The luxury segment of the hotel industry has been through a rough couple of years, but two new properties and a total of 54 have earned the coveted fifth star from Forbes Travel Guide.
The newcomers are the Island Shangri-La Hotel in Hong Kong and Falling Rock at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, PA.
“It’s a testament to the industry as whole that hotels have continued to drive that superior experience during hard times,” says Shane O’Flaherty, president and CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, formerly the Mobil Travel Guide.
O’Flaherty says during good times, like in 2007 and 2008, approximately four to six new properties receive the five-star rating and 16 to 20 join the list of four-star winners, but during the downturn those numbers have fallen to just two being added to the five-star list this year and 12 at the four-star level.