Seoul Shilla Hotel was named a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel for the eighth consecutive year on May 12, marking the only such achievement among Korean hotels.
This year, the hotel was included in the "Exclusive Group" of top-tier Five-Star properties and invited to attend the annual Forbes Summit in Monaco as an "International Delegate." Only 51 Five-Star hotels worldwide receive this distinction.
Forbes Travel Guide announced its 2026 ratings on May 11 U.S. time, again listing Seoul Shilla Hotel among its Five-Star properties. The hotel has maintained its Five-Star status every year since being upgraded from Four-Star in 2019.
The selection recognized the hotel's personalized service and restaurant excellence. Evaluators praised the relay service spanning from check-in to checkout and meticulous room preparation tailored to guest requests.
The hotel's life-cycle-based product offerings also set it apart. Themed packages for proposals, wedding anniversaries, prenatal retreats, and filial piety trips, along with event-specific limited benefits, strengthened brand experience.
Seoul Shilla Hotel demonstrated competitiveness in food and beverage as well. The property operates multiple fine dining establishments including all-day dining venue The Parkview, bar and lounge The Library, Korean restaurant La Yeon, French restaurant Continental, Japanese restaurant Ariake, and Chinese restaurant Palsun.
Fresh seasonal ingredients, menu quality, and refined yet courteous service drew praise from inspectors. The fine dining restaurants have earned international recognition through listings in La Liste, the global gastronomy guide. The hotel's "farm-to-table" approach using ingredients grown and harvested from its own farm also contributed positively.
Forbes Travel Guide, launched in 1958 as Mobil Travel Guide, specializes in evaluating hotels, restaurants, and spas. Anonymous inspectors visit properties worldwide and assign Five-Star, Four-Star, or Recommended ratings based on approximately 900 criteria. The organization is credited with establishing the Five-Star system now standard in the global hotel industry.
South Korea was first included in the evaluation in 2017. Seoul Shilla Hotel received a Four-Star rating that year before becoming the only Korean hotel to achieve Five-Star status in 2019, which it has maintained for eight consecutive years.
"This year's honorees have set a new standard for luxury based on authentic experiences," said Amanda Frazier, President of Ratings for Forbes Travel Guide. "We are pleased to recognize their commitment to meeting guest expectations with world-class service."