Forbes Travel Guide Continues To Expand In The Americas

Florida, Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America Shine with 23 New Star-Rated Properties

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. April 19, 2016

ATLANTA, GA. APRIL 19, 2016 — In February, Forbes Travel Guide unveiled its annual compendium of worldwide star-rated recipients. Now in its 58th year, the hotly anticipated list includes 42 new Five-Star hotels, 101 new Four-Star hotels and 57 new hotels in the Recommended category. For the full list, click here.

This year's collection of star-rated hotels, restaurants and spas saw marked growth within The Americas. The continuously expanding region, which includes the Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America, added 23 award-winning properties, seven of which were designated Five-Star, in 14 new destinations across each of the categories. To celebrate this outstanding achievement, a cocktail reception will be held this week at Faena Hotel Miami Beach, a new property that is on track to join the ranks of the Forbes Travel Guide star-rated hotels in 2017. Next year, the organization also plans to announce expansion into at least thirteen new countries and 24 new destinations overall.

“We are delighted to recognize the 2016 star-rating recipients, a phenomenal group of hotels, restaurants and spas,” said Gerard J. Inzerillo, Chief Executive Officer of Forbes Travel Guide. “These properties set an unimpeachable standard of excellence in hospitality at a moment when the proliferation of voices claiming to provide unbiased ratings online is exploding. With Forbes Travel Guide-rated properties, there is no ambiguity, no doubt: based on a stringent set of standards developed and refined over six decades, our ratings are now accepted and embraced worldwide. We are proud to congratulate each of the owners, property managers and their teams, and everyone associated with the prestigious properties recognized today. Together, we help discerning consumers make better luxury travel decisions worldwide.”

The Caribbean enjoyed the most growth, adding eight new island destinations to the 2016 Forbes Travel Guide, including Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Martin and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Within the newly expanded territory are two new Five-Star properties, the tony Sandy Lane in Barbados, and the elegant Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico.

Six star-rated hotels were introduced from Argentina, Brazil and Costa Rica. Making a big move this year was Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo. Previously a Four-Star, the hotel has now earned the highly coveted Five-Star designation.

In Mexico, six well-traveled resort areas — Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Ixtapa, Playa del Carmen, San Miguel de Allende and Zihuatanejo — join their previously established brethren of Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Maya as the newest destinations within the country to produce star-rated properties.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome these 23 new members from The Americas to the Forbes Travel Guide for 2016,” said Lourdes Hainlin, Forbes Travel Guide's Vice President, Client Services for Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. “This prestigious designation is based on the highest, most discerning standards, and I congratulate them all for their chievement. Forbes Travel Guide is raising the bar on global hospitality, inspiring hoteliers and restaurateurs to elevate their standards of excellence, and because of that, we see great opportunity for continued growth within the region.”

A total of 84 hotels, spas and restaurants were added in the United States with six new winners in Florida. Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa earned Five-Stars for its hotel and spa. Trump National Doral, Miami along with Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, its restaurant Capa and The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort all won Four-Star honors.

“The continued growth of star-rated members in Florida is extremely exciting for our Forbes Travel Guide team,” said Carrie Hart, Vice President, Client Services for USA, Southeast. “With even more high quality luxury properties on our radar, such as the region's latest hot spot Faena Miami Beach, South Florida in particular is poised to see another standout award winning year in 2017.”

For details on how Forbes Travel Guide compiles its Star Ratings, visit http://www.forbestravelguide.com/about/forbes-travel-guide

To view the complete list of 2016 Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating recipients, visit http://www.forbestravelguide.com/about/awardwinners

EDITOR'S NOTE: IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

ABOUT FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE

Forbes Travel Guide is the originator of the prestigious Five-Star Rating system, and has provided the travel industry's most comprehensive ratings and reviews of hotels, restaurants and spas since 1958. Forbes Travel Guide has a team of expert inspectors who anonymously evaluate properties against up to 800 rigorous and objective standards, providing consumers the insight to make better-informed travel and leisure decisions. Forbes Travel Guide is the most prestigious standard for luxury hospitality worldwide. For more information about Forbes Travel Guide, visit www.forbestravelguide.com. ForbesTravelGuide.com combines the objectivity and heritage of the Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating system with insightful recommendations from a hand-selected group of travel experts, tastemakers and Forbes Travel Guide inspectors. ForbesTravelGuide.com is the exclusive online destination for Forbes Travel Guide's list of star-rated hotels, restaurants and spas, and gives its registered members exclusive access to special offers and curated experiences from select Forbes Travel Guide partners.Connect with Forbes Travel Guide: Instagram: www.instagram.com/ForbesTravelGuide Twitter: www.twitter.com/ForbesInspector Facebook: www.facebook.com/ForbesTravelGuide

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