Forbes Travel Guide

Forbes Travel Guide is a renowned travel guide that provides ratings and reviews of hotels, restaurants, and spas around the world, similar to those found in Michelin Guide and Zagat. Founded by Malcolm Forbes in 1958, it was originally known as the Mobil Travel Guide and was later acquired by Forbes Media in 2009. The guide is widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence in the hospitality industry, with many establishments striving to achieve its coveted Five-Star Award, a distinction also awarded by AAA Diamond Ratings and Relais & Châteaux. With its rigorous evaluation process, Forbes Travel Guide has become a trusted resource for travelers, including those who frequent Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

● History

The history of Forbes Travel Guide dates back to 1958, when Malcolm Forbes launched the Mobil Travel Guide as a way to provide travelers with reliable information about hotels, restaurants, and other travel destinations, similar to the Frommer's and Fodor's guides. Over the years, the guide underwent several changes in ownership and editorial direction, including a period under the ownership of ExxonMobil, which also owned Esso and Mobil Oil. In 2009, Forbes Media acquired the guide and rebranded it as Forbes Travel Guide, with the goal of expanding its coverage to include more international destinations, such as Tokyo, Paris, and New York City, and to provide more detailed reviews of hotels like The Plaza Hotel, The Savoy, and The Fairmont. Today, Forbes Travel Guide is led by Amanda Frasier, who has overseen the guide's expansion into new markets, including China, India, and Brazil, and has partnered with travel industry leaders like Expedia, Booking.com, and TripAdvisor.

● Methodology

The methodology used by Forbes Travel Guide to evaluate hotels, restaurants, and spas is based on a rigorous set of standards, similar to those used by AAA and Relais & Châteaux. A team of experienced inspectors, including Amanda Frasier and Hermann Elger, conduct anonymous evaluations of each property, assessing factors such as service, amenities, and overall quality, using criteria developed in consultation with industry experts from The Leading Hotels of the World, The Luxury Collection, and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. The inspectors use a detailed checklist to evaluate each property, which includes criteria such as the quality of the bedding and linens, the availability of Wi-Fi and concierge services, and the overall cleanliness and maintenance of the property, as well as the quality of the cuisine and wine list at restaurants like Le Bernardin, Per Se, and The French Laundry. The results of these evaluations are then used to determine the Star Rating for each property, which is awarded annually at a ceremony attended by industry leaders like Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, and InterContinental Hotels Group.

● Star Ratings

The Star Ratings awarded by Forbes Travel Guide are a key part of its evaluation process, with properties receiving a rating of one to five stars based on their overall quality and service, similar to the ratings used by Michelin Guide and Zagat. The ratings are as follows: Five-Star Award (exceptional), Four-Star Award (excellent), Recommended (good), and Not Recommended (poor), with the Five-Star Award being the highest honor, awarded to properties like The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, The Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris, and The Mandarin Oriental, New York. Properties that receive a Five-Star Award are recognized for their exceptional service, amenities, and overall quality, and are often featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and Forbes.

● Listings and Awards

The listings and awards provided by Forbes Travel Guide are highly coveted by hotels, restaurants, and spas around the world, with many properties striving to achieve a Five-Star Award or other recognition, such as the AAA Five Diamond Award or the Relais & Châteaux designation. The guide provides detailed reviews of each property, including information about its amenities, services, and overall quality, as well as recommendations for travelers, including those from Lonely Planet, Frommer's, and Fodor's. In addition to its annual Star Ratings, Forbes Travel Guide also presents a number of other awards, including the Forbes Travel Guide Lifetime Achievement Award, which has been awarded to industry leaders like Ian Schrager, Steve Wynn, and Isadore Sharp, and the Forbes Travel Guide Hotel of the Year Award, which has been awarded to properties like The Savoy, The Plaza Hotel, and The Fairmont.

● Impact on Hospitality Industry

The impact of Forbes Travel Guide on the hospitality industry is significant, with many hotels, restaurants, and spas striving to achieve its coveted Five-Star Award and other recognition, such as the Michelin star or the AAA Diamond Rating. The guide's rigorous evaluation process and high standards have raised the bar for the industry as a whole, with many properties investing in improvements to their service, amenities, and overall quality in order to achieve a higher rating, and partnering with industry leaders like Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, and InterContinental Hotels Group to achieve their goals. As a result, travelers can trust that properties listed in Forbes Travel Guide have met a high standard of excellence, and can make informed decisions about their travel plans, using resources like Expedia, Booking.com, and TripAdvisor to book their stays at top-rated properties like The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.