Forbes Travel Guide Announces 2015 Star Ratings

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. The company continues its uniquely selective process for recognizing the finest properties in the markets it rates.

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: https://blog.forbestravelguide.com/the-2015-forbes-travel-guide-star-award-winners

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.

A Snapshot of the List: Highlighting the Big Winners and Trends

Among 2015 Rating Recipients:

For the first time, Forbes Travel Guide recognized Five-Star hotels in the new international markets it rates:

• 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.

To view the complete list of 2015 Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating recipients, visit https://blog.forbestravelguide.com/the-2015-forbes-travel-guide-star-award-winners.

Photo credit: Keswick Hall