Winners Deliver Authentic Experiences, Enhanced Well-Being and Unforgettable Moments

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FTG Becomes the First Rating System to Honor Cruise Ship Restaurants

ATLANTA, Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Forbes Travel Guide (“FTG”)—the only independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruises—today revealed its 2025 Star Awards. See the full list of honorees on ForbesTravelGuide.com.

Forbes Travel Guide

The 67th annual list spans more than 2,100 properties in 90 countries. It features 336 Five-Star, 645 Four-Star and 567 Recommended hotels; 79 Five-Star, 128 Four-Star and 64 Recommended restaurants; 124 Five-Star and 224 Four-Star spas; seven Four-Star and seven Recommended cruise ships; and three Four-Star and three Recommended cruise ship restaurants—a new rating accolade.

The ratings expanded into new destinations, including Brunei; Costa Navarino, Greece; Finland; Haikou, Xiamen and Xi’an, China; Kazakhstan; Malaga, Spain; Montenegro; Oualidia and Tamuda Bay, Morocco; Phu Quoc, Vietnam; Romania; and Salzburg, Austria.

FTG’s inaugural cruise restaurant ratings feature Celebrity (Apex and Ascent’s Fine Cut Steakhouse), The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (Evrima’s S.E.A.), SeaDream Yacht Club (SeaDream II’s Dining Room), Silversea (Silver Origin’s The Grill) and Windstar (Star Pride’s Candles).

Some key trends from FTG’s inspections:

• The boundaries of luxury expand. Hotels are embracing an increasingly adventurous luxury clientele exploring less-traveled locales, as evidenced by new destinations on the 2025 list. Authenticity is key; inspectors noted a sense of place created not only by décor and cuisine, but also through the thoughtful integration of local customs and history.
   
• Hotels pave the way to wellness. Health-focused experiences and the demand to feel well after your trip are priorities for today’s traveler. FTG data show this trend holding strong among Five-Stars and expanding notably among Four-Star and Recommended properties.
   
• Luxury collaborations up the ante. Hotels are partnering with ultra-luxury brands in creative ways to enhance the guest experience. Atlantis The Royal in Dubai, for example, collaborated with Louis Vuitton on a property-wide art installation celebrating the Five-Star hotel’s first anniversary.

Geographic highlights of the 2025 Awards:

• For the third straight year, Macau holds strong as the destination with the most Five-Star hotels (24), adding Epic Tower at Studio City Macau and Raffles at Galaxy Macau, as well as seven new Five-Star restaurants: Aurora (Altira Macau), Chef Tam’s Seasons (Wynn Palace), Don Alfonso 1890 (Palazzo Versace Macau), The Huaiyang Garden (The Londoner Hotel), Mesa by José Avillez (The Karl Lagerfeld), Yamazato Macau (Hotel Okura Macau) and Zuicho (Grand Lisboa Palace Macau).
   
• The U.S. gained new Five-Stars in Arizona (The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort), California (The Maybourne Beverly Hills and Olivella restaurant at Ojai Valley Inn) and Montana (RiverView Ranch and Spa Montage Big Sky).
   
• Europe had a strong showing, with new Five-Stars in Azerbaijan (Four Seasons Hotel Baku), France (Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel), Greece (Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino), Italy (Castelfalfi), Spain (Rosewood Villa Magna) and the U.K. (The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, London and Raffles London at The OWO).
   
• China is roaring back. In addition to Macau winners, China added Five-Stars in Guangzhou (Rosewood Guangzhou) and Hong Kong (The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong).
   
• Elsewhere in Asia, new Five-Star hotels arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam (Capella Hanoi), and Singapore (The Paiza Collection at Marina Bay Sands).
• New Five-Star hotels also came to the Middle East (One&Only Royal Mirage – The Residence in Dubai and The St. Regis Abu Dhabi) and Africa (Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island).

“Forbes Travel Guide’s Star Award winners exemplify excellence in hospitality,” says Amanda Frasier, FTG’s President of Standards & Ratings. “This year’s list reflects the changing landscape of luxury with properties setting the standard for authentic experiences, unparalleled amenities, enhanced well-being and the delivery of unforgettable moments. We are thrilled to recognize their dedication to creating world-class experiences for today’s discerning guest.”

