The most five-star hotels in the world are in Macau – Forbes Travel Guide 2018 rankings announced
Last updated 2026-09-25 — With the landmark 60th anniversary approaching, Forbes Travel Guide today released its 60th global star rating list, once again recognizing the world’s best hotels, restaurants, and spas—and their outstanding service—based on rigorous...
By / MOOK Scenic Spots Home Editorial Team
With the landmark 60th anniversary approaching, Forbes Travel Guide today released its 60th global star rating list, once again recognizing the world’s best hotels, restaurants, and spas—and their outstanding service—based on rigorous selection criteria.
With the landmark 60th anniversary approaching, Forbes Travel Guide today released its 60th global star rating list, once again recognizing the world’s best hotels, restaurants, and spas—and their outstanding service—based on rigorous selection criteria.
Banyan Tree Macau (Photo / Forbes Travel Guide)
Among the 2018 inductees, 27 five-star hotels, 70 four-star hotels, and 76 Forbes Recommended hotels have been newly listed. In the restaurant category, 5 establishments received five-star honors for the first time, 24 became new four-star restaurants, and 10 earned Recommended status. Additionally, the list certified 5 new five-star spas and 29 new four-star spas.
The first five-star hotel in South America, Belmond Hotel das Cataratas. (Photo / Forbes Travel Guide)
2018 Highlights, Trends, and Fun Facts
• Among the 1,609 inductees
o 199 five-star hotels, 513 four-star hotels, and 309 Recommended hotels.
o 64 five-star restaurants, 171 four-star restaurants, and 83 Recommended restaurants.
o 60 five-star spas and 210 four-star spas.
• New and Notable Entrants
o The Middle East was the biggest winner. 4 five-star hotels: Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai; Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi; Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre; and Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. 21 outstanding four-star hotels and 6 Recommended hotels.
o South America welcomed its first five-star hotel. Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, overlooking the spectacular Iguazu Falls in Brazil’s Iguazu National Park, leads the region with exceptional service.
o Marrakech boasts two five-star hotels (Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech; Royal Mansour Marrakech), two four-star hotels (Four Seasons Resort Marrakech and La Mamounia), and two Recommended hotels (Amanjena and Selman Marrakech).
o New York City has two new five-star hotels: Baccarat Hotel and Residences and Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown. NYC also added one new four-star hotel: Archer Hotel New York.
o Munich welcomes its first five-star hotel: Mandarin Oriental, Munich. Four-star hotels: The Charles Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel; Hotel Bayerischer Hof; and Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich. Recommended hotels: Hotel Munchen Palace and Sofitel Munich Bayerpost.
o Japan had a strong showing. Kyoto Ritz-Carlton earned the city’s first five-star distinction. Kyoto Four Seasons Hotel and Suiran, A Luxury Collection Hotel, received four-star honors. Kyoto Hotel Okura earned Recommended status. In Tokyo, Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo, was awarded five stars, while Capitol Hotel Tokyu and The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho became four-star hotels.
o Independent hotels performed well. First-time five-star inductees: Le Richemond Geneva; Magee Homestead, Wyoming; Meadowood Napa Valley; Nemacolin Woodlands Resort–Falling Rock, Pennsylvania; and Williamsburg Inn, Virginia.
o Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is the first five-star hotel for Hilton in the Western Hemisphere. The Waldorf Astoria brand also has a five-star property in Shanghai: Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund.
o Rosewood Beijing earned five-star status—the brand’s first in Asia. This is Rosewood’s first property in China, opened in 2014. The Peninsula Beijing also received five-star recognition.
o Trump Hotels earned five-star status for properties in Washington, D.C., and Vancouver—an impressive feat for new hotels. These newly awarded hotels (like Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown) demonstrate the importance of pre-opening investment in service training.
o New accolades further solidify Riviera Nayarit as a luxury resort destination. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort earned five stars, and Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit received four stars.
o Forbes Travel Guide significantly expanded its global footprint, bringing its rating services to new regions such as Amsterdam (four-star hotels: Conservatorium, De L'Europe Amsterdam, and Hotel Okura Amsterdam; Recommended hotels: Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht, The Dylan, Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam, InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam, and W Amsterdam) and Vienna (four-star hotels: Sacher Wien, Palais Coburg, Palais Hansen Kempinski, and The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna; Recommended hotels: Grand Hotel Wien, Hotel Bristol, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Hotel Imperial, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Hotel Sans Souci Wien, Park Hyatt Vienna, and The Ring Hotel Vienna).
• Among the 1,609 inductees
o 199 five-star hotels, 513 four-star hotels, and 309 Recommended hotels.
o 64 five-star restaurants, 171 four-star restaurants, and 83 Recommended restaurants.
o 60 five-star spas and 210 four-star spas.
• New and Notable Entrants
o The Middle East was the biggest winner. 4 five-star hotels: Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai; Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi; Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre; and Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. 21 outstanding four-star hotels and 6 Recommended hotels.
o South America welcomed its first five-star hotel. Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, overlooking the spectacular Iguazu Falls in Brazil’s Iguazu National Park, leads the region with exceptional service.
o Marrakech boasts two five-star hotels (Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech; Royal Mansour Marrakech), two four-star hotels (Four Seasons Resort Marrakech and La Mamounia), and two Recommended hotels (Amanjena and Selman Marrakech).
o New York City has two new five-star hotels: Baccarat Hotel and Residences and Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown. NYC also added one new four-star hotel: Archer Hotel New York.
o Munich welcomes its first five-star hotel: Mandarin Oriental, Munich. Four-star hotels: The Charles Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel; Hotel Bayerischer Hof; and Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich. Recommended hotels: Hotel Munchen Palace and Sofitel Munich Bayerpost.
