Category Archives: News & Notes

Forbes Travel Guide Releases 2024 Five-Star Award Winners

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Forbes has been traveling the globe to certify more hotels for 2024. They have added an additional 21 international 5-Star Hotels and only 1 additional US Hotel. The 66th annual list features 340 Five-Star, 600 Four-Star, and 503 Recommended hotels; 78 Five-Star, 121 Four-Star, and 59 Recommended restaurants; and 126 Five-Star and 201 Four-Star spas worldwide.

From the Forbes Press Release:

FTG compiles its ratings using an objective, independent and data-driven process. Incognito inspectors pose as everyday guests and stay at hotels, board cruises, receive spa services and dine at fine restaurants around the world. They test some 900 exacting standards—such as whether a room is designed to promote sleep quality or whether the food-and-beverage choices support a guest’s well-being—emphasizing exceptional service, which accounts for 70 percent of a property’s rating. Newer standards focus on the guest experience, such as ensuring “cocktails are dynamically interesting and photogenic” and even asking if the inspector would “readily recommend this property to others.” The remaining 30 percent comes from the quality and condition of the facilities. Finally, inspectors are now required to reflect on whether there was great value in the experience.

The full list of 2024 Five Star winners is as follows:

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Forbes Travel Guide Releases 2022 Five-Star Award Winners

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Forbes seems to be pushing hard again to certify 5 Star Hotels as the pandemic slows.  There are now 323 Five Star Hotels, up from just 76 a few years ago and just 283 last year!  From the press release:

The 64th annual list features 323 Five-Star, 558 Four-Star, and 401 Recommended hotels; 74 Five-Star, 112 Four-Star, and 67 Recommended restaurants; and 102 Five-Star and 193 Four-Star spas worldwide.

To find the best of the best, Forbes Travel Guide’s incognito inspectors stay at each hotel for three days and two nights, posing as ordinary guests. They test up to 900 objective, rigorous standards, from modern-day luxuries—such as whether a room is set up to enhance sleep or whether the food-and-beverage choices are health-conscious—to more traditional amenities, such as the quality of the décor and the courtesy of the staff. Seventy-five percent of a hotel’s rating relies on service, while the remaining 25 percent is determined by the quality of its facilities.

The full list of 2022 Five Star winners is as follows:

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Forbes Travel Guide Releases 2021 Five-Star Award Winners

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Forbes has continued to inspect and add hotels to their last at a rapid speed.  They have added 15 new Five-Star hotels this year, despite the pandamic! There are now 283 Five Star Hotels, up from just 76 a few years ago!  From the press release:

The 63rd annual list features 283 Five-Star, 576 Four-Star and 438 Recommended hotels; 73 Five-Star, 136 Four-Star and 77 Recommended restaurants; and 90 Five-Star and 200 Four-Star spas worldwide. (The winners were surveyed both before the pandemic and once regional restrictions allowed FTG’s incognito evaluators to visit.)

To rate properties, Forbes Travel Guide inspectors stay at each hotel for three days and two nights, posing as regular guests and paying their own way. They test up to 900 objective, stringent standards, from modern-day luxuries—such as whether a room is set up to enhance sleep, and the food-and-beverage choices are health-conscious—to more traditional luxuries, like the quality of the interior décor and design of the staff’s uniforms.

Even in the midst of a global pandemic, service remains paramount. It’s more important than ever before that properties demonstrate the utmost regard for their guests’ wellbeing: 75% of a hotel’s rating is based on its service and genuine care and concern shown by the staff, while 25% is determined by the quality of its facilities.

