WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2016 — U.S. News & World Report, a nationally recognized publisher of consumer advice and information, today announced the 2016 Best Hotels. The rankings are based on thousands of independent reviews from individuals and travel industry experts worldwide and evaluate over 2,500 hotels across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

"A great hotel can make your vacation, but travelers don't have to waste time searching for the perfect accommodations," said Erin Shields, travel editor for U.S. News. "The hotels on our list are adored by both travelers and expert reviewers for their high-quality amenities, comfortable rooms and exceptional services."

The Lodge at Sea Island in Sea Island, Georgia, is named the No. 1 Best Hotel in the USA, followed by The Jefferson, Washington, DC, and ARIA Sky Suites in Las Vegas, a new addition to the top 10 Best Hotels in the USA. Other new additions to the top 10 list are Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu in Hawaii; The Peninsula Beverly Hills; Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas; Waldorf Astoria Chicago; and Auberge du Soleil in Napa Valley, California.

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is the No. 1 Best Hotel in the Caribbean. Rosewood Mayakoba takes the top spot in the Best Hotels in Mexico rankings. For the third year in a row, the Ritz-Carlton, Montreal is the No. 1 Best Hotel in Canada.

The 2016 Best Hotels includes destination-specific rankings for hundreds of popular cities and vacation spots, from Las Vegas and Maui to Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico. New York City has the most highly ranked hotels among U.S. cities, followed by Las Vegas and Chicago. New content and detailed hotel profiles allow travelers to search for hotels in the U.S. based on specific preferences, such as a pool, a fitness center or pet-friendly accommodations. A Best Hotels by Brand list is also available for travelers seeking brand-backed hotels.

The Best Hotels methodology combines a hotel's industry accolades with expert and guest reviews and hotel class ratings. U.S. News scored luxury hotels, identifying the top 10 percent in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean with Gold badges and the top 30 percent within specific markets with Silver badges.

The 2016 U.S. News Best Hotels See the full list of the Best Hotels online

Best Hotels in the USA 1. The Lodge at Sea Island 2. The Jefferson, Washington, DC 3. ARIA Sky Suites 4. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu 5. The Peninsula Beverly Hills

Best Hotels in the Caribbean 1. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman 2. Jamaica Inn 3. Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve 4. Tortuga Bay 5. Jade Mountain

Best Hotels in Canada 1. Ritz-Carlton, Montreal 2. Four Seasons Hotel Toronto 3. Trump International Hotel and Tower Toronto 4. Rosewood Hotel Georgia 5. The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto

Best Hotels in Mexico 1. Rosewood Mayakoba 2. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort 3. One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos 4. Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort 5. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita