A Stellar Sweep

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You’ve probably heard the news by now that Sea Island has been awarded four prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star ratings for a remarkable TENTH consecutive year. Forbes Travel Guide’s annual list of Star Award-winning establishments worldwide once again included The Cloister at Sea Island, The Lodge at Sea Island, The Georgian Room restaurant and The Spa at Sea Island as Five-Star designated properties. Sea Island is the only resort in the world to accomplish the feat of earning the four coveted Five-Star ratings for an entire decade. What a way to put the icing on their 90th “Emerald” Anniversary cake!

Since opening in 1928, the resort has added various accommodations and enhanced amenities, and continues to achieve esteemed accolades. The Lodge at Sea Island, an intimate 43-room hideaway surrounded by stunning ocean views and two of Sea Island’s three championship golf courses, has been recognized as a Forbes Five-Star property since its opening in 2001. The elegant Georgian Room was first awarded the Five-Star rating in 2008, and is the only restaurant in the state of Georgia to carry this distinction. In 2009, Sea Island’s iconic resort, The Cloister, and the 65,000 square-foot oasis known as The Spa at Sea Island followed suit and were also honored with Forbes Five-Star ratings. The Georgian Room, The Cloister and The Lodge are also AAA Five-Diamond award recipients. In