Adare Manor and Ashford Castle have retained its Five-Star rating for the fifth consecutive year in the Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards.
Forbes Travel Guide inspectors visit hotels anonymously, evaluating their experience on a strict set of criteria and 500 service, facility and guest experience standards, with an emphasis on service.
Forbes Travel Guide, a separate company to the global media giant, describes itself as “the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruises”.
Forbes ratings are highly coveted by luxury properties, who see them as something of a global gold standard based on anonymous inspections – similar to Michelin star ratings for restaurants. The ratings began as Mobil Travel Guide, a guidebook for US motorists, in 1958.
Of the 187,000 hotels who applied and of the 2,040 properties rated worldwide just 342 hotels achieved five star status.
Niall Rochford GM at Ashford Castle said: “There’s a nervous excitement that permeates the castle in the weeks leading into the annual Forbes Travel Guide rating announcement.” The spa at Ashford Castle also received a Five-Star ranking.
Brendan O’Connor, GM at Adare Manor said: “To go through such an in-depth judging process and to achieve a Five-Star rating means a great deal to us all.”
Conrad Dublin and The Merrion are rated as ‘Forbes Four-Star’, while other recommended properties include The Shelbourne, The Westbury, The Fitzwilliam, InterContinental Dublin, The K Club, and Trump International Golf Links & Hotel.
Forbes Travel Guide rates over 2,000 properties worldwide, with just 340 receiving the ‘Forbes Five-Star’ distinction.
Forbes Travel Guide 2024 (Ireland)
- Adare Manor, Co Limerick (Five-star)
- Ashford Castle, Co Mayo (Five-star)
- The Spa at Ashford Castle (Five-star)
- Conrad Dublin (Four-star)
- The Merrion, Dublin (Four-star)
- The Fitzwilliam, Dublin (Recommended)
- The K Club, Co Kildare (Recommended)
- InterContinental Dublin (Recommended)
- The Shelbourne, Dublin (Recommended)
- Trump International Doonbeg (Recommended)
- The Westbury, Dublin (Recommended)
Forbes’ 66th annual list saw the group add into new destinations including the Algarve, Curacao, Iceland and Rwanda. Just three hotels won a new triple ‘Forbes Five-Star’ status, combining the top awards for hotel, restaurant and spa: Salamander Middleburg in Virginia, Rosewood Miramar Beach in California and The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
Amanda Frasier President of Ratings for Forbes Travel Guides said: “This year’s list demonstrates the evolving focus the discerning traveller has on well-being and the desire for authentic destination-centric itineraries. Travel was highly anticipated to have a strong year and the new winners on our 2024 list reflect the increased efforts properties are making to deliver elevated guest experiences.”
