Las Vegas resorts, restaurants earn Five-Star awards

By Liz Benston

Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009 | 5:50 p.m.

Mobil Travel Guide on Thursday announced the winners of its Four- and Five-Star awards -- among the most prestigious awards in the hotel industry.

The Skylofts at MGM Grand received Five Stars for the first time, joining the Tower Suites at Wynn Las Vegas. They are among 44 Five-Star hotels in North America.

And two additional hotels, The Palazzo and Signature at MGM Grand, made this year's Four-Star list, which includes repeat winners Wynn Las Vegas, Venetian, Four Seasons Bellagio and the Ritz-Carlton at Lake Las Vegas.

In the restaurant category, Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand and Alex at Wynn Las Vegas won Five-Star honors. Both are three-time winners in an exclusive group including 20 North American restaurants. Restaurant Guy Savoy, Picasso, Mix, Michael Mina, Bradley Ogden and Aureole won Four Stars.

In the spa category, Wynn Las Vegas was rated Five Stars – one of only eight spas in North America to receive the distinction. The Spa at Four Seasons, Spa Bellagio, Spa at Trump, Canyon Ranch SpaClub at the Venetian and the Ritz-Carlton Spa at Lake Las Vegas won Four-Star awards.

While Las Vegas was well represented on this year's list, Hong Kong and Macau already have more Five-Star rated hotels and spas than any other city. In this first year of rating international destinations, each of Macau's three Las Vegas-owned casinos received Mobil honors.

Wynn Macau and the property's spa received Five Stars while MGM Grand and the Sands Macau, from Venetian owner Las Vegas Sands, received Four Stars. The Six Senses Spa at MGM Grand Macau and the V Spa at Venetian Macau received Four Stars.

Wynn Resorts is angling for Five Star honors for its recently opened Encore resort.