Red Sea Global announced in a press release today a historic milestone in the global tourism sector as The Red Sea became the first destination ever to receive a comprehensive accreditation from Forbes Travel Guide.
This accreditation follows a year of rigorous efforts and meticulous evaluations aimed at elevating hospitality standards across The Red Sea. The process included a strategic collaboration with Forbes Travel Guide to develop and implement exceptional service standards across five key stages of the guest journey: reservations, land transport, marine transport, air transport, and guest experiences, SPA reported.
Red Sea Global CEO John Pagano stated: "At Red Sea Global, we have always believed that true luxury is defined not only by the beauty of a place, but by how guests feel throughout their entire journey. Receiving Forbes Travel Guide’s accreditation at a destination level is a powerful testament to the culture of exceptional service we have embedded across our teams and operators at every guest touchpoint. This is not merely a hotel standard, but a fully integrated destination-wide system."
Forbes Travel Guide CEO Hermann Elger also praised the milestone, saying: "We congratulate Red Sea Global and The Red Sea team on earning the world’s first accreditation of its kind as a Verified Destination. This achievement marks a significant moment for the hospitality industry. Delivering and sustaining service excellence at a destination scale requires deep commitment across every stage of the guest experience—from booking to farewell. The Red Sea has successfully established a new international benchmark for tourism destinations."
To ensure the consistency of this excellence, Red Sea Global established 182 precise service standards, organized into eight core categories: personalized service, courtesy, efficiency, cleanliness, luxury, comfort, technical skills, and professional appearance. These standards were embedded through a comprehensive institutional framework integrating training, communication, and continuous review, ensuring guests experience this level of excellence throughout the entire destination—not only within resort boundaries.
In parallel with this accomplishment, the first resorts opened at The Red Sea were included in Forbes Travel Guide’s prestigious Star Awards list for this year. The list featured three iconic properties: Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea; The St. Regis Red Sea Resort; and Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.
Forbes Travel Guide ratings are known for their objectivity and independence, with anonymous inspectors posing as guests to evaluate hundreds of exacting standards focused on service excellence and facility quality. Assessments also extend to intangible elements that shape memorable stays, such as a property’s ability to enhance well-being and the unique sense of place created by design and location.
