METHODOLOGY

The Forbes Traveler 400 list was determined through the following method:

We recruited panelists based on these qualifications:

• That they have stayed in 20 or more 5-star hotels in the past 18 months
• That they are not economically affiliated with any of the hotels they would then evaluate

We compiled a list of nearly 800 of the world's top-ranked hotels from a variety of respected sources (brand-new hotels and hotels closed for renovations were excluded); we also allowed for individual nominations beyond the original pool of properties. We then asked our experts to rate each property on seven criteria:

• Service
• Room & Bathroom
• Décor
• Food & Beverage
• Public Areas & Facilities
• Sports & Recreation
• Location

The survey results determined the world's top 400 hotels. We assigned the reviews to professional travel writers who visited these properties and did not receive special treatment from the hotels they covered.

The reviews were written by Viia Beaumanis, Kathleen Beckett, Andrea Bennett, Joshua Bernstein, Gary Bowerman, Sallie Brady, Cathay Che, Ondine Cohane, Jackie Cooperman, Laurel Delp, Guy Dittrich, Amy Fabris-Shi, Catherine Fairweather, Jill Fergus, Sunshine Flint, Kim Fredericks, Hillary Geronemus, Sarah Gilbert, Elaine Glusac, Lanie Goodman, Mark Graham, Gail Harrington, Bob Harris, Sandra Hart, Farhad Heydari, Charles CD Kang, Shellie Karabell, Marisa S. Katz, David Kaufman, Sarah Belk King, J.P. Lee, Pasquale Anthony Leonardo, Matthew Link, Alexander Lobrano, Kristin Luna, Jamie Marshall, Adam McCulloch, Lauren McCutcheon, Rob McKeown, Andrew Mersmann, Heidi Mitchell, Sean Moriva, Celeste Moure, Pam Price, Newley Purnell, Douglas Rogers, Christine Ryan, Kristan Schiller, Alistair Scott, Stephanie Stevens, Judy Sutton-Taylor, David Swanson, Elizabeth Terry, Laurie Werner, Stephen Whitlock, Gisella Williams, Jonathan Yevin, Joe Yogerst, Alexander Zaitchik.

The Forbes Traveler 400 was edited by Jeff Koyen and Alexander Zaitchik.