For images, click here.

Learn how FTG compiles its Star Ratings here.

View the complete list of 2025 winners here.

Connect with FTG: 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ForbesTravelGuide
X: www.twitter.com/ForbesInspector
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ForbesTravelGuide

About FTG: 
Forbes Travel Guide is the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruises and their restaurants. Our anonymous inspectors evaluate hundreds of exacting standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, to help discerning travelers select the world’s best experiences. The only way to get a Five-Star, Four-Star or Recommended rating is by earning it through our exacting inspection process. Visit us at ForbesTravelGuide.com.

Virtual event will bring together thought leaders, industry experts, and visionaries to explore how technology is transforming the ways we live, work, and beyond

TROY, Mich., Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Altair (Nasdaq: ALTR), a global leader in computational intelligence, is pleased to announce Future.Industry 2025, the company’s flagship annual event, which will take place virtually on March 5-6. Attendees will hear from premier organizations such as NVIDIA, Microsoft, AMD, the University of Nottingham, Accenture, and more, along with Altair experts and executives as they discuss today’s biggest trends in simulation, high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and academia.

Altair’s annual flagship event Future.Industry 2025, will take place virtually on March 5-6.

“The pace of innovation in computational intelligence has never been faster. Future.Industry is where leaders of all specialties and industries can explore, discuss, and make sense of the changes and technologies shaping our world,” said James R. Scapa, founder and chief executive officer, Altair. “No matter what you specialize in or what your skill set is, Future.Industry has presentations and demonstrations that will give you the insight you need to drive innovation.”

Featured speakers at this year’s event include:

• Samantha Simmonds, journalist and broadcaster, On Air With BBC News
• Bill Magro, director and chief technologist, high-performance computing, Google
• Sandy Carter, senior vice president and channel chief, Unstoppable Domains
• Rowan Curran, senior analyst, Forrester
• Monica Schnitger, industry analyst and principal, Schnitger Corp.
• Cyril Francois, executive vice president global sales officer, financial services, Capgemini
• Douglas Eadline, managing editor, HPCWire
• Matt Jones, founder and chief executive officer, Veramed

The event is geared toward audiences of all levels and disciplines and will offer high-level content as well as specialized industry- and topic-specific presentations and panels. Day 1 and the first portion of Day 2 will feature a unified main session, while the latter portion of Day 2 will feature four parallel tracks:

• Track 1: Design and Simulate Without Boundaries – Engineering Meets AI
• Track 2: Accelerating AI Adoption for the Enterprise
• Track 3: HPC for Every Challenge – Any Workload, Any Scale, Anywhere
• Track 4: Shaping Tomorrow’s Innovators – Real-World Readiness for Engineering and Data Science Students

Future.Industry 2025 will take place in three time zones covering the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions, and will feature live audio translations into eight languages.

To learn more about Future.Industry 2025 and to register for the event, visit https://events.altair.com/future-industry-2025/.

About Altair

Altair is a global leader in computational intelligence that provides software and cloud solutions in simulation, high-performance computing (HPC), data analytics, and AI. Altair enables organizations across all industries to compete more effectively and drive smarter decisions in an increasingly connected world – all while creating a greener, more sustainable future. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com.

–       Company receives leadership status and A- rating for efficient water resources management
–       Recognition reflects Samsung Biologics’ commitment to water security and implementing sustainable practices across operations

INCHEON, South Korea, Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Samsung Biologics (KRX: 207940.KS), a global contract manufacturing and development organization (CDMO), today announced that it has received ‘Leadership’ status and an A- rating for water security from the Carbon Disclosures Project (CDP), underscoring the company’s efficient water resources management. The company participated in the category for the first time.

CDP is a non-profit organization that evaluates the corporate environmental transparency and performance of over 24,800 companies listed worldwide. The rating recognizes Samsung Biologics’ efforts to implement ESG strategies to improve resilience as well as set goals to manage water pollution and consumption.

“As a sustainable CDMO, we are continuously striving to incorporate ESG principles into our operations to help achieve our net zero transition and provide more sustainable services,” said John Rim, CEO and President of Samsung Biologics. “We are also working alongside leading global pharma companies to encourage our suppliers to build sustainable supply chains and contribute to driving change across the healthcare industry. At Samsung Biologics, we have signed renewable Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and plan to improve water resources management, as well as preemptively assess risks across our operations to minimize environmental impact.”

