Stars, Keys & Diamonds: Decoding Hotel Ratings |
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When Michelin launched its first restaurant guide to New Zealand this summer, the brand was already rating the country’s hotels with its Michelin Keys. But how do those rankings compare with Forbes Stars? What does it mean to make a World’s Best list? Should you check AAA Diamonds before a road trip? And how much weight should you give the hotel awards published by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure?
There are more ways than ever to rate a hotel, and not every award measures the same thing. Here is what some of the best-known rankings actually tell you. |
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Rosewood Hong Kong | Delaire Graff Estate, South Africa |
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Forbes Travel Guide has built its reputation around the promise, “We verify luxury.” Inspectors anonymously evaluate hundreds of standards across the guest experience, with 70 percent of the final score based on service. Properties earn a Recommended, Four-Star or Five-Star rating. For me, Forbes is especially useful when I want to understand the consistency and polish of a hotel’s service, not just how luxurious it looks. |
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Borgo San Pietro, Italy | Little Palm Island, Florida |
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Michelin brought its hotel Key rankings worldwide in 2025, evaluating properties on design, service, character, value and connection to their destination. The highest distinction is Three Michelin Keys. Because personality and sense of place matter, the Keys can highlight distinctive hotels that may feel very different from traditional luxury. |
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Passalacqua, Italy | Lion Sands Game Reserve, South Africa |
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The World’s 50 Best Hotels is chosen by more than 800 travel industry experts and experienced travelers based on hotels they have personally stayed at. Rather than measuring against a checklist, the list gives me a sense of which hotels are making the strongest impression on well-traveled guests right now. |
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The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina | Zadún Los Cabos, Mexico |
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AAA uses its long-standing Diamond system, with Five Diamond representing its highest level of luxury, service and amenities. Properties undergo unannounced inspections covering the overall guest experience. I find the Diamond rating particularly helpful when consistency, comfort and practical details are just as important as the wow factor. |
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Awasi Atacama, Chile | Six Senses Crans-Montana, Switzerland |
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Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure publish a wide range of hotel awards, some chosen by readers and others by editors and travel experts. I pay attention to both: reader awards can reveal longtime favorites, while editorial lists often point me toward the hotels creating the most buzz right now.
Rankings can tell you that a hotel is excellent, but they cannot tell you if it is excellent for you. And some of the most memorable properties may not carry a major rating or appear on a prominent list at all. I know how you like to travel and can look beyond the ratings and awards to recommend the hotel that truly fits your trip. |
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Stars, Keys and Diamonds can point you in the right direction. I’ll help you decide which hotel is right for you. |
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