are evaluated throughout the property, as well as an announced inspection during which the inspector examines the cleanliness and condition of the property. The hotels and spas in Shanghai awarded Forbes Travel Guide Five- and Four-Star designations have met or exceeded the company's high standards for service and facilities.  For a detailed explanation of how Forbes Travel Guide compiles its Star Ratings, visit www.startle.com, the online home of Forbes Travel Guide.

Follow Startle on Twitter: www.twitter.com/StartleMeNow 
Follow Startle on Facebook: www.facebook.com/StartleMeNow 
Follow Forbes Travel Guide on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ForbesInspector 

ABOUT FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE
Forbes Travel Guide, formerly Mobil Travel Guide and originator of the prestigious Mobil Star ratings and certifications, has provided the most comprehensive ratings and reviews of hotels, restaurants and spas since 1958. In October 2009, Mobil Travel Guide announced a strategic partnership with Forbes Media LLC.  This exclusive licensing agreement between two industry leaders with more than 140 years of combined experience transferred the hospitality industry's premier star rating and travel guide brand from ExxonMobil to Forbes. Forbes Travel Guide has a team of expert inspectors who anonymously evaluate properties against rigorous and objective proprietary standards, providing consumers the insight to make better-informed travel and leisure decisions.

Jeff Arnold serves as Chairman, and Michael Cascone is President and Chief Operating Officer.

ABOUT STARTLE
Startle is the online destination and social media platform for Forbes Travel Guide. This unique new platform combines answers to the questions of travel from the unparalleled insights of the Forbes Travel Guide inspectors, hospitality experts from the world's leading luxury brands, and some of the most respected travel experts in the industry. With Startle's expert content, social connections, curated lists, and exclusive offers and experiences, Startle delivers a one-of-a-kind destination online for the most discerning travelers.

ABOUT FORBES MEDIA LLC

Forbes Media encompasses Forbes and Forbes.com (www.forbes.com), the leading business site on the Web that reaches on average more than 21 million people monthly. The company publishes Forbes and Forbes Asia, which together reach a worldwide audience of more than 6 million readers. It also publishes ForbesLife magazine, in addition to licensee editions in Africa, Argentina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Korea, Latvia, Middle East, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Other Forbes media Web sites are ForbesWoman.com; RealClearPolitics.com; RealClearmarkets.com; RealClearSports.com and RealClearworld.com. Together with Forbes.com, these sites reach on average nearly 28 million business decision makers each month.

Steve Forbes serves as Chairman and Editor in Chief. Mike Perlis is President and Chief Executive Officer. Lewis D'Vorkin is Chief Product Officer. Meredith Kopit Levien is Chief Revenue Officer.

2012 Shanghai Forbes Travel Guide Five-, Four- and Three-Star Award Winners
Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Winners (2 Hotels; 1 Spa)
Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Winners (14 Hotels; 8 Spas)
Forbes Travel Guide Three-Star Winners (5 Hotels)

SHANGHAI
Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Hotels
The Peninsula Shanghai
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund

Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Spas
The Peninsula Spa by ESPA, Shanghai

Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Hotels
Fairmont Peace Hotel
Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai
Grand Hyatt Shanghai
InterContinental Shanghai Puxi
InterContinental Shanghai Expo
Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel
JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai at Tomorrow Square
Kerry Hotel, Pudong, Shanghai
Park Hyatt Shanghai
Pudong Shangri-La, Shanghai
The Langham, Xintiandi, Shanghai
The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai
The PuLi Hotel and Spa
The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong

Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Spas
Willow Stream Spa, Fairmont Peace Hotel
Qin The Spa, Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai
Spa InterContinental, InterContinental Shanghai Expo
Mandara Spa, JW Marriott Hotel at Tomorrow Square
Water's Edge, Shanghai, Park Hyatt Shanghai
Chuan Spa, The Langham, Xintiandi, Shanghai
Anantara Spa, The PuLi Hotel and Spa
The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong Spa by ESPA

Forbes Travel Guide Three-Star Hotels
Gran Melia Shanghai
Millennium Hongqiao Hotel Shanghai
Shanghai JC Mandarin
Sheraton Shanghai Pudong Hotel & Residences
Swissotel Grand Shanghai

Top Boutique Hotel
The Langham, Xintiandi, Shanghai

Top Business Hotel
The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong

Top Historic Hotel
Fairmont Peace Hotel

Top New Hotel
Kerry Hotel, Pudong, Shanghai

Top Technology Hotel
The Peninsula Shanghai

SOURCE Forbes Travel Guide