As the champion of the Supply Chains Working Group within the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) Health Systems Task Force, Samsung Biologics collaborates with global pharma companies as well as the public and private sectors to drive action towards a healthier, sustainable future. The company is accelerating the transition to renewable energy through PPAs and improving Product Carbon Footprint measurements as part of its commitment to achieve net zero by 2050. The global CDMO has also been making efforts to reduce emissions by utilizing low-carbon technologies, such as high-efficiency boilers and energy monitoring systems, and installing solar panels across its facilities. Samsung Biologics will also continue to improve water-use efficiency.

About Samsung Biologics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Biologics (KRX: 207940.KS) is a fully integrated, end-to-end CDMO service provider, offering seamless development and manufacturing solutions from cell line development to final aseptic fill/finish as well as laboratory testing support for the biopharmaceutical products we manufacture. Our state-of-the-art facilities are CGMP compliant with bioreactors ranging from small to large scales to serve varying client needs. Maximizing operational efficiency and expanding our capabilities in response to growing biomanufacturing demand, Samsung Biologics offers a combined 604 kL total capacity at Bio Campus I. The company launched Bio Campus II with the construction of Plant 5, which will be operational in April 2025, adding 180 kL biomanufacturing capacity. Additionally, Samsung Biologics America enables the company to work in closer proximity to clients based in the U.S. and Europe. We continue to upgrade our capabilities to accommodate our clients by investing in an ADC facility, mRNA technologies, and additional aseptic filling capacity. As a sustainable CDMO partner of choice, we are committed to on-time, in-full delivery of the products we manufacture with our flexible manufacturing services, operational excellence, and proven expertise.

Samsung Biologics Contact
Claire Kim, Head of Global Marketing Communications
cair.kim@samsung.com 

BANGKOK, Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On January 9, 2025, Wanda Jin Residences The Ease Sierra Bangkok, situated in the heart of Thailand’s capital, celebrated its grand opening. As Wanda Hotels & Resorts’ maiden property in the Thai market, this marks the third overseas asset-light management venture, following the successful launches of Wanda Vista Istanbul and Latsavong Wanda Vista Vientiane. Representing Chinese hotel brands, Wanda Hotels & Resorts embraces its philosophy of promoting Chinese culture, offering guests high-quality services infused with the unique charm and warmth of Chinese hospitality.

Located in the vibrant Huaykwang District, Wanda Jin Residences The Ease Sierra Bangkok is within walking distance of several of the city’s iconic landmarks, among them Fortune Town IT Mall and Central Rama 9 Plaza, as well as an array of shopping, dining, and entertainment venues, hospitals, and embassies. Conveniently situated just 28 kilometers from Suvarnabhumi Airport and in close proximity to Huaykwang Metro Station and BTS Station, the hotel offers easy access to Bangkok’s top tourist attractions.

Boasting 133 Deluxe Rooms, 20 Premier Deluxe Rooms, 2 Executive Rooms, and 2 Suites, Wanda Jin Residences The Ease Sierra Bangkok combines modern design with Thai influences. The hotel features a fully-equipped gym and an outdoor infinity pool, providing guests with a serene escape while enjoying stunning views of the city’s skyline. Our aim is to create a comfortable and lively “home away from home” for every guest.

Wanda Jin Residences The Ease Sierra Bangkok is set to attract travelers seeking an immersive local cultural experience with its distinct slow-paced residential ambiance. The grand opening of the Residence not only offers an exceptional accommodation option for sophisticated global travelers but also serves as a vibrant showcase of the Chinese cultural heritage, underscoring the distinctive appeal of China’s hospitality brands on an international platform. 

