Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Garners Top Accolades In Forbes Five And Four Star Awards, 2011

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group attained exceptionally high rankings in the annual ‘Oscars’ of the hotel industry: the Forbes Five & Four Star Awards.

According to Forbes, standards for Forbes Five Star Award certifications are exact, and few properties meet them. Within the industry, these awards are highly coveted and highly respected. Of the more than 3,000 hotels Forbes Travel Guide rates, only 54 achieve Forbes Five Star Award status, and only 20 spas have achieved the Forbes Five Star Award.

Three hotels within the Group, two of them located in Hong Kong, achieved certifications in both the hotel and spa category: Mandarin Oriental, New York, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong and The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong.

In addition, out of a total of only 20 Forbes Five Star Spas worldwide, six are Spas at Mandarin Oriental, more than any other hotel company. The list includes one of the Group’s newest additions, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas which opened in December, 2009. Together with New York, and both hotels in Hong Kong, the other Mandarin Oriental Five Star Spas are located at Mandarin Oriental, Boston and Mandarin Oriental, Miami.

“We are delighted to see so many of our properties included in this prestigious list,” said Andrew Hirst, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s Operations Director, Asia. “It is a testament to our hotels award-winning service and attention to detail which we aim to deliver each and every day.”

In recognition of the Group’s commitment to dining excellence, six restaurants were also awarded a Four Star mark of excellence. These include: Silks at Mandarin Oriental, San

Francisco, Cityzen at Mandarin Oriental, Washington, Azul at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, Asiate at Mandarin Oriental, New York, Asana at Mandarin Oriental, Boston and the newest entry, Twist at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas.

Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco, Miami, Boston and Las Vegas all achieved Four Star hotel status, while Mandarin Oriental, Washington achieved both Four Star hotel and spa status.

Forbes Travel Guide’s (formerly Mobil Travel Guide) Star Awards ratings process is based on more than 750 standardized criteria for hotels, restaurants and spas worldwide, making it the most rigorous and comprehensive in the industry. To achieve Forbes Travel Guide Four and Five Star status, properties must meet or exceed the bar-setting service standards, which are determined through an unannounced, undercover service evaluation conducted by Forbes Travel Guide’s expert inspectors.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world's most prestigious hotels and resorts. Mandarin Oriental now operates, or has under development, 42 hotels representing over 10,000 rooms in 27 countries, with 18 hotels in Asia, 12 in The Americas and 12 in Europe, Middle East and North Africa. In addition, the Group operates, or has under development, 13 Residences at Mandarin Oriental, connected to the Group’s properties.

Photography of Mandarin Oriental is available to download, in high and low resolution, in the Photo Library of our Media section, at www.mandarinoriental.com.