WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report has released its 2013 Best Hotels rankings, and a new hotel has seized the No. 1 spot on the list of the 2013 Best Hotels in the USA. Amangani in Jackson, WY is now the top-ranked hotel in the country.

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Out of the 1,639 U.S. luxury hotels across the United States evaluated for the 2013 rankings, 164 properties scored high enough to earn a place on the list of the Best Hotels in the USA. The top three are:

1. Amangani; Jackson, WY
2. Four Seasons Resort Lana'i, The Lodge at Koele; Lanai, HI
3. The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, An Auberge Resort; Bluffton, SC

See full list: Best Hotels in the USA

U.S. News is also proud to announce the first-ever Best Hotels in the Caribbean rankings. Of the 273 luxury properties analyzed, 27 scored high enough to be named Best Hotels in the Caribbean by U.S. News. The top three are:

1. Tortuga Bay; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
2. Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France; Baie des Flamands, St. Barts
3. Eden Rock, St. Barths; Baie de Saint Jean, St. Barts

See full list: Best Hotels in the Caribbean

U.S. News has also released its first-ever ranking of the 2013 Best Hotels by Brand to help travelers select the best brand-backed hotels across the United States and the Caribbean. A full list of the best hotels within each brand is available here.

About the Rankings
Hotels in both the United States and the Caribbean were ranked based on an unbiased methodology that includes the collective opinion of travel experts and guests, expressed through awards, recommendations, and ratings. The U.S. News approach reflects the core goal of Best Hotels, which is to help take the guesswork out of choosing the right hotel by providing travelers with an impartial analysis of luxury hotels.

"This is our third year ranking hotels, and the bar continues to climb for luxury properties," said Chad Smolinski, Vice President of Rankings and Reviews at U.S. News & World Report. "Desirable amenities and hotel loyalty programs will no longer suffice. People are seeking hotels that go above and beyond to give their guests an unforgettable experience. Hotels that consistently meet the high expectations of experts and travelers are recognized in our rankings."

Awards

• Best Hotels in the USA: Top 10 percent of all ranked luxury hotels in the United States
• Best Hotels in the Caribbean: Top 10 percent of all ranked luxury hotels in the Caribbean
• Best Hotels in [Destination]: Top 30 percent of all ranked luxury hotels within a destination

About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is a multi-platform publisher of news and analysis, which includes the digital-only U.S. News Weekly magazine, www.usnews.com. Focusing on Health, Money, Education, Travel, Cars, and Public Service/Opinion, U.S. News has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. U.S. News & World Report's signature franchise includes its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its "Best" series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, mutual funds, health plans, and more.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report