Ed Steiner

What are the Characteristics of a Five Star Resort?

Luxist Awards asked three of our Expert Panelists, all veterans of the travel industry, about what distinguishes a five star resort from the rest of the pack.

According to our experts, one of the most important features of a five star resort starts with the professionalism of its staff, the people who run the resort and work there. Of course, the quality of the accommodations and other facilities at the hotel in addition to the food are also a major part of the vacation experience, as well.

The best resorts are ones that are unique in some way, with location being a key variable. Lastly, our experts all agree--a resort that has a sense of place and reflects the culture where it is located, is of utmost importance.

"You don't want to go to a resort that stands on its own, in its own little world and doesn't reflect what is going on around it," says Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal of Grace Bay Resorts in the Turks & Caicos.

In this video, Advani, along with Adam Stewart, chief executive of Sandals Resorts International and Ed Steiner, Senior Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean, One&Only Resorts share their insights with Luxist.

Tags: Adam Stewart, AdamStewart, awards-main, Ed Steiner, EdSteiner, Grace Bay Club, Grace Bay Resorts, GraceBayClub, GraceBayResorts, KerznerInternational, La Palmilla OneOnly, LaPalmillaOneonly, luxist-awards, main-pedia, Nikheel Advani, NikheelAdvani, OneOnly Resorts, OneonlyResorts, sandals resorts international, SandalsResortsInternational, winter-travel-main, winter-travel-pedia

What's the Best Way to Research a Luxury Vacation?

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Video

Luxist Awards asked three of our Expert Panelists, all veterans of the travel industry, about the best ways to research a luxury vacation.

How important is word of mouth? Do travel agents still play a key role? How important is the Internet in the research process? Are websites, including Facebook and TripAdvisor, gaining in their importance?

Adam Stewart, chief executive of Sandals Resorts International; Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal of Grace Bay Resorts; and Ed Steiner, Senior Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean, One&Only Resorts share their insights with Luxist.

Tags: Adam Stewart, AdamStewart, cadillac-pedia, Ed Steiner, EdSteiner, grace bay club, Grace Bay Resorts, GraceBayClub, GraceBayResorts, kerzner international, KerznerInternational, luxist-awards, main-pedia, Nikheel Advani, NikheelAdvani, ocean club, OceanClub, oneonly palmilla, OneonlyPalmilla, sandals resorts international, SandalsResortsInternational, summer-travel-pedia, winter-travel-pedia