Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass Named Five-Star Restaurant and Spa in Forbes Travel Guide's 2025 Star Awards, Resort Receives 'Recommended' Rating

Kai Remains Only Arizona Restaurant with the Prestigious Distinction, Aji Spa Earns Sixth Award

PHOENIX, Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Forbes Travel Guide, the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas, announced the 2025 Star Awards. Both Kai Restaurant and Aji Spa have earned the 2025 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award and are showcased with other honorees on ForbesTravelGuide.com

This marks the sixth time Aji Spa has been honored with the prestigious Five-Star award. Aji Spa joins Kai which has maintained the Five-Star accolade for 17 years, first awarded in 2009, and is still the only restaurant in the state with this distinction. Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass remains the only resort in Arizona to boast both a Five-Star restaurant and Five-Star spa in addition to its luxurious amenities and recent multi-million-dollar renovation of the resort.

Bunty Ahamed, general manager of Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, expressed pride in the team's dedication, saying "Receiving Five Star recognition from Forbes Travel Guide once again for Aji Spa, and for the seventeenth consecutive year for Kai, is an incredible honor. Our commitment to providing every guest with a personalized and exceptional experience is unwavering, and these accolades are a testament to our team's outstanding efforts."

Offering authentic Native American Spa services, Aji reflects the traditions of the Pima and Maricopa cultures in every aspect – from art and architecture to treatments and services. Aji, meaning "sanctuary" in the Pima language, is appropriately named after the nearby Aji Mountain located on the Gila River Indian Community where women and children would go in times of war. The ancient cultures of both tribes are also showcased throughout the spa in design elements, artwork, architecture and shared legends. A journey of sacred doctrines, the signature Indigenous Collection was developed by Aji's Cultural Caretakers and offers an authentic Native American spa experience.

Kai remains the only restaurant in Arizona to receive this prestigious honor, continuing to demonstrate itself as one of the finest dining establishments in the world. There are 79 Five-Star restaurants across the globe on this distinguished 2025 list. Additionally, Kai is a 2025 James Beard semifinalist in the "Outstanding Hospitality" category.

Kai showcases locally grown produce and a surprisingly rich Arizona-made olive oil in recipes that merge contemporary tastes and time-honored Native American techniques. Kai's menu incorporates the essence of the Pima and Maricopa tribes. Locally-farmed ingredients from the Gila River Indian Community come together to create unforgettable masterpieces. The menu at Kai, which means "seed" in the Pima language, features items from the Native Seed/SEARCH Foundation, a program dedicated to preserving ancient lines of Native American seeds that would otherwise be extinct.

The resort has earned a "Recommended" rating again in 2025 and prides itself on its authentic representation of the Gila River Indian Community's heritage and culture. The "Recommended" designation signifies the hotel has met the high standards set by Forbes' independent, anonymous inspectors, who evaluate properties based on up to 900 rigorous criteria related to service, facilities and overall guest experience.

Forbes Travel Guide is the world-renowned authority in genuine Five-Star service, and Aji Spa and Kai at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass are a part of the illustrious annual Star Rating list once again.

To view the new Star Award winners, visit ForbesTravelGuide.com. For a detailed explanation of how Forbes Travel Guide compiles its Star Ratings, click here. 

About Forbes Travel Guide
Forbes Travel Guide is the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas. Our anonymous professional inspectors evaluate based on up to 900 objective standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, to help discerning travelers select the world's best luxury experiences. The only way to get a Five-Star, Four-Star or Recommended rating is by earning it through our independent inspection process. For more information about Forbes Travel Guide, please visit ForbesTravelGuide.com.

About Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass
Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass is a total destination 500-room resort, designed to be an authentic representation of the Gila River Indian Community's heritage and culture. Conveniently located 11 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the resort offers guests a full recreational, cultural and inspirational experience. The architecture, art and legends of the Pima and Maricopa tribes are celebrated in every detail imaginable, indoors and out. The resort offers Forbes' Five-Star/AAA Five-Diamond Dining at Kai restaurant, the Forbes Four-Star Aji Spa; 36-holes of Troon-managed golf at Whirlwind Golf Club; the 1,000-acre Koli Equestrian Center - an onsite equestrian center where guests can partake in guided rides into the desert in search of wild horses. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram at @sheratongrandaz and on Twitter.

Located on the Gila River Indian Community, where ancient vistas, mountains and roaming wild horses remain untouched. A true destination resort, Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass is home to four restaurants including the signature restaurant Kai, meaning 'seed' in the Pima language, which is the only AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Five-Star dining experience in Arizona. Guests can also enjoy four swimming pools with cascading waterfalls, a waterslide designed after the ancient Casa Grande Ruins or explore the winding Gila River on a stand-up paddle board, kayak or hydro-bike.

About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, Inc., makes it easy for guests to feel part of something special at over 440 hotels in 70+ countries and territories around the world. As the most global brand within Marriott International's portfolio sitting at the center of hundreds of communities around the world, Sheraton has a rich heritage in creating a sense of belonging for guests, wherever they are in the world. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is currently undergoing a major brand transformation at properties around the world to bring its signature community experience up-to-date for the next generation of travelers. The new vision for Sheraton features intuitive design, tech-forward experiences and upgrades to everything from guest rooms to F&B. To learn more, visit www.sheraton.com. Stay connected to Sheraton on Facebook, and @sheratonhotels on Twitter and Instagram. Sheraton is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy™, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.

SOURCE Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass