2026 Forbes Travel Guide Soon To Be Rated Properties

Operated by Forbes Travel Guide, the 'Soon To Be Rated' list includes properties that are being evaluated against up to 900 rigorous and objective standards. Winners are selected through a process of anonymous, incognito inspections where professional inspectors stay at hotels for at least two nights to ensure service excellence. This category is prestigious as it marks a property's entry into the world's only independent global rating system, covering hotels, restaurants, spas, and ocean cruises. The list is updated as new luxury venues emerge globally, maintaining the guide's 68-year legacy of verifying world-class hospitality.

The Forbes Travel Guide 'Soon To Be Rated' list serves as an essential roadmap for luxury travelers seeking the next generation of world-class hospitality. This curated selection highlights properties that have already caught the eyes of expert editors and are now being vetted by incognito inspectors against the industry's most exacting standards. On this Pearl page, readers will discover the newest contenders for Five-Star status, offering a first look at the hotels, restaurants, and spas defining the future of global luxury.

The 2026 edition of the 'Soon To Be Rated' list is part of Forbes Travel Guide's most expansive year to date, covering more than 100 countries and introducing new destinations like Bhutan and Uzbekistan. Notable additions this year include high-profile debuts such as The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and the Hard Rock Hotel London, Ontario, reflecting a significant post-pandemic surge in luxury hospitality developments.