AUSTIN, Texas — Some businesses in Austin have received recognition in a highly acclaimed international travel guide.
Business magazine Forbes has given 4-star ratings to nine Austin businesses in its latest Forbes Travel Guide, which is released annually.
The businesses that received the 4-star ratings are:
- Archer Hotel Austin, located at 3121 Palm Way
- Austin Proper Hotel, located at 600 W 2nd St
- Verbena Spa at Austin Proper Hotel, located at 600 W 2nd St
- Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection, located at 4100 Red River St
- Fairmont Austin, located at 101 Red River St
- Fairmont Austin Spa, located at 101 Red River St
- Garrison, located at 101 Red River St
- Four Seasons Hotel Austin, located at 98 San Jacinto Blvd
- The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Austin, located at 98 San Jacinto Blvd
The Forbes Travel Guide was first launched as the Mobil Travel Guide in 1958. Marketing themselves as an “authority on luxury hospitality”, Forbes Travel Guide is known for creating the first 5-Star rating system in the United States that is still used by hotels and restaurants today. The ratings are chosen by an anonymous team of inspectors who evaluate the businesses against proprietary standards.
Forbes Travel Guide gives out only 3 ratings for properties it reviews:
- Five Star, reserved for “Exceptional properties offering outstanding service and facilities.”
- Four-Star, for businesses that are “Excellent properties with high-quality service and amenities.”
- and Recommended: “Very good properties with consistent service and facilities”
In addition to luxury hotels, restaurants, spas, Forbes Travel Guide recently began rating ocean cruises and their restaurants.
The 2025 list has a total of 2,187 properties from all over the world. The full list can be found here.