About Wanda Hotels & Resorts — Established in 2007, Wanda Hotels & Resorts, a trailblazer in the global hospitality industry, has been committed to the core values of “People First – Caring for Every Employee, Warming Every Guest, and Being Responsible to Every Partner,” making it a leading asset management firm with a laser focus on hotel-centric operations. Underpinned by its corporate philosophy of “Being Practical, Innovative, and Rooted in China,” Wanda Hotels & Resorts has solidified its position as a comprehensive hospitality solutions provider. The company excels in hotel development, construction, and management, offering a diverse portfolio that spans three core segments: hotel design, hotel construction, and hotel management. Wanda Hotels & Resorts presents an impressive lineup of distinguished hotel brands, including the ultra-luxurious Wanda Reign and Wanda Vista, the upscale Wanda Realm, the premium preferred Wanda Jin, the high-end lifestyle Wanda Yi, and the mid-market Wanda Moments. With a strong presence across the globe, Wanda Hotels & Resorts currently operates more than 200 hotels, with an additional 300 properties in the pipeline in over 200 cities worldwide.

TAIPEI, Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Appier (TSE: 4180), the AI-powered SaaS leader in Advertising Technology (AdTech) and Marketing Technology (MarTech), has announced the acquisition of AdCreative.ai, a Paris-based innovator in Generative AI-driven creative creation and optimization, for a total of 38.7 million USD, including a 27.3 million USD base. Announced on February 12, this acquisition marks Appier’s fifth major acquisition since its first in 2018. The move is set to accelerate Appier’s Generative AI product portfolio, expand its business footprint, and reshape the future of digital advertising and marketing.

“As we scale aggressively on a global level, this acquisition strengthens our product portfolio, accelerates our Generative AI advancements, and reinforces our data moat. It also expands our market reach and enhances overall gross margins,” said Chih-Han Yu, CEO and Co-founder of Appier. “With Appier’s leadership in APAC and rapid market penetration in the US, combined with AdCreative.ai’s strategic market position in Europe, we believe this acquisition will further complete our AI map, driving the growth of Appier’s ROI-driven AI marketing solutions across global markets.”

With this move, Appier strengthens its ability to deliver cutting-edge Generative AI-powered solutions, providing businesses with enhanced performance and cost efficiencies across the entire advertising lifecycle — from creative generation to performance optimization. The acquisition reinforces Appier’s first-mover advantage in the market and empowers its clients to unlock new growth opportunities in AI-driven advertising and marketing, particularly in dynamic sectors like eCommerce, gaming, and consumer goods.

“Joining forces with Appier, a company with over a decade of expertise in AI and advertising, is a thrilling milestone for AdCreative.ai. Their proven track record and innovation in AI-driven marketing align perfectly with our mission to redefine ad creative efficiency and performance,” said Alexandre Leciel, CEO of AdCreative.ai.

As a global AI company, this acquisition also brings valuable talent to Appier and drives innovation across the organization.

Prior to AdCreative.ai (2025), Appier’s strategic acquisitions — QGraph (2018, India), Emotion Intelligence (2019, Japan), BotBonnie (2021, Taiwan), and Woopra (2022, USA) — have played a key role in strengthening its full-funnel solutions and expanding its capabilities in AI-driven advertising and marketing technology for growth.

Transaction Details: The transaction is expected to close on March 4, with no material impact on Appier’s consolidated financial results for FY24.

【About Appier】

Appier is a global AI-native SaaS company that empowers businesses to create value with cutting-edge AdTech and MarTech solutions. Guided by the vision of “Making AI Easy by Making Software Intelligent,” our mission is to help businesses turn AI into ROI.

Founded in 2012, Appier is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime Market (Ticker: 4180) and operates in 17+ cities worldwide, enabling over 1,800 leading companies to enhance marketing performance with the latest AI technology. As AI enablers for our customers in the AI Era, Appier delivers innovative solutions that drive measurable results.

Appier’s innovative offering spans three main areas: Ad Cloud, Personalization Cloud, and Data Cloud. Each cloud serves as a pillar for Appier, featuring core and supporting products powered by Appier’s advanced AI technology, including generative AI (GenAI).

【About AdCreative.ai】

AdCreative.ai, based in Paris, France, is a leading AI-driven platform revolutionizing how businesses create advertising and marketing assets. By combining proprietary AI models, advanced technology, and a user-centric approach, AdCreative.ai empowers brands to generate high-performing ad creatives that deliver measurable ROI.

