Year-end travel must-read: Tourism Bureau unveils list of 60 "star-rated hotels" across Taiwan

▲Boasting the title of "Taiwan's Venice," the "Hualien Ideal Land Resort Hotel" features the island's longest artificial canal running through its grounds, making it one of the 60 meticulously selected and comfortable star-rated hotels recognized by the Tourism Bureau. (Photo / Provided by Ideal Land Resort Hotel)

By reporter Lai Wen-hsuan / Taipei

With the year-end travel season approaching, have you found a good hotel yet? The Tourism Bureau has carefully selected 60 high-quality hotels from nearly 500 star-rated accommodations across Taiwan. The first wave of 30 hotels is divided into five categories: those with a story, high cost-performance, great cuisine, refined comfort, and creative fun. On the 13th, the second wave of 30 hotels was also announced. Through internationally recognized certification standards, the aim is to make it easier for both domestic and international travelers to identify and choose their accommodations.

▲The Tourism Bureau has handpicked 60 star-rated hotels nationwide, offering credible hotel certifications for both domestic and international travelers. (Photo / Reporter Lai Wen-hsuan)

Drawing inspiration from the American AAA rating system, the Tourism Bureau launched Taiwan’s star-rated hotel certification program in 2009, entrusting professional evaluation agencies to carry it out. It is an internationally recognized certification standard with greater authority and credibility. This year, the Tourism Bureau selected 60 hotels out of 495 that applied from one to five-star establishments across Taiwan, designating them as the “Star Travel 60.” The first wave of 30 star-rated hotels is further divided into five major themed categories: Story, Super Value, Gourmet, Comfort, and Creativity.

▲Lobby of Vanilla Art Hotel. (Photo / Screenshot fromVanilla Art Hotel’s Facebook fan page)

First wave list of 30 star-rated hotels:

Hotels with a Story
1. Beimen Cultural Travel
2. Earth Pure Travel
3. Hui-Lan Inn
4. Alishan Guesthouse
5. Vanilla Art Hotel
6. Cheng Yi Cultural Travel

Happy and Super Value
1. Tiancheng Hotel
2. Starry Business Hotel
3. Cheng Travel Crystal Shine Hotel
4. Zhenbao Hotel
5. Guan Ge Business Hotel
6. Royal Class International Hotel

Great Cuisine
1. Lao Ye Group
2. Four Points by Sheraton
3. resident Taipei Hotel
4. Maple Huatai Resort
5. Hanxuan Group
6. Hot Spring Grand Hotel

Refined and Comfortable
1. Sheraton Taipei Hotel
2. The Lalu Sun Moon Lake
3. Beitou Lihpao Hot Spring Resort
4. Formosa Fuhwa Hotel Hsinchu
5. Hualien Ideal Land Resort Hotel
6. Yehliu Parkside Resort

Creative and Fun
1. Toucheng Farm
2. Redmi International Hotel
3. Wenbin Hotel
4. Blue Sky Leechi Hotel
5. China Collection Business Hotel
6. Kaohsiung Farglory Resort

▲Deputy Director of the Tourism Bureau Chang Hsi-tsung stated that the future goal is to accelerate the expansion of Taiwan’s star-rated hotels, so that when travelers think of booking a room, they think of star-rated hotels. (Photo / Reporter Lai Wen-hsuan)

Deputy Director of the Tourism Bureau Chang Hsi-tsung said that the star-rated hotel system is a new initiative tailored to Taiwan’s context, where every hotel can participate, and each star rating is awarded through a rigorous and objective evaluation process. The Tourism Bureau aims to accelerate the expansion of the number of star-rated hotels, hoping that both domestic and international travelers will think of star-rated hotels when booking accommodations in Taiwan.

On the 13th, the Tourism Bureau also held the “Star Travel 60 – The Heart of Stars Award Ceremony,” bringing together 60 one- to five-star hotels across Taiwan, including joint promotions by renowned groups such as Harace, Lao Ye, Yunlang, and Fuhwa, to celebrate and promote the quality, pride, and confidence of Taiwan’s hotel industry.

▲Outdoor hot spring at Beitou Lihpao Hot Spring Resort. (Photo / Provided by Beitou Lihpao Hot Spring Resort)

Second wave list of 30 star-rated hotels:
Cathay Business Travel, Regent Group, Hua She Business Hotel, Lide Beitou Hot Spring Hotel, Yalin Hotel, Capsule Inn Yongsu, Yangmingshan Tianlai Resort, Fuxin Hotel, National Freeway No. 2 Boutique Business Hotel, Aurs Hotel, Xiangcheng Hotel, Fenggu Hotel, Mengzong Mountain Villa, Liya Island Travel, Budai Cultural Creative Hotel, Jia Shi Bao Business Hotel, Crystal Hotels Group, Shangri-La’s Far Eastern International Hotel Tainan, Heo Boutique Cultural Travel, EDA Royal Hotel, Lituo Business Hotel, Metropolitan Business Hotel Qixian Branch, Kaohsiung Shinjong Hotel, Axian Hot Spring Wellness Club, Evergreen Laurel Hotel (Jiaoxi), Meilun Hotel, Rihpy International Resort, Penghu Four Points by Sheraton, Fengjia Hotel, Yuantai Hotel

▲The Tourism Bureau awarded flags to the second wave of 30 star-rated hotels to jointly promote Taiwan’s star-rated hotel initiative. (Photo / Reporter Lai Wen-hsuan)

The second wave of 30 star-rated hotels were also officially inducted today, including groups such as Far Eastern, Cathay, Fuxin, and Crystal Hotels. The campaign also expanded to include outlying islands, with participation from Penghu Four Points by Sheraton, Yalin Hotel, and Yuantai Hotel. The event will continue until the end of the year.