Rui Pastorin
The Forbes Travel Guide’s 2026 Star Award Winners were unveiled this week, with Macau continuing to have the most five-starred hotels in any city, numbering 26, according to the Forbes Travel Guide (FTG) website.
Macau’s six integrated resort (IR) operators have each announced Five-Star Awards from Forbes Travel Guide 2026, including inaugural awardees and those consecutively maintaining their ratings, in separate statements.
SJM Resorts
For SJM Resorts, Palazzo Versace Macau is one of four newly awarded hotels in Macau this year, while Grand Lisboa Palace (GLP) in Cotai has become the world’s only integrated resort with all hotels FTG Five-Star rated and “the world’s first integrated resort to house three FTG Five-Star spas—The Spa at Grand Lisboa Palace, The Spa at THE KARL LAGERFELD, and The SPA at Palazzo Versace Macau – under one roof”.
Moreover, six restaurants have retained their FTG Five-Star ratings, four of which are located in GLP. In all, SJM received 14 Five-Star ratings across its properties this year.
SJM Managing Director Daisy Ho Chiu Fung was quoted by the statement as saying that Forbes Travel Guide underscores SJM’s “long-term commitment to service culture, operational excellence and consistently elevated guest experiences, reinforcing SJM’s leading role in global luxury travel and further strengthening Macau’s position as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.”
Galaxy Macau
Integrated resort operator Galaxy Macau garnered 12 Five-Star awards in the 2026 Forbes Travel Guide, marking “the fourth consecutive year it has broken its own record for having the most Five-Star hotels under a single roof”.
Featured this year are three additions with the new Capella at Galaxy Macau in Cotai; and restaurants Sushi Kissho by Miyakawa located at Galaxy Macau’s Raffles and Lai Heen at The Ritz-Carlton, Macau.
Kevin Kelley, Chief Operating Officer – Macau at Galaxy Entertainment Group, was quoted by the statement as saying: “These new accolades are a reflection of our team’s commitment to our ‘World-Class Asian Heart’ service philosophy. It’s about delivering sincere, detailed service that defines a new standard for luxury, not just in Macau but globally.”
Wynn
Wynn Resorts Macau this year achieved the most Forbes Travel Guide (FTG) awards of any individual resort in Macau, having a combined total of 63 stars this year.
For three years, Wynn Palace in Cotai has been the largest FTG Five-Star resort globally and is the only resort worldwide with six individual FTG Five-Star awards. The integrated resort operator added that Wynn Palace is again home to more FTG Five-Star Restaurants than any other individual resort in the world.
Wynn Macau, Limited Chief Operating Officer Frederic Luvisutto was quoted as saying: “With Wynn Resorts Macau earning more Forbes Travel Guide honours than any other individual resort in Macau this year, this distinction is a powerful testament to the extraordinary commitment of our team members, who consistently go above and beyond to deliver world-class experiences for travellers from across the globe.”
Melco Resorts & Entertainment
Melco Resorts & Entertainment received 19 Five-Star Awards this year, being “the world’s integrated resort operator with the most FTG Five-Star Awards”, its statement noted.
The achievement is anchored by the attainment of 107 FTG Stars across the company’s Hotel, Restaurant and Spa categories for properties including City of Dreams, Studio City, Altira Macau, and City of Dreams Manila.
Melco Chairman & CEO Lawrence Ho Yau-lung was quoted as saying: “We are deeply honoured to have Melco recognised as the world’s leading integrated resort company by Forbes Travel Guide in 2026. Attaining the most Five-Star awards globally among integrated resort operators is a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to excellence. We are thankful to our colleagues as such achievements would not be possible without their incredible efforts”
MGM
MGM said they received seven Five-Star Awards from Forbes Travel Guide. MGM MACAU earned its 11th consecutive Five-Star rating, while Tria Spa at both MGM MACAU and MGM COTAI has also garnered the accolade for the seventh consecutive year. Receiving the award for the fifth consecutive year, meanwhile, are Emerald Tower, Skylofts, Five Foot Road at MGM COTAI, and Imperial Court at MGM MACAU.
Kenneth Feng Xiaofeng, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, was quoted by the statement as saying: “Achieving sustained recognition from Forbes Travel Guide reflects a disciplined approach to service excellence and a steadfast commitment to maintaining high standards across the company’s properties. I am deeply grateful to the Golden Lion Team, whose professionalism, dedication, and shared pursuit of excellence underpin these achievements.”
Sands China set a new global record with seven Forbes Five-Star Hotels under one roof, details in a Post article yesterday on https://www.macaupostdaily.com/news/27430 .
