Agents help Zagat’s choices
A substantial number of travel agents participated in the recently released Zagat Survey of the 2005 top US hotels and restaurants.
Winners included the Four Seasons.
The average hotel room rate is up 3.1%, according to the survey. The national average meal cost was $31.51 compared to $30.57 a year ago.
One third of travelers reported that while their domestic travel is up, they are traveling less to foreign destinations.
Four Seasons was named the top hotel chain, followed by Ritz-Carlton and the Luxury Collection. The top resort was also Four Seasons Hualalia, Big Island.
The top destination spa was the Golden Door in Escondido, California.
Top rated “newcomers” included the Mandarin Oriental, Miami; the Ritz-Carlton, Orlando; the Mandarin Oriental, New York City; Four Seasons, Miami; and the Princeville Resort, Kauai, Hawaii.
Zagat Survey’s Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts and Spas cover 1,021 hotels, resorts and spas as well as major chains in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This year’s 16,413 frequent traveler participants included over 900 members of the American Society of Travel Agents.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025