As We See It

Dozens of Vegas destinations earn Forbes Travel Guide’s Star Awards

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An aerial view of the Las Vegas Strip on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, aboard a Maverick helicopter.
Photo: Tom Donoghue / DonoghuePhotography.com

After sending incognito inspectors all over the world to lodge, dine and lounge at the most esteemed hotels, restaurants and spas, the Forbes Travel Guide has released its 2016 Star Award winners—and dozens of Las Vegas destinations made the cut.

The annual report, which was released yesterday, is now in its 58th year and uses more than 500 criteria to grant both Five- and Four-Star Awards, as well as “Recommended” distinctions for hotels and restaurants.

Las Vegas is home to five of the 154 hotels with Five-Star ratings (Aria Sky Suites, Mandarin Oriental, Skylofts at MGM Grand and the Tower Suites at both Wynn and Encore), three of the 56 Five-Star restaurants (Joël Robuchon, Guy Savoy and Twist) and four of the 47 Five-Star spas (Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Wynn and Encore)—and all are repeat winners, as are the 11 Vegas hotels (out of a list of 411) that received Four-Star distinctions (Aria, Bellagio, the Cosmopolitan, Wynn and Encore, Four Seasons, the Laurel Collection at Caesars Palace, the M Resort, Vdara, Venetian and Palazzo).

New on the Four-Star restaurant list this year, which includes 187 eateries, is Wynn’s Lakeside, joining 16 other local restaurants: Andrea’s, AquaKnox, Aureole, Bar Masa, the Country Club at Wynn, Cut, Julian Serrano, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Le Cirque, Michael Mina, Mizumi, Picasso, Sage, Sinatra, SW Steakhouse and Wing Lei. The Four-Star spa list also included a Las Vegas debut, with Cosmopolitan’s Sahra Spa & Hammam joining six other local relaxation destinations (Venetian and Palazzo’s Canyon Ranch, Vdara’s ESPA, Spa Mio at the M Resort and spas at Aria, Trump Las Vegas and Bellagio) on the 180-venue roster.

A handful of hotels and restaurants were honored with the Recommended distinction, including the Cromwell, the Signature at MGM Grand, Trump International Hotel, B&B Ristorante, Carnevino, Hakkasan and the Jean Georges Steakhouse. For Forbes’ full Star Award list, visit forbestravelguide.com.

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