NEW YORK — Forbes has released its 54th annual Travel Guide listing of five- and four-star top performers in the hospitality industry for 2012.
“Our annual Star Ratings represent the best of the best in hotels, restaurants and spas. They serve as guideposts for discerning consumers who are looking for exceptional travel and hospitality experiences,” said Shane O’Flaherty, president of inspections and ratings for Forbes Travel Guide as quoted by startle.com.The new hotel winners included Mandarin Oriental in Boston, Las Vegas and Singapore, the Four Seasons, the Grand Del Mar hotel in San Diego and The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin.
Among the restaurants, the magazine has given the five-star rating to L20 in Chicago, Menton in Boston, Twist by Pierre Gagnaire in Vegas and Herons in Cary, North Carolina.
The spas that shined on the list include Oh! Spa, Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island; The Spa at Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City, Utah; and The Greenbrier Spa in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
Two properties were downgraded to four-star status and dropped from the list, including Ritz Carlton Hotel in Naples and in San Francisco. “You can build the most beautiful hotel in the world, but if it does not deliver consistent, passionate service, you’sre going to score low on our system,” he said. “At the five-star level, you see more of the employees of the property anticipating the needs of the consumer. They’sre always one step ahead of the consumer.” said Shane O’sFlaherty, president and CEO of Forbes Travel Guide as quoted by USA Today.
Five-hundred and thirty-nine establishments in the United States, Canada, Beijing, Macau and Singapore made the 2012 Forbes Travel Guide honour roll.
For the complete list of four- and five-star winners, visit Startle.com.
