These are The World’s Best Hotels: Inside the 2016 Forbes Travel Guide Ratings

YEREVAN, February 24, ARMENPRESS. Forbes Travel Guide has today announced its largest set of rated hotels yet. Across 29 countries and more than 100 of the top global destinations, the acclaimed brand has unveiled its 58th annual list of top luxury properties worldwide, with 154 properties earning a coveted five star rating, “Armenpress” reports

The list includes 42 new Five-Star hotels, 101 new Four-Star hotels and 57 new hotels in the Recommended category.

Forbes Travel Guide now rates properties in 29 countries throughout The Americas,Europeand theAsia-Pacificregion and expects to double its size again in the next year with expansion into theMiddle EastandAfrica. The 2016 Five-Star hotel winners now total 154 — the most in Forbes Travel Guide’s history. The company continues its uniquely selective process for recognizing the finest properties in the markets it rates, rewarding intuitive, gracious service — which makes winning an award one of the most prestigious achievements in the industry.

In addition to the Five-Star hotel winners, two new restaurants earned Five-Star awards, bringing the total to 56. Two new spas achieved Forbes Travel Guide’s highest honor, pushing the tally to 47 Five-Star spas.

Forbes Travel Guide also recognized a total of 410 Four-Star hotels, 187 Four-Star restaurants and 180 Four-Star spas, as well as its list of 159 Recommended hotels and 68 Recommended restaurants in the markets it rates —the United States,Canada,Mexico, theCaribbean,Bermuda,Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls,Rio de Janeiro,Sao Paulo,Costa Rica,England’sHome Counties,London, the French Riviera, Paris,Berlin,Florence,Milan,Rome,Geneva,Bangkok,Beijing,Guangzhou,Hangzhou,Hong Kong,Macau,Shanghai,Singapore,TaipeiandTokyo.

Four Seasons snagged arguably the “top brand” nod, launching six new five star hotels (Florence, Geneva, Hangzhou, Costa Rica, Paris, and Whistler) as well as 26 existing Five Star properties.

Paris was the world’s biggest winner for “new” five star hotel awards, debuting nine properties to the top list:Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris; Hôtel Plaza Athénée; La Réserve Paris;Le Bristol Paris;Le Meurice; Le Royal Monceau — Raffles Paris; Mandarin Oriental, Paris; The Peninsula Paris; and Shangri-La Hotel, Paris.

Italyalso scored high, with eight hotels earning Five-Star accolades in the country’s first year as a rated destination.Romecontinues to be a hot luxury destination, boasting four Five-Star hotels (Hotel de Russie, Hotel Eden, Hotel Hassler Roma,J.K. Place Roma).Florenceclinched three Five-Star awards (Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, Hotel Savoy, Portrait Firenze) andMilantook one (Mandarin Oriental,Milan)

The boutique trend continued, with properties like London’s The Goring and Rome’s J.K. Place gaining top honors.