This April 2023 archive explains three hotel-recognition programmes: Forbes Travel Guide, Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. Correction (31 October 2026): The 2021 winner examples below have been corrected; unsupported hotel-award attributions have been removed.
Forbes Travel Guide:
Forbes Travel Guide uses anonymous professional inspections to assess service and facilities. Its December 2022 coverage described Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, as a Five-Star hotel.
Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards:
The Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards collect reader votes and distinguish hotel and resort results across geographical categories.
In the 2021 Condé Nast Traveller results, Capella Ubud ranked first in the Indonesia resorts category, followed by Hoshinoya Bali and Alila Ubud. This was a regional resort ranking, rather than a global hotel top three.
Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards:
Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards use reader ratings covering facilities, location, service, food and value.
In the 2021 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, Mahali Mzuri in Kenya was named the No. 1 hotel in the world.
Understanding Award Categories:
Hotel, restaurant and spa recognitions are different categories. Identify the organiser, year and category of a property’s recognition before comparing it with another award.
The Impact of Awards on the Hotel Industry:
For the hotel industry, an award records recognition under a programme’s criteria. It should not be presented here as proof of higher bookings, revenue or profitability.
Conclusion:
These three programmes use different methods and categories. When comparing results, identify the organiser, year, region and type of recognition, and consult the original published result.
