Celebrating Excellence: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest Shines with Forbes Star Awards

Forbes Travel Guide, the globally recognized rating system on luxury hospitality, unveiled its latest Star Awards on February 7, 2024. Among the distinguished recipients, Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest stands out, securing both the prestigious Forbes Five Stars for the hotel and Four Stars for the Spa, marking a unique achievement in the Hungarian market.

General Manager Thibaut Drege expresses his gratitude, stating, "Receiving the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star rating for the eighth consecutive year is a tremendous honour. It reflects the unwavering dedication of the Gresham Palace teams to delivering exceptional experiences and seamless service to our guests. I extend my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to our entire team."

Nestled in the heart of Budapest, the Art Nouveau landmark embodies the opulence of Budapest's Golden Era. Boasting 160 luxurious guest rooms, 19 expansive suites, and event spaces, the property stands as a beacon of elegance along Europe's picturesque rivers. Being featured on Forbes Travel Guide's esteemed Star rating list further underscores the Hotel's commitment to unparalleled service excellence.

"Travel was highly anticipated to have a strong year and the new winners on our 2024 list reflect the increased efforts properties are making to deliver elevated guest experiences," said Amanda Frasier, President of Ratings for Forbes Travel Guide. "This year's list demonstrates the evolving focus the discerning traveller has on well-being and the desire for authentic destination-centric itineraries. We congratulate all the 2024 Star Award winners for their significant achievements."

About the Rating System

FTG compiles its ratings using an objective, independent and data-driven process. Incognito inspectors pose as everyday guests and stay at hotels, board cruises, receive spa services and dine at fine restaurants around the world. They test some 900 exacting standards - such as whether a room is designed to promote sleep quality or whether the food-and-beverage choices support a guest’s well-being - emphasizing exceptional service, which accounts for 70 percent of a property’s rating. Newer standards focus on the guest experience, such as ensuring “cocktails are dynamically interesting and photogenic” and even asking if the inspector would “readily recommend this property to others.” The remaining 30 percent comes from the quality and condition of the facilities. Finally, inspectors are now required to reflect on whether there was great value in the experience.