Founded in 2021 and trusted by global brands like Snapchat, Pernod Ricard, Reckitt, BNP Paribas and Chopard, the platform merges cutting-edge AI technology with advertising expertise to shape the industry’s future, making campaigns faster, smarter, and more impactful. As a trusted partner in the AI era, AdCreative.ai offers innovative tools like Creative Insights, AI Video Ad Generation, and Stock Image Creation, enabling businesses to scale with precision and achieve creative excellence in their campaigns.

Introducing the newly-built, gold-standard, solar-powered D’Marquee, primed to host more large-scaled events.

SINGAPORE, Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Following a year in construction, NTUC Club’s all-new D’Marquee events venue makes its debut at Downtown East this month. Originally opened in 2003, the former dome-shaped D’Marquee carved out its place as a go-to-spot for mid and large-scale events in Singapore, becoming a cornerstone of Downtown East’s vibrant scene. In the last two decades, it has played host to more than 3,000 events, from family favorites such as The Powerpuff Girls’ Big Day and Sesame Street Live to landmark gatherings like the May Day Rally. For union members and guests, it became more than a venue – it was a stage for unforgettable moments.

The concept for D’Marquee 2.0 took shape in 2022, with a vision to reimagine the space. In November 2023, it marked the end of an era, hosting the final event before construction commenced in January 2024. Today, its design speaks to the demands of the modern events landscape, ensuring it remains an epicenter of the resort-style Downtown East’s dynamic mix of F&B, retail, leisure, and hospitality.

Emerging with a fresh identity, its contemporary, multi-purpose facility is crowned by a corrugated steel facade inspired by shipping containers. Designed by the award-winning Freight Architects LLP, the venue is a bold, industrial nod to modernity, a striking contrast to its previous dome-shaped profile.

Multi-Purpose Space

The result is an impressive pillar-less, open-concept interior of 2,400 square-meters (roughly the size of six basketball courts) with an 8-m ceiling height, representing a 40 percent increase in floor capacity. D’Marquee 2.0 is expected to host at least 30 large-scale events annually.

Its collaboration with technical production firm ExpoAV spares no detail, equipping the space with customisable features for everything from concerts and team-building sessions to weddings and sporting events. High-definition audio, soundproofed interiors, and echo-absorbing ceilings deliver impeccable sound, while cinematic LED lighting elevates the overall atmosphere.

The standalone structure now features a new suite of fully integrated back-of-house facilities, including a VIP lounge with ensuite bathroom, storage and operations spaces, as well as a nursing room, changing rooms, and accessible restrooms. D’Marquee can now host up to 2,200 guests in theatre-style seating, an expansion from 1,400. It also caters to an upgraded banquet setup with room for 132 banquet tables, up from 70, and can hold up to 2,278 attendees for arena-style concerts, representing a notable 60 per cent increase in overall capacity.

Strategic Platform for UPlay

D’Marquee pairs itself as the strategic venue for UPlay, NTUC Club’s latest corporate concierge service for all social and recreational needs. This is where companies can easily plan tailored events or choose from a wide range of curated lifestyle experiences or team-building programmes on UPlay for their employees to foster deeper engagement.

Mr Lim Eng Lee, Chief Executive Officer of NTUC Club, says: “The new D’Marquee is part of our ongoing evolution to refresh our facilities in Downtown East. The upgraded venue will be another platform for our UPlay ecosystem, hosting mega events such as consumer shows, corporate events and concerts. It would help to bolster even higher footfall in Downtown East. By creating a seamless synergy between event spaces, leisure facilities, and hospitality, we hope to create an even more vibrant hub that resonates with our members and guests.”

Go Green

Come April, D’Marquee will be fitted with a solar-panel feature on its roof to enhance energy efficiency. The solar project is a key element of NTUC Club’s “Go-Green” initiatives, reflecting its commitment to supporting Singapore’s renewable energy goals. D’Marquee 2.0 is NTUC Club’s third green roof project at Downtown East, following the second installation at E!Hub mall in 2023, and the first one on the roof spaces of E!Avenue mall and D’Resort in 2022.

The transformation ushers in a new era for NTUC Club as we redefine D’Marquee as a premier destination for diverse events while championing energy-efficient solutions and shaping the future of work and play spaces.

Read more here, and hi-res visuals can be downloaded here.