There were 5 new cities in North America who welcomed their first Five-Star Hotel. They are:

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AAA Adds 6 Hotels to Exclusive Five Diamond List for 2020

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AAA has published their new list of approved Five Diamond Hotels for 2020.  AAA has added 3 new US hotels and 3 international hotels.  The new hotels added are the following:

  • Boston Harbor Hotel (Boston, MA) – Gracious hospitality is prevalent at this luxury hotel, which merges modernity and classic décor. The guest rooms offer a supremely luxurious experience with a view of marina activity and local marine life from Boston Harbor’s Rowes Wharf. (Upgraded from Four Diamonds)
  • Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North (Scottsdale, AZ) – Well-designed landscaping seamlessly blends with the desert surroundings, allowing for striking views from the territorial-style casitas, each with a fireplace and terrace. (Upgraded from Four Diamonds)
  • Hotel Bel Air (Los Angeles, CA) – This classical establishment was brought into the 21st century with contemporary, elegant and high-quality décor. The location is the perfect backdrop in which to enjoy the meticulously manicured gardens and the lovely pond, home to graceful swans. (Upgraded from Four Diamonds)
  • Hotel Xcaret Mexico (Playa del Carmen, Mexico) – This all-inclusive resort is packed with activities, including eight theme parks, many pools, three exercise rooms, and a private island. Many of the modern rooms open up to pools or the river. (New listing)
  • Mandarin Oriental, Canouan (Canouan, St. Vincent and the Grenadines) – This world-class property, unique for its remote location, offers just 26 large suites and 13 villas, as well as a private beach, impressive marble work throughout, and leading-edge technology enhancements. (New listing)
  • UNICO 20°N 87°W Hotel Riviera Maya (Akumal, Mexico) – This unique property features guest rooms with spacious balconies offering an oversize seating area and large oval-shaped hot tubs. Each guest room is assigned a local host who is tasked with ensuring that guests have a pleasurable stay to maximize their valuable vacation time. (Upgraded from Four Diamonds)

Congratulations to the new award-winning hotels and restaurants!  From the AAA press release:

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Forbes Travel Guide Releases 2020 Five-Star Award Winners

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Forbes has continued to inspect and add hotels to their last at a rapid speed.  They have added 107 new Five-Star hotels this year! There are now 268 Five Star Hotels, up from just 76 a few years ago!  From the press release:

The inspectors of Forbes Travel Guide journeyed from Santa Barbara to the Seychelles to find its 2020 Star Award winners, an elite group of the world’s most luxurious hotels, restaurants and spas.

A record-breaking 107 new Five-Star honorees landed on the 62nd annual list, the result of an ambitious expansion. Forbes Travel Guide ventured to 16 countries—including The Bahamas, Cambodia, Egypt, Fiji, French Polynesia, India, Jordan, the Maldives, New Zealand, Scotland and South Africa—for the first time.

To uncover the most outstanding properties, Forbes Travel Guide’s incognito inspectors check into a hotel for a minimum of two nights, posing as ordinary guests and paying their own way. Then they test up to 900 objective, exacting standards—including whether a staff member greets them curbside within 30 seconds of arrival, whether clothing left around a room is folded neatly or draped and placed within immediate view after turndown service, and whether the staff uniforms demonstrated exceptional design. The ratings tabulate 75 percent of a hotel’s score based on its service, while the remaining 25 percent is determined by the quality of its facilities. 

Here is the full list of all of the Five-Star Hotels:

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AAA Adds 10 Hotels to Exclusive Five Diamond List for 2019

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AAA has published their new list of approved Five Diamond Hotels for 2019.  AAA has added 4 new US hotels and 6 international hotels.  The new hotels added are the following:


