NEW YORK, Feb 21 ― In the latest edition of the Forbes travel guide, the Middle East made its inaugural debut with a quartet of five-star hotels, while South America boasts its first five-star property.
In the 60th edition of its Star Ratings awards, Forbes inspectors added new international destinations to their coverage, to include Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Madrid, Amsterdam, Prague, Vienna, Madrid, Hokkaido and Okinawa among others.
Some of the big winners of the 2018 edition include newcomers Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which picked up top honours for the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai; Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi; Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre; Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach.
Inspectors also gave South America its first five-star hotel listing for the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, located inside Brazil’s Iguacu National park.
Overall, however, the destination with the highest number of five-star hotels, restaurants and spas is Macau, the gambling capital of the world.
Along with eight five-starred spas, the resort city boasts a dozen five-star restaurants, and another 12 five-star hotels in this year’s Forbes travel guide.
Other notable winners this year include Trump Hotels, which earned five-star honours for both its DC and Vancouver properties.
In New York City ― which is home to the greatest number of five-star hotels and restaurants in the US ― the Baccarat Hotel and Residence and the Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown are the newest additions to the Forbes five-star club.
Likewise, Disney emerged a big winner, entering the good graces of inspectors who bestowed its Orlando park’s Victoria & Albert fine-dining restaurant its first Forbes-approved five-star rating.
Forbes now covers hotels, restaurants and spas in 50 countries. By 2019, the guide says they aim to expand their coverage to 60 countries.
For all the winners, visit https://www.forbestravelguide.com/award-winners. ― AFP-Relaxnews
