The Shangri-La Hotel in Tokyo has been named as the number one Luxury Hotel in the World in the Traveler's Choice 2012 Awards by TripAdvisor, the world's largest online community of travelers. The awards are based on reviews and opinions provided by travelers and were introduced 10 years ago.
The categories for 2012 have been expanded to include top-25 lists for 30 countries and regions, as well as an international competition for the best properties to visit. In all, 3,943 hotels were recognized by the US-based internet company, with the other categories including awards for best service, best bargain, best relaxation and spa and trendiest hotel.
The judging was a result of more than 60 million comments from visitors, taking into account the quality of service, price and standard of guest rooms.
The Shangri-La, close to Tokyo Station in the heart of the metropolis, took the top spot in the category for the 25 top luxury hotels in the world, with one traveler commenting, "I loved the cotton pyjamas they lay out for me each day. Getting into them after a shower at the end of a long day was just so relaxing. It is the ambiance in the room that makes a difference."
The Shangri-La faced stiff competition from hotels around the world, with the Hotel Imperial Vienna in second place on the list and the Hotel Palacio de la Magdalena in Soto del Barco in Spain in third. La Casa del Rector, in Almagro, Spain, was rated fourth-best luxury hotel in the world, with The Grand Del Mar in San Diego, California rounding out the top five places.
{{/usCountry}}The Shangri-La faced stiff competition from hotels around the world, with the Hotel Imperial Vienna in second place on the list and the Hotel Palacio de la Magdalena in Soto del Barco in Spain in third. La Casa del Rector, in Almagro, Spain, was rated fourth-best luxury hotel in the world, with The Grand Del Mar in San Diego, California rounding out the top five places.
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