o Japan had a strong showing. Kyoto Ritz-Carlton earned the city’s first five-star distinction. Kyoto Four Seasons Hotel and Suiran, A Luxury Collection Hotel, received four-star honors. Kyoto Hotel Okura earned Recommended status. In Tokyo, Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo, was awarded five stars, while Capitol Hotel Tokyu and The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho became four-star hotels.
o Independent hotels performed well. First-time five-star inductees: Le Richemond Geneva; Magee Homestead, Wyoming; Meadowood Napa Valley; Nemacolin Woodlands Resort–Falling Rock, Pennsylvania; and Williamsburg Inn, Virginia.
o Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is the first five-star hotel for Hilton in the Western Hemisphere. The Waldorf Astoria brand also has a five-star property in Shanghai: Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund.
o Rosewood Beijing earned five-star status—the brand’s first in Asia. This is Rosewood’s first property in China, opened in 2014. The Peninsula Beijing also received five-star recognition.
o Trump Hotels earned five-star status for properties in Washington, D.C., and Vancouver—an impressive feat for new hotels. These newly awarded hotels (like Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown) demonstrate the importance of pre-opening investment in service training.
o New accolades further solidify Riviera Nayarit as a luxury resort destination. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort earned five stars, and Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit received four stars.
o Forbes Travel Guide significantly expanded its global footprint, bringing its rating services to new regions such as Amsterdam (four-star hotels: Conservatorium, De L'Europe Amsterdam, and Hotel Okura Amsterdam; Recommended hotels: Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht, The Dylan, Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam, InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam, and W Amsterdam) and Vienna (four-star hotels: Sacher Wien, Palais Coburg, Palais Hansen Kempinski, and The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna; Recommended hotels: Grand Hotel Wien, Hotel Bristol, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Hotel Imperial, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Hotel Sans Souci Wien, Park Hyatt Vienna, and The Ring Hotel Vienna).
First-time five-star inductee independent hotel: Le Richemond Geneva. (Photo / Forbes Travel Guide)
• International Star Distribution
o 13 groups have properties with five-star ratings across hotels, restaurants, and spas, including Banyan Tree Macau; The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs; The Cloister in Sea Island; Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego; The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong; Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas; Mandarin Oriental, Macau; Meadowood Napa Valley; Montage Laguna Beach; Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island; The Peninsula Hong Kong; Wynn Las Vegas; and Wynn Palace, Macau.
o Altira Macau and Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong each earned four five-star distinctions for their hotels, spas, and two restaurants.
o Nuwa Macau earned a total of five five-star distinctions for its hotel, spa, and three restaurants.
o Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong and Wynn Macau were awarded a total of six five-star ratings for their hotels, spas, and four restaurants.
o 13 groups have properties with five-star ratings across hotels, restaurants, and spas, including Banyan Tree Macau; The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs; The Cloister in Sea Island; Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego; The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong; Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas; Mandarin Oriental, Macau; Meadowood Napa Valley; Montage Laguna Beach; Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island; The Peninsula Hong Kong; Wynn Las Vegas; and Wynn Palace, Macau.
o Altira Macau and Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong each earned four five-star distinctions for their hotels, spas, and two restaurants.
o Nuwa Macau earned a total of five five-star distinctions for its hotel, spa, and three restaurants.
o Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong and Wynn Macau were awarded a total of six five-star ratings for their hotels, spas, and four restaurants.
Wynn Macau. (Photo / Forbes Travel Guide)
• The Cities with the Most Five-Star Hotels
o U.S. cities with the most five-star hotels: New York (10), Beverly Hills (6), Las Vegas (5), and Miami (5).
o Macau becomes the city with the most five-star hotels in the world (12). Last year, it tied with Paris (10). Other cities with the most five-star hotels include: Paris (10), London (9), and Hong Kong (8).
• The Cities with the Most Five-Star Restaurants
o U.S. cities with the most five-star restaurants: New York (7) and Las Vegas (6).
o Macau (12) and Hong Kong (9) are now the cities with the most five-star restaurants in the world.
o Disney earns its first five-star restaurant distinction. The cuisine at Victoria & Albert Restaurant in Disney World Orlando has attracted many guests.
• The Destinations with the Most Five-Star Spas
o U.S. regions with the most five-star spas: California (9), Florida (5), and Nevada (5). California’s newest five-star spa is the Spa at Rancho Valencia in San Diego.
o Luna y Mar in Los Cabos and The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou have received their first five-star distinctions. o Macau (8), Hong Kong (5), Las Vegas (5), and Shanghai (4) are the cities with the most five-star spas in the world.
o U.S. cities with the most five-star hotels: New York (10), Beverly Hills (6), Las Vegas (5), and Miami (5).
o Macau becomes the city with the most five-star hotels in the world (12). Last year, it tied with Paris (10). Other cities with the most five-star hotels include: Paris (10), London (9), and Hong Kong (8).
• The Cities with the Most Five-Star Restaurants
o U.S. cities with the most five-star restaurants: New York (7) and Las Vegas (6).
o Macau (12) and Hong Kong (9) are now the cities with the most five-star restaurants in the world.
o Disney earns its first five-star restaurant distinction. The cuisine at Victoria & Albert Restaurant in Disney World Orlando has attracted many guests.
• The Destinations with the Most Five-Star Spas
o U.S. regions with the most five-star spas: California (9), Florida (5), and Nevada (5). California’s newest five-star spa is the Spa at Rancho Valencia in San Diego.
o Luna y Mar in Los Cabos and The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou have received their first five-star distinctions. o Macau (8), Hong Kong (5), Las Vegas (5), and Shanghai (4) are the cities with the most five-star spas in the world.
Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown. (Photo / Forbes Travel Guide)
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