News & Trends: When you want to know where to go, how to get there and the best places to stay, there’s no better source than Forbes. Unless you consider the Mobil star rating system. Luckily for luxury travelers, Mobil and Forbes have announced their partnership, expanding their world-renowned star system.

Since October 1, 2009, Mobil Travel Guide has become Forbes Travel Guide, and the Mobil Four and Five Star Award designation will become known as the "Forbes Four and Five Star Award" designation for hotels, restaurants and spas, beginning with the announcement of ratings for 2010.

"The Forbes brand will continue the tradition of identifying and defining excellence in the travel space through the time honored Hotel, Restaurant and Spa Five Star Rating system that Mobil Travel Guide pioneered over 51 years ago," said Shane O'Flaherty, President and CEO of Mobil Travel Guide. "We are committed to the same rigor and discipline of the inspections and ratings process as we have for the past five decades well into the future."

The new partnership is a combination of over 140 years of experience in the travel industry, bringing Forbes to the forefront of travel resources. The revamp of the historic source for business and wealth will also include a new website and a re-launch of the guide sources, both to be revealed in the coming year.

The 2010 Forbes Travel Guide is the first edition under the new banner and includes five Five Star hotels, two Five Star Restaurants and seven Five Star Spas added to the prestigious list.

O'Flaherty explains the new additions, With an unprecedented downturn in the economy this year, properties have taken steps to refine their processes to become more efficient. Yet, it is important to note that the employees of these same properties have remained as engaged and passionate as ever about providing the best guest experience that they can."

The new 5 star hotel properties on the list are: Altira Macau, Macau, China; Montage Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills, CA; Four Seasons Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu, Kailua-Kona, HI; Tower Suites at Encore, Las Vegas, NV; The Peninsula New York, New York, NY. The new additions allow New York to maintain its position as the top Forbes Five-Star hotel city.

If you’re looking for new restaurants to try, The Penrose Room, Colorado Springs, CO and Fountain Restaurant, Philadelphia, PA have been added to the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star restaurant list.

Spa lovers will be pleased to know that the number of 5 star spas has also increased, thanks to the addition of Altira Spa, Macau, China; The Oriental Spa at Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, China; Spa at Pelican Hill, Newport Coast, CA; Spa at The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CO; Spa at Mandarin Oriental Boston, Boston, MA; Spa at Encore, Las Vegas, NV; and ESPA at Peninsula New York, New York, NY to the Forbes Five-Star spa list.

Ratings for the ForbesTravel Guide Star award winners and updated comprehensive reviews written by Forbes Travel Guide's experts are based on objective evaluations of more than 500 attributes, which can be found at forbestravelguide.com, along with a complete list of the 2010 Hotel, Restaurant and Spa Award winners.

For JustLuxe Carly Zinderman

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JL Staff

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