Forbes Travel Guide Grants Red Sea World’s First Comprehensive Destination Accreditation

A historic milestone has been achieved in global tourism. The Red Sea destination in Saudi Arabia has received the world’s first comprehensive destination accreditation from Forbes Travel Guide. This marks an unprecedented recognition for an entire tourism destination, not just individual properties.
Red Sea Global, the developer behind the project, announced the achievement. It follows a full year of rigorous evaluations and strategic collaboration. The goal was to elevate hospitality standards across every aspect of the guest journey.
John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea Global, explained the vision. “True luxury is defined not only by the beauty of a place, but by how guests feel throughout their entire journey,” he stated. This philosophy now has international validation.

A Destination-Wide System of Excellence

The accreditation process examined five key stages of travel. These were reservations, land transport, marine transport, air transport, and guest experiences. Every touchpoint was scrutinized by anonymous Forbes inspectors.
To ensure consistency, Red Sea Global established 182 precise service standards. These are organized into eight core categories. They include personalized service, courtesy, efficiency, cleanliness, luxury, comfort, technical skills, and professional appearance.
These standards are embedded through a comprehensive institutional framework. Training, communication, and continuous review ensure excellence across the entire destination. Guests experience this level of service not just within resorts, but everywhere.

Three Iconic Properties Also Shine

In parallel with this destination-level recognition, individual resorts were honored. Three properties from The Red Sea earned spots in Forbes Travel Guide’s prestigious Star Awards list.
These are Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea; The St. Regis Red Sea Resort; and Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Each represents the pinnacle of luxury hospitality within the broader destination.
Forbes Travel Guide ratings are known for their objectivity. Anonymous inspectors pose as regular guests. They evaluate hundreds of exacting standards focused on service excellence and facility quality.

A New International Benchmark

Forbes Travel Guide CEO Hermann Elger praised the achievement. “Delivering and sustaining service excellence at a destination scale requires deep commitment across every stage of the guest experience,” he said.
He confirmed that The Red Sea has successfully established a new international benchmark. This is not merely a hotel standard, but a fully integrated destination-wide system.
The accreditation also considers intangible elements. These include a property’s ability to enhance well-being. They also assess the unique sense of place created by design and location.
The Red Sea has now set the bar for luxury destinations worldwide. Others will undoubtedly follow, but one thing is certain: The Red Sea got there first.