Forbes Travel Guides names new Five-Star properties

Forbes Travel has added 27 hotels to its prestigious Five-Star list.

It’s the 60th year that Forbes has compiled this list. Forbes also rates Four Star hotels and restaurants. The new list includes properties in 50 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East

New destinations for 2018 include Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Aruba, Chengdu, Dubai, Jamaica, Kuala Lumpur, Madrid, Marrakech, Panama, Prague, and Vienna.

The 2018 award winners include 27 new Five-Star hotels, 70 new Four-Star hotels and 76 new hotels in the Recommended category. Other first-time recipients include five Five-Star restaurants, 24 Four-Star restaurants and 10 Recommend restaurants. The list also honors five new Five-Star spas and 29 new Four-Star spas. 

Forbes names 22 new Five-Star hotels

Forbes Travel Guide now rates properties in 50 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

Forbes plans properties in 60 countries in preparation for its 2019 Star Ratings.

“As the most trusted source for travelers, we continue to carry out our mission to verify luxury worldwide,” says Gerard Inzerillo, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide. “We are delighted to honor the 2018 Star Rating recipients, an outstanding collection of hotels, restaurants and spas with a strong service culture. It’s the largest and most global group of Star-Rated properties in our company’s history.”

Here are some highlights:

• There are now 199 Five-Star, 513 Four-Star and 309 Recommended hotels. There are 64 Five-Star, 171 Four-Star and 83 Recommended restaurants.
• There are 60 Five-Star and 210 Four-Star spas.
• The Middle East is a big winner The region picked up four Five-Star hotels (Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai; Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi; Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre; Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach). It also tallied 21 Four-Star hotels and six Recommended hotels.
• South America captured its first Five-Star hotel: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas inside Brazil’s Iguacu National Park amid the Iguassu Falls and the jungle.
• Marrakech launched with two Five-Star hotels (Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech; Royal Mansour Marrakech), a pair of Four-Star properties (Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, La Mamounia) and two Recommended hotels (Amanjena, Selman Marrakech).
• New York City had two new Five-Star wins: Baccarat Hotel and Residences and Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown. The last time the city had a new Five-Star hotel was in 2016, with the addition of Park Hyatt New York. A new Four-Star hotel was added, too: Archer Hotel New York.
• ¶  The new Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is Hilton’s first Five-Star hotel in the Western Hemisphere. The brand also has Five-Star Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund.
• Trump Hotels earned Five-Star honors for its D.C. and Vancouver

For a full list of 2018 Forbes winners, click here.