THE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, WORLD CLASS*

1. Suiran Kyoto: one of our all-time favorites*, near perfect stay, unique authentic Japanese ryokan/Western hotel hybrid experience, incredible Arashiyama location, amazing F/B, salivating for next stay
2. St Regis New York: one of our all-time favorites*, near perfect stay, Table 55 perhaps our most memorable F/B experience ever, incredible concierge team, unquestioned top choice for us in NYC
3. St Regis Florence: one of our all-time favorites*, made us love Florence when Belmond Villa San Michele never did, incredible F/B, authentic Florentine experience, amazing concierge
4. Ritz-Carlton Kyoto: if not for Suiran would be among our all-time favorites, near perfect stay, incredible F&B, amazing suite/decor, slow start but concierge came through big time, amazing service recovery
5. St Regis Punta Mita: one of our all-favorites*, second stay even better than first, incredible service/responsiveness, amazing F/B
6. St Regis San Francisco: one of our all-time favorites* and most visited luxury hotel for us in USA, stayed 4 times in 2018, always upgraded to my preferred Metropolitan Suite, always treated like super VIP, great F/B, concierge has 100% success rate even for Michelin 3* bookings, love SoMa location
7. Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho: almost amazing enough to be one of our all-time favorites, amazing hard product almost as impressive as Aman Tokyo, excellent soft product, incredible Ambassador recognition/treatment, incredible concierge, very good F/B, a few English language issues, and yet still more impressive than Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental, and Four Seasons


THE VERY GOOD

8. St Regis Houston: many stays, a favorite, always excellent and supremely comfortable stay, always incredible service, a bit dated hard product, always great F/B, excellent location for me, way better than Four Seasons
9. St Regis Osaka: a little dated but extremely comfortable hard product with generally excellent service and F/B, love the bar, Italian restaurant worthy of 1 star, tremendous Ambassador recognition, excellent location
10. SLS Beverly Hills: many stays, world class F/B, nice renovation with amazing suite, amazing Ambassador recognition/treatment
11. La Bandita Townhouse Pienza: a true gem and unique boutique hotel in beautiful location, shockingly good hard product, wonderful charm/hospitality, wonderful service/concierge
12. Ritz-Carlton Boston: just beats the W by a hair, wonderful F/B, excellent service recovery after air con fail, feels a bit higher end than W, nice renovated hard product (except for bathroom)
13. W Boston: several stays, great hard product, great soft product, nice service, great Ambassador recognition/treatment
14. St Regis Atlanta: beautiful but dated hard product now being renovated, great service recovery after check in and air con fails, amazing sense of place, incredible F/B, more character and better location than Four Seasons
15. Renaissance Providence Downtown: many stays, feels more like JW/semi luxury, excellent hard product with an air con issue here and there, nice responsiveness/service, limited room service menus
16. Sheraton Hartford South: many stays, incredible handling of blizzard power loss, surprisingly excellent F/B and service, nice bar scene, always very reliable


THE GOOD

17. St Regis Bal Harbour: nice but dated hard product, many service fails, nice location, good Ambassador treatment/ recognition and service recovery, air con issues, incredible Royal Suite upgrade, amazing beach service
18. Atlantis by Giardino Zurich: spectacular hard product let down by shocking uneven service, air con fails and management misses, incredible F/B, beautiful retreat feel/location, would give second chance but risky
19. Ritz-Carlton San Francisco: nice hard product and soft product, curious air con fail, rigidity to service, decent Club, OK location, very friendly staff, excellent F/B, but I still vastly prefer the St Regis
20. Westin San Jose: older hard product but lots of character, good Ambassador recognition/treatment, solid all around
21. Le Meridien Arlington: nice public spaces, great air con, great location, nice bar/lounge, well appointed rooms, very improved service and F/B
22. Le Meridien Cambridge: modern and clean, good F/B, some service fails but nice recovery, good location out of the thick of things but with easy access, feels more boutique than chain
23. Four Points NYC Midtown: surprisingly good service, nice suite upgrade/Ambassador treatment
24. Sheraton Philadelphia University City: always good Ambassador recognition/treatment, nice location for my work, decent F/B, very good rates
25. Four Points NYC Chelsea: surprisingly good service, nice suite upgrade/Ambassador treatment, smaller property
26. Courtyard New Haven: always reliable, decent service, clean rooms, air con works well
27. Courtyard Irvine John Wayne Airport: several stays to reach LTPP status, nice suite upgrade on first phantom stay, friends stayed rest of stays, staff eager to please, nice lobby, good deal for points/cash

THE BAD

28. W Hollywood: air con massive fail on 1 night stay, drove home wasn't charged, I may try again (so maybe Good?)
29. Ritz-Carlton Dallas: overpriced, terrible air con, terrible and unacceptable wifi, not impressive bar, but great restaurant, but I would pick W Dallas next trip, not worth it
30. JW Marriott Austin: massive convention hotel, excellent hard product except for big air con fail finally fixed, always a zoo, uncertain management, some good service, some poor service, amazing Presidential suite upgrade then dropped the ball on everything else, not luxury, good rates, would pick W Austin next time

THE UGLY

31. Sheraton New York Times Square: several stays unfortunately, I only stay here because the rates are sometimes good for my groups, I hate this hotel, massive factory/convention hotel, annoying elevator banks, subpar air con, terrible service, terrible follow through, unanswered phone calls to front desk, Plat status makes no difference here, lounge crowded and sucks

*For the record, our all-time favorites list also includes Singita Boulders South Africa, Amanjiwo Java, Amangiri Utah, Amankila Bali, Gritti Palace Venice, Hotel Imperial Vienna, St Regis San Francisco, Taj Umaid Bhawan Jodhpur, Cavas Wine Lodge Mendoza, Upper House Hong Kong, La Residence Franschhoek, Peninsula Shanghai, & Cayo Espanto Belize.