Rancho Valencia, An Auberge Resort in Rancho Santa Fe, was honored with a 2012 Forbes Four-Star Hotel Award by Forbes Travel Guide for its exceptional personalized service and hospitality, accommodations and luxury experiences. As the originators of the prestigious star rating system, Forbes Travel Guide provides one of the most comprehensive evaluation systems of hotels, restaurants and spas in the world. Its annual list has defined the industry’s highest standard for excellence in hospitality for more than 50 years.

“We are honored that Forbes Travel Guide has recognized Rancho Valencia with a Four-Star rating,” said Rancho Valencia General Manager Simon Chen. “This award would not be possible without our exceptional staff who are committed to providing the highest level of service and memorable experiences for our guests.”

Set in the exclusive idyllic valley of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., Rancho Valencia sits on 45 lushly landscaped acres. The resort features 49 luxuriously appointed guest casitas averaging approximately 1,000 square feet, each with a fireplace and private garden terrace, an award-winning tennis program, a world-class spa and playing privileges at three nearby golf courses. Rancho Valencia recently was ranked #11 Best Small Hotel in the United States by Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report and #52 Best Hotel in the United States by Condé Nast Traveler, garnering the highest score among San Diego Hotels making the list. Rancho Valencia consistently has been ranked as a favorite North American resort by readers of Tennis magazine, who ranked Rancho Valencia the #1 Tennis Resort in the U.S. for the fourth consecutive year. The resort is a member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux collection and is the only Relais & Châteaux property in Southern California. For more information about Rancho Valencia, visit www.RanchoValencia.com or call (800) 548-3664.

To view the complete list of 2012 award winners and a detailed explanation of the Star Ratings, visit www.startle.com, the new interactive website of Forbes Travel Guide.

About Auberge Resorts
Auberge Resorts is a collection of exceptional hotels, resorts and private clubs, each with a unique personality that assures a memorable guest experience. While Auberge Resorts nurtures the individuality of each establishment, all are characterized by a set of communal elements: intimate, understated elegance; captivating locations that inspire exceptional cuisine and spa experiences; and gracious yet unobtrusive service. Among the Auberge collection of distinctive properties are: Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley, Calif.; Calistoga Ranch, Napa Valley, Calif.; Encantado, Santa Fe, N.M.; Esperanza, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, S.C.; Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; Element 52, Telluride, Colo.; and Hotel Jerome, Aspen, Colo., with several others currently in development. For more information about Auberge Resorts, please visit www.aubergeresorts.com.

About Forbes Travel Guide
Forbes Travel Guide, originator of the prestigious Mobil Travel Guide Star Ratings, has provided the most comprehensive ratings and reviews of hotels, restaurants and spas since 1958. In October 2009, Mobil Travel Guide announced a strategic partnership with Forbes Media LLC. This exclusive licensing agreement between two industry leaders with more than 140 years of combined experience transfers the hospitality industry’s premier star rating and travel guide brand from ExxonMobil to Forbes. Forbes Travel Guide has a team of expert inspectors who anonymously evaluate properties against rigorous and objective proprietary standards, providing consumers the insight to make better-informed travel and leisure decisions.

Source: SFGate

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