Baccarat Hotel New York (New York, New York) – Crystal chandeliers sparkle as they chime overhead and exquisite stemware overflows with champagne in the lounges, creating rich pleasures for the senses at this storybook destination from the fabled French glass company.
Banyan Tree Mayakoba (Playa del Carmen, Mexico) – The unique mixture of Asian and Mexican architecture is stunning throughout. This gated resort, located on the famed Riviera Maya coast, blends untouched nature in a carefully maintained ecosystem.
Fairmont Pacific Rim (Vancouver, Canada) – Guests are pampered at this luxury tower, which has a beautiful, innovative design. Gorgeous rooms with spectacular views feature an enhanced Pacific Northwest feel.
Hotel Emma (San Antonio, Texas) – Guests will be stunned by this chic hotel, the site of the former Pearl’s Brewhouse, built in 1894, including its upscale, beautifully crafted lobby, library and rooftop pool areas.
Montage Los Cabos (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico) – This upscale property features several infinity-edge pools that blend in with the ocean and overlook the secluded beach. The impressive guest bathrooms feature indoor and outdoor showers.
NIZUC Resort & Spa (Cancun, Mexico) – This beautiful and expansive resort features rustic and elegant Mayan-inspired décor. The guest rooms are spacious with many custom furnishings and luxurious features.
Rosewood San Miguel de Allende (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico) – This colonial-style hacienda has gorgeous public areas and meticulously maintained gardens. The spacious guest rooms feature a refined colonial décor with a fireplace and terrace.
The Dominick Hotel (New York, New York) – With stellar views of the city, this bastion of contemporary luxury features swanky modern Italian furnishings, impressive artworks and marble bathrooms. The SoHo location puts you at the very heart of Manhattan’s fashion culture.
The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston (Houston, Texas) – Houston’s premier property offers its guests impeccable service and highest quality amenities. This contemporary hotel is a crown jewel among the city’s accommodations.
The St. Regis Mexico City (Mexico City, Mexico) – This gleaming hotel tower offers large rooms complete with high-tech conveniences and a butler. The views are stunning, with many overlooking iconic symbols of Mexico.

Congratulations to the new award-winning hotels and restaurants!  From the AAA press release:

Many of this year’s new Five Diamond honorees have received top marks in the past for their physical attributes that, although impressive, were not paired with AAA’s exceptionally high Five Diamond service expectations, until now. After demonstrating notable service enhancements, San Antonio’s first Five Diamond establishment, Hotel Emma, as well as Banyan Tree Mayakoba, NIZUC Resort & Spa, Rosewood San Miguel de Allende, and The St. Regis Mexico City, received the coveted fifth Diamond for the first time.

Others, like Baccarat Hotel, The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston and Montage Los Cabos, attained the AAA Five Diamond Rating shortly after opening within the past 12 months. 

Hotel trends observed by AAA inspectors, often appearing first at high-end properties, include continued developments in the use of technology to enhance service. Responding to this trend, AAA recently updated its hotel Approval Requirements & Diamond Rating Guidelines, which reflect the importance of connective technologies such as availability of in-room tablets, mobile apps, interactive kiosks, mobile key technology and digital messaging services.

Those at the Four Diamond level, just 6.3 percent of AAA Inspected & Approved hotels, are also an exclusive group. They must be refined and stylish with upscale physical attributes, extensive amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail. This year, there are 1,722 Four Diamond hotels.

To see the complete lists of 2019 AAA Four and Five Diamond Hotels, visit AAA.com/DiamondAwards. To see which cities and states have the most award winners, see AAA Four and Five Diamond Hotel Facts. Also of note among the new additions to the list is the first Five Diamond Rated property in Grenada, Spice Island Beach Resort. The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs remains the only hotel that has maintained the Five Diamond Rating for 41 consecutive years – since 1976 when AAA first introduced the Diamond Ratings for accommodations. The Inn at Little Washington Dining Room in Virginia remains the longest tenured Five Diamond restaurant, the only one to maintain the coveted status for 29 consecutive years, since 1988.

“These leading edge properties are well-positioned to meet the needs of discerning travelers. Their noted attributes include contemporary design trends and the highest quality food and amenities. Personalized, attentive service is foremost, delivered in ways that offer guests inspiring and memorable local experiences,” said Petrone.

Candidates for the Five Diamond Rating undergo multiple unannounced evaluations and a final decision by a panel of experts. Using guidelines weighted by member priorities, inspectors meticulously evaluate guest services and physical attributes to assess the level of competence, refinement and hospitality and assign a corresponding rating of One to Five Diamonds.

For more information about Diamond Ratings and the complete lists of Four and Five Diamond hotels and restaurants, visit AAA.com/DiamondAwards.

Currently, only .3% of all AAA-rated hotels achieved the Five Diamond Rating.  AAA rated 59,000 hotels for 2019.

