Forbes Travel Guide announces 2015 star ratings
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As new regions of the world are rated, the number of Five-Star hotels now totals 115, the most in Forbes Travel Guide's history. Forbes Travel Guide also named 10 new Five-Star restaurants, bringing the total to 55. Seven new spas achieved Forbes Travel Guide's highest honor, pushing the tally to 48 Five-Star spas. See the complete Star Rating list here.
The number of Five-Star hotels now totals 115, the most in Forbes Travel Guide's history.
Forbes Travel Guide also recognized a total of 336 Four-Star hotels, 192 Four-Star restaurants and 163 Four-Star spas, as well as its list of 100 Recommended hotels and 60 Recommended restaurants in the markets it rates — the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Costa Rica, London, Beijing, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore and Guangzhou.
The first Five-Star winners in Mexico and the Caribbean - Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Nayarit, Mexico; Rosewood Mayakoba, Playa del Carmen, Mexico; Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort, Antigua; Cheval Blanc and Eden Rock, both in St. Barts.
Three newly rated cities in Asia captured their first Five-Star hotels: Guangzhou launching with Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou and The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou; Bangkok debuting with Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok; and Tokyo making the list for the first time with Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo.
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts made a strong showing with three new Five-Star hotels in total: in Antigua; Playa del Carmen, Mexico; and Menlo Park, Calif. This is the first time in the company's history it has achieved three new Five-Star hotels in one year.
For the first time, two properties earned a unique distinction, a "Quintuple Five-Star." Wynn Macau and Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong each received a Five-Star for its hotel, three restaurants and spa.
Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Langham Hotels & Resorts and Hyatt each scored their first Five-Star hotels. Conrad Macao, Cotai Central; The Langham, Hong Kong; and Park Hyatt Aviara Resort are the trailblazers from the respective brands that won the accolade.
Macau gained status as a premier destination, with the addition of four new Five-Star restaurants: Tenmasa, Belon, Vida Rica Restaurant and Bar, Il Teatro at Wynn Macau, and a Five-Star hotel, Conrad Macao, Cotai Central. This brings the number of Five-Star hotels, restaurants and spas in Macau to 23 — the most in any regional market.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group dominated the spa category, receiving three new Five-Star ratings. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai; The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo; and The Oriental Spa, Bangkok bring the count to 13 Five-Star spas, the most of any brand. ■