Forbes Travel Guide has honored 23 Arizona hospitality favorites — hotels, resorts, spas and restaurants — with 2026 Star Awards.

Forbes Travel Guide — the only independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruises—today unveiled its 2026 Star Awards. See the full list of honorees on ForbesTravelGuide.com.

The 68th annual list hits a major milestone: it spans more than 100 countries, including new destinations like Bhutan, Croatia, Georgia, Grenada, Laos, Poland, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Uzbekistan.

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23 Arizona locations earn 2026 Star Awards

PropertyRatingTypeDestinationCountry
Aji Spa5-StarSpaPhoenixUnited States (AZ)
Ambiente, A Landscape HotelRecommendedHotelSedonaUnited States (AZ)
The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort5-StarHotelScottsdaleUnited States (AZ)
CORE Kitchen & Wine Bar4-StarRestaurantTucsonUnited States (AZ)
Cress on Oak Creek4-StarRestaurantSedonaUnited States (AZ)
Enchantment Resort4-StarHotelSedonaUnited States (AZ)
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North4-StarHotelScottsdaleUnited States (AZ)
The Global Ambassador4-StarHotelPhoenixUnited States (AZ)
Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch ResortRecommendedHotelTucsonUnited States (AZ)
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & SpaRecommendedHotelPhoenixUnited States (AZ)
JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & SpaRecommendedHotelScottsdaleUnited States (AZ)
Kai Restaurant5-StarRestaurantPhoenixUnited States (AZ)
L’Apothecary Spa4-StarSpaSedonaUnited States (AZ)
L’Auberge de Sedona4-StarHotelSedonaUnited States (AZ)
Mii amo Spa4-StarSpaSedonaUnited States (AZ)
Mii amo5-StarHotelSedonaUnited States (AZ)
The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort, Scottsdale4-StarHotelScottsdaleUnited States (AZ)
The Phoenician Spa4-StarSpaScottsdaleUnited States (AZ)
PY SteakhouseRecommendedRestaurantTucsonUnited States (AZ)
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain5-StarHotelTucsonUnited States (AZ)
Royal Palms Resort and SpaRecommendedHotelPhoenixUnited States (AZ)
Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse PassRecommendedHotelPhoenixUnited States (AZ)
The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain5-StarSpaTucsonUnited States (AZ)

The list also features more new award winners than ever before and many inaugural distinctions, signaling that luxury travel is moving into a new era:

  • The world’s first Five-Star cruise accolades. As cruising’s popularity soars, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma becomes the first Five-Star cruise in FTG’s history. And Celebrity Xcel’s Le Voyage from master chef Daniel Boulud is the first Five-Star cruise ship restaurant.
  • Smaller destinations make big strides. As luxury travelers look beyond big capitals in favor of smaller cities that have sophisticated offerings without the crowds, hotels are rising to the occasion. Inaugural Five-Stars arrive in Turks and Caicos (Wymara Villas); Nikko, Japan (The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko); and Montenegro (One&Only Portonovi). The Charleston Place in Charleston and 100 Princes Street in Edinburgh earn Four-Stars, elevating their cities’ hospitality offerings and the continued tourism rise of some less-explored markets.
  • Marriott International Luxury hotels shine. Atlanta receives its first double Five-Star: The St. Regis Atlanta and its Atlas Buckhead restaurant. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes obtains the city’s first top hotel accolade. And Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is the first Five-Star from Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea giga-project.
  • Luxury pivots from prescribed to personal. By leaning into customized, local immersion, hotels are moving away from one-size-fits-all hospitality toward a bespoke model that’s deeply rooted in its destination. Sedona’s first Five-Star, Mii amo, tailors wellness journeys to the red rock setting. And the Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio prioritizes local experiences that allow guests to explore at their own pace.
  • Hospitality leans into intimacy and privacy. For the fourth year, Macau continues to outpace the world’s top destinations in Five-Star hotels (28). The city’s newest winners show a shift toward a more intimate luxury tier: Capella at Galaxy Macau, Paiza Grand and Palazzo Versace Macau offer hotel-within-a-hotel experiences that favor privacy over scale.