Here is the full list of 2019 AAA Five Diamond Rated Hotels:

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AAA Adds 7 Hotels to Exclusive Five Diamond List for 2017

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AAA has published their new list of approved Five Diamond Hotels for 2017.  After years of shrinking the list, AAA has finally increased the total 5 Diamond hotel list to 120 hotels.  The new hotels added are the following:

  • THE MODERN – NEW YORK CITY
  • FOUR SEASONS RESORT LANA’I – LANAI CITY, HAWAII
  • THE ST. REGIS NEW YORK – NEW YORK CITY
  • SPICE ISLAND BEACH RESORT – ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA
  • FOUR SEASONS HOTEL MEXICO D.F. – MEXICO CITY
  • DORADO BEACH, A RITZ-CARLTON RESERVE – DORADO, PUERTO RICO
  • THE JEFFERSON HOTEL – RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

Congratulations to the new award-winning hotels and restaurants!  From the AAA press release:

“Five Diamond establishments represent the upper echelon of hospitality, redefining personalized service, using creativity to enhance guest comfort and providing memorable experiences,” said Michael Petrone, director, AAA Inspections and Diamond Ratings. “Attaining the Five Diamond Rating is an impressive accomplishment and is a point of great pride for these top hotels and restaurants.”

Also of note among the new additions to the list is the first Five Diamond Rated property in Grenada, Spice Island Beach Resort. The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs remains the only hotel that has maintained the Five Diamond Rating for 41 consecutive years – since 1976 when AAA first introduced the Diamond Ratings for accommodations. The Inn at Little Washington Dining Room in Virginia remains the longest tenured Five Diamond restaurant, the only one to maintain the coveted status for 29 consecutive years, since 1988.

“These leading edge properties are well-positioned to meet the needs of discerning travelers. Their noted attributes include contemporary design trends and the highest quality food and amenities. Personalized, attentive service is foremost, delivered in ways that offer guests inspiring and memorable local experiences,” said Petrone.

Candidates for the Five Diamond Rating undergo multiple unannounced evaluations and a final decision by a panel of experts. Using guidelines weighted by member priorities, inspectors meticulously evaluate guest services and physical attributes to assess the level of competence, refinement and hospitality and assign a corresponding rating of One to Five Diamonds.

For more information about Diamond Ratings and the complete lists of Four and Five Diamond hotels and restaurants, visit AAA.com/DiamondAwards.

Currently, only .3% of all AAA-rated hotels achieved the Five Diamond Rating.  AAA rated 59,000 hotels for 2017.

Here is the full list of 2017 AAA Five Diamond Rated Hotels: Continue reading →

Five Diamond Hospitality is now TrueGuest

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Los Angeles, CA, July 12th, 2016 – Five Diamond Hospitality, a leading company for quality assurance audits, is preparing for the future with a new name, logo, and website.  Under the new name, TrueGuest, Five Diamond Hospitality will continue to serve their clients with the same high-quality service audits they have provided for the past decade.

 

About TrueGuest

TrueGuest, formerly known as Five Diamond Hospitality, is the premier Service Experience Audit company for the hospitality business.  The company provides service audits to many of the top brands in the United States.  Founded in 2006, TrueGuest is celebrating 10 years of service.

 

Contacts

TrueGuest

TrueGuest.com

(818) 301-5655

AAA Adds 6 Hotels to Exclusive Five Diamond List for 2016

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aaa-five-diamond-awardAAA has published their new list of approved Five Diamond Hotels for 2016.  Continuing the recent trend, the number of approved hotels has dropped again this year, from 121 to only 118.  AAA added 6 new or returning hotels this year, and removed 9 hotels that were approved in 2015.  The new hotels added are the following:

  • Hotel Mousai – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
  • Park Hyatt New York – New York, N.Y.
  • St. Regis Deer Valley – Park City, Utah
  • The Cloister – Sea Island, Ga.
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain – Marana, Ariz.
  • Trump International Hotel and Tower Toronto – Toronto, Ontario

Congratulations to the new award-winning hotels!  For a full list of 5 Diamond award winners, click here.