Asheville hotel, restaurant receive Forbes Travel Guide's 2023 Star Award
ASHEVILLE - An Asheville vacation destination popular with visitors worldwide has earned another accolade for its premier service and facilities.
Forbes Travel Guide, an independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas, announced its 2023 Star Awards recipients that include an Asheville hotel and restaurant on the famed Biltmore Estate.
The Inn on Biltmore Estate and the hotel’s restaurant, the Dining Room, have both received a four-star rating and Star Awards.
“This recognition is a remarkable achievement. It speaks to the dedication of our talented team to meet our guests’ standards for an exceptional hotel and dining experience at The Inn,” Vice President of Resort Experience Charles Thompson said in an email. “Our vision and goal at Biltmore is to preserve the art of hospitality, and the honor of these ratings is a clear indication that we are delivering on that commitment.”
Forbes Travel Guide’s 65th extensive annual list includes recommended, four- and five-star international establishments, and this year the rankings include ocean cruise resort ships.
Professional inspectors visit the destinations in person and anonymously as typical guests to keep objectivity, then make their assessments based on hundreds of exacting standards for service and the facility, according to the company.
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“Travel is in an incredible position for continued growth, as people prioritize authentic, in-person experiences,” Amanda Frasier, president of ratings for Forbes Travel Guide, said in a news release. “The hotels, ocean cruises, restaurants and spas on our 2023 Star Rating list demonstrate an impressive commitment to creating memorable environments that nurture connection, joy and sense of place as we experience the world to its fullest.”
In 1958, Forbes Travel Guide began as the Mobil Travel Guide, creating the original five-star rating system for hospitality.
A five-star rating is given to “outstanding, often iconic properties with virtually flawless service and amazing facilities.”
A four-star rating is granted to “exceptional properties, offering high levels of service and quality of facility to match.”
The “recommended” category is designated for “excellent properties with consistently good service and facilities.”
The Inn on Biltmore Estate’s four-star rating has been maintained for 22 consecutive years since it first opened on the 8,000-acre property. The 210-room hotel offers views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers amenities including common sitting areas, a library, The Spa at Biltmore and an outdoor rimless pool and hot tub, in addition to the many other activities and sights available across the estate.
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“The castle-like resort is an inviting respite, offering you personalized service in elegant surroundings with the influence and hospitality of the former home of George Vanderbilt in mind,” the review stated. “The interior of the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel and lobby, with its wood paneling, large fireplace surrounded by stacked stones and cozy sitting areas, is reminiscent of a past era of grandeur and designed after the stately public rooms at Biltmore House.”
In 2018, the Dining Room at The Inn received its first ranking and has retained its four-star restaurant ranking for five consecutive years.
Thompson attributed the designations to its high level of consistency in the finest of details that create a luxurious ambiance, world-class service and unparalleled quality. The Dining Room is designed to create an elegant Vanderbilt-style dining experience while still being warm, friendly and inviting.
“Wowing our guests and elevating experiences beyond expectations is foundational to everything we do, and that is only accomplished through our wonderful team who have a passion for service,” Thompson said.
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Biltmore’s new Executive Chef Brian Anderson leads the kitchen, which serves breakfast, dinner and soon traditional full-service afternoon tea, using fresh seasonal products and estate-raised ingredients.
Forbes Travel Guide described the Dining Room as “a traditional restaurant that focuses on high-quality, über-seasonal and local cuisine” and “uses farmers and producers from the Asheville area to round out its menu, guaranteeing that everything is newly picked and delicious.”
Read Forbes Travel Guide’s review of The Inn on Biltmore Estate at forbestravelguide.com/hotels/asheville-highlands-north-carolina/the-inn-on-biltmore-estate.
Read the full review of the Dining Room at forbestravelguide.com/restaurants/asheville-highlands-north-carolina/dining-room-at-inn-on-biltmore-estate.
For more about the Biltmore Estate, visit biltmore.com.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter/Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Biltmore Estate's Inn, Dining Room receive Forbes Travel Guide award
