Amanresorts and Four Seasons Rated Best Hotel Chains in the World; Paris' Four Seasons George V and Hong Kong's Peninsula Named Best International Hotels
Zagat Survey(R), the world's leading provider of consumer survey-based leisure content, today released its 2004 International Hotels, Resorts and Spas Survey. The new guide covers the world's best hotels, resorts and spas as reviewed by nearly 10,000 avid travelers and travel professionals who stayed at hotels an average of 40 nights per year. Also surveyed were 45 hotel chains and marketing groups. Using Zagat Survey's signature 30-point scale, surveyors rated and reviewed establishments in 94 countries for the quality of their Rooms, Service, Dining and Public Facilities.
"The results of this survey prove that you don't need to spend top dollar to enjoy top quality. In large parts of the world the travel industry is still a buyer's market with truly astounding values widely available," said Tim Zagat, co-publisher and CEO of Zagat Survey. "This guide will help travelers find the places thousands of surveyors have identified as the best in luxury travel."
And the Winners are:
Top Hotel Chains & Groups (10+ international properties):
1.Amanresorts
2.Four Seasons
3.Ritz-Carlton
4.Mandarin Oriental
5.Luxury Collection (Starwood)
Top Hotels (100+ rooms):
1.Four Seasons George V, Paris
2.Peninsula, Hong Kong
3.Oriental, Bangkok
4.Peninsula, Bangkok
5.Ciragan Palace Kempinski, Istanbul
Top Resorts (100+ rooms):
1.Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay, Bali, Indonesia
2.Four Seasons, Punta Mita Mexico
3.Amarvilas Oberoi, Agra, India
4.Four Seasons, Nevis, St. & Nevis
5.Burj Al Arab, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Top Small Resorts, Inns & Lodges (<100 rooms):
1.Singita, Kruger Area, South Africa
2.Amankila, Bali, Indonesia
3.Four Seasons Sayan, Bali, Indonesia
4.Rajvilas Oberoi, Rajasthan, India
5.Four Seasons, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Top Destination Spas:
1.Amandari, Bali, Indonesia
2.Chiva-Som International, Hua Hin, Thailand
3.Rancho La Puerta, Baja Peninsula, Mexico
4.Brenner's Park, Baden-Baden, Germany
5.Chedi, Phuket, Thailand
Top Hotel Alliances:
1.Relais & Chateaux
2.Leading Hotels of the World
3.Small Luxury Hotels
4.Preferred Hotels
Top Places By Country:
Australia:Lizard Island Lodge, Great Barrier Reef
Canada:Hastings House, Vancouver
China:Peninsula, Hong Kong
France:Four Seasons George V, Paris
Germany: Four Seasons, Berlin
India:Rajvilas Oberoi, Rajasthan
Indonesia:Amankila, Bali
Ireland: Sheen Falls Lodge, Co. Kerry
Israel:Carmel Forest, Haifa
Italy:Palazzo Sasso, Amalfi Coast
Japan:Ritz-Carlton, Osaka
Mexico:Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Baja Peninsula
Singapore:Four Seasons
South Africa:Singita, Kruger Area
Spain:Alfonso XIII, Seville
Switzerland:Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne
Thailand:Four Seasons, Chiang Mai
United Kingdom:Gidleigh Park, Devon
Key Survey Results:
In addition to rating and reviewing international establishments, the 2004 Zagat Survey measured consumer sentiment regarding service and travel trends. Survey results include:
Service? What Service?: Nearly two thirds (65%) of the Zagat surveyors cited poor service as the biggest irritant when staying in a hotel, resort or spa. No other complaint came close, not even dirty rooms (12%) or noisy accommodations (10%).
Meanwhile, 64% of surveyors found hospitality in hotels, resorts and spas outside the United States better than those within the U.S.
Unsteady Times: Although international travel has picked up during the past year, the market remains highly unsettled with the economy and fear of terrorism continuing to top travelers concerns.
As a result of these issues, the travel industry continues to offer highly favorable rates and discounts in large parts of the world, allowing the budget conscious traveler to afford places that previously may have been too expensive.
Ranked in order of impact were the following concerns:
The economy35 %
Fear of terrorism17 %
SARS 17 %
War in Iraq 7 %
Bad weather 7 %
Airline safety 6 %
Other11 %
Preferred Payment: When in comes to paying for travel, surveyors are overwhelmingly inclined to use credit cards. In fact, 93% said they usually paid via credit card, 4% with local currency, 2% with debit card and a mere 1% with traveler's check.
One for the Road: 44% of the Zagat surveyors admitted having taken objects at one time or another from the hotels they visited. The real question is whether the 56% of respondents who denied culpability were telling the truth.
Favorite items to take:
Toiletries64 %
Towels & Robes17 %
Ashtrays8 %
Pens 2 %
Slippers2 %
Notepad/stationery2 %
Other5 %
The 2004 Top International Hotels, Resorts & Spas guide is available in local bookstores or through www.zagat.com. Donna Marino edited the guide.
About Zagat Survey
Zagat Survey is the world's leading provider of consumer opinion based leisure content. With over 250,000 surveyors, Zagat Survey ratings and reviews cover restaurants, hotels, nightlife, movies, music, golf, shopping and a range of other entertainment resources. Zagat content is available in print, on the Web, on the Palm and Pocket PC operating systems, on mobile phones and on TV and radio. For more information, visit www.Zagat.com.
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