Forbes Travel Guide is the only independent global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas, and cruises, so when they start talking travel we listen. And with the unveiling of their 67th annual Star Awards we definitely have some new spots on our radar!
This year’s winners list is the most geographically diverse list in FTG’s 67 years. The awards showcase excellence spanning more than 2,100 properties across 90 countries, with Brunei, Finland, Montenegro, and Romania making their debut appearances.
FTG’s ratings are objective and data-driven; incognito inspectors pose as everyday guests, and whether they’re checking into a hotel, embarking on a cruise, or enjoying a spa treatment, they test hundreds of places on their service, which accounts for 70% of a property’s rating. The remaining 30% is based on the quality and condition of the facilities.
Beyond these metrics, inspectors assess all the extras that make for a truly unforgettable guest experience. Winners are determined on 900+ criteria, and what’s produced is a list of the most outstanding spots across the global hospitality industry. The guide writes:
Behind every Forbes Travel Guide Star Award lies a thousand small gestures: the concierge who tracks down a hidden café beloved by locals, the chef who sources ingredients from a generations-old farm, the spa therapist who crafts custom aromatherapy blends from native flowers.
The ranking system is as follows:
- Five Stars: properties deliver an outstanding experience and consistently offer a highly customized level of service
- Four Stars: exceptional properties, offering high levels of service and quality of facility to match
- Recommended: excellent properties with consistently good service and facilities
Forbes Travel Guide 2025 Star Award Winners for New York:
⭐️ New in 2025:
- Aman New York – Four Stars
- The Ritz-Carlton New York, Nomad – Four Stars
⭐️ New York Winners By-the-Numbers:
- Five Stars – 20
- Four Stars – 37
- Recommended – 20
⭐️ Five-Star Standouts:
- The St. Regis New York – Five Stars for 30 Consecutive Years
- The Point – Five Stars for 28 Consecutive Years
- The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park – Five Stars for 22 Consecutive Years
Some NYC restaurant winners include Ai Fiori (four stars), Caviar Russe, (four stars), Eleven Madison Park (five stars), Marea (four stars), Per Se (five stars), and Vestry (recommended). NYC hotel winners include Andaz 5th Avenue (four stars), Conrad New York Downtown (four stars), and Loews Regency New York Hotel (recommended). Wellness winners include ila Only Spa at Lotte New York Palace (four stars), and La Prairie at The Ritz-Carlton Spa (four stars).
If your interest is piqued, why not check out the full list of winners?!