An Inside Look at the Forbes Travel Guide
Photo Credit: Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. The hotel is one of the Forbes Travel Guide's five-star properties. Mandarin Oriental
Skift Take
With so many hotel ratings systems out there, who can you trust? Should ratings systems be open to all, a la the People’s Choice Awards, or do more accurate results come from a system of professionals judging professionals, a la the Oscars or the Tonys? We take a look at one of the world's top rating guides for luxury properties.
International hotel ratings systems are everywhere. Many are amalgamations of other ratings systems; some, like TripAdvisor, average out user ratings; and then there’s the Forbes Travel Guide, which claims to be "the only independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas."
There are a few things you should know about the Forbes Travel Guide right off the bat. First, Forbes doesn’t own it. The publisher licenses its name to this independent entity. Secondly, unlike many other ratings systems, a team of full-time professional mystery shoppers inspects every rated hotel listed in the Forbes Travel Guide.
Additionally, the same company offers consulting services to hotels. According to the Forbes Travel Guide LinkedIn profile, "We also provide the hospitality industry with learning tools and programs that deliver insight into the star rating process and expert guidance on connecting with guests most effectively."
Although this fact leaves some hotel co
