Forbes Travel Guide 2026 Star Awards Shift Luxury Transfer Patterns Globally

The 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards cover 2,422 properties across more than 100 countries, a scale that will influence transfer flows to airports, seaports and city centers—particularly around newly recognized luxury hotels, spas and cruise terminals where demand for pre-booked transfers and private chauffeur services spikes.

Key figures at a glance

The 2026 roster demonstrates the breadth of luxury recognition and creates measurable implications for ground transport planners, taxi operators, and private transfer services that serve high-end travelers arriving at airports and ports.

Notable firsts and regional highlights

The 68th edition introduced several industry milestones that matter to transfer operators and destination managers:

• Ilma from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection became the first Five-Star cruise ship in Forbes Travel Guide history—anticipate targeted transfers to cruise terminals and maritime pickup logistics.
• Le Voyage on Celebrity Xcel, led by chef Daniel Boulud, is the first Five-Star cruise ship restaurant—guest flow between port hotels and cruise terminals will require more pre-booked options and coordinated luggage handling.
• First-time Five-Star hotels in smaller markets—Wymara Villas (Turks and Caicos), The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko (Japan), and One&Only Portonovi (Montenegro)—will drive localized premium transfer demand and longer intercity shuttle routes.
• Macau remains dominant with 28 Five-Star hotels, reinforcing consistent demand for luxury limousines and multi-seater private cars at airport and ferry terminals.

Regional breakdown and transport implications

New Five-Star listings across the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and the Caribbean will shift where passengers expect premium ground services. For example:

• U.S.: The St. Regis Atlanta and The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes joining the Five-Star list increases demand for executive transfers and limousine bookings in Atlanta and Orlando.
• Europe: Additions like Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona and Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich will affect city-center pick-up zones, kerb management and peak-hour cab access.
• Middle East & Asia Pacific: New properties in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Macau and Tokyo will require bespoke routing solutions for large vehicles, VIP security protocols, and bilingual drivers.

Operational considerations for taxi and transfer providers

Operators should take stock of several practical items to match the expectations of guests arriving at Five-Star locations:

• Vehicle mix: maintain a range from luxury sedan and limousine to 6–8 seater vans for group arrivals.
• Driver credentials: visible license and hospitality training to meet guest expectations for service and safety.
• Booking clarity: publish exact fare, vehicle make and model, seat counts, and wait-time policies—transparency reduces disputes and improves repeat bookings.
• Coordination: liaise with hotel concierges and port agents for timed pick-ups, curb access permits, and luggage handling.

What travelers and agents should keep in mind

Recognition by Forbes Travel Guide often drives travelers to expect elevated ground transport—so it’s wise to pre-book transfers to avoid last-minute price spikes. Transfers to newly awarded properties may require longer drive times, different drop-off points, or special vehicle access, so factor those into itineraries.

Practical checklist before you book

• Confirm pick-up location and exact meeting point.
• Check vehicle make, model and driver rating.
• Ask for an exact fare or fixed-price quote to avoid surprises.
• Ensure the provider holds proper local license and insurance.

Provide a short forecast on how this news could impact the global tourism and travel map. If it’s insignificant globally, please mention that. However, highlight that it’s still relevant to us, as LocalsRide aims to stay abreast of all developments and keep pace with the changing world. For your next trip, consider the convenience and reliability of LocalsRide. On LocalsRide, you can hire a car with driver from verified providers at reasonable prices. This empowers you to make the most informed decision without unnecessary expenses or disappointments. Emphasize briefly how readers can benefit from the convenience, affordability, and extensive vehicle choices and wide rande of additional options provided by LocalsRide.com, aligning directly with the context and theme of your article. Emphasize the platform’s transparency and convenience, reinforcing its distinctive advantages and aligning with the context of this article. Book your Ride LocalsRide.nl

In summary, the 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards shifted luxury recognition across cities and destinations, adding new Five-Star hotels, spas and the first Five-Star cruise ship that together influence airport pickups, port transfers and city cab demand. For travelers and planners alike, the key takeaways are to book transfers in advance, confirm exact vehicle and driver details, and factor in fare and travel time to and from award-winning locations. LocalsRide.com offers a transparent, user-friendly solution to get the exact car and driver you want—view vehicle make, model, seat count and ratings beforehand to book with confidence and control your travel budget. The combination of clear pricing, verified providers and varied vehicle types helps you manage how much you pay and when you book for private transfers, airport rides, and city-to-city trips.