The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California commanded a spot among the very best hotels in the world, selected along with several other U.S. properties.

According to Gail Zweigenthal, editor-in-chief of Gourmet, the selection of four U.S. hotels in the top ten in the world marks a stunning milestone in the level of excellence and prestige for American hotels.  �In the not too distant past, readers of Gourmet simply would not have referred to U.S. hotels as the best; they would have cited the grand hotels of Hong Kong, Thailand, France, and Italy.  The development of world-class hotels in this country has been rapid and impressive.�

Readers chose Disney�s Grand Floridian Beach Resort as their favorite family resort (and tops for architecture and design); while sun worshippers preferred the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in Hawaii, whose South Wing was designed by WAT&G.

In ranking hotels by region in the U.S., readers selected the Hyatt Regency Maui as the best in Hawaii.  Also voted among the top five in each of their respected regions were the Hilton Hawaiian Village; The Ritz-Carlton, Naples (in Florida); and Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, whose new Palace Tower and high-roller suites were designed by WAT&G.

Outside the U.S., readers singled out three hotels and resorts designed and/or renovated by WAT&G:  Atlantis, Paradise Island, in the Bahamas; Claridge�s in London; and the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore.

The survey of Gourmet magazine readers was conducted by Monroe Mendelsohn Research, Inc., an independent market research firm in New York.  Gourmet is published monthly by The Condé Nast Publications, Inc.

WAT&G is recognized as the world�s leading architecture, planning, and design firm specializing in hospitality, leisure, and entertainment.  Since 1945, from offices in Honolulu; Newport Beach; London; and Singapore, they have completed work in 104 countries on six continents.  The firm recently produced a publication entitled �Creativity and the Bottom Line,� which contains quantifiable evidence that good design can improve a hotel owners� revenue stream.  For a copy, call Howard J. Wolff at 808.521.8888, or fax him at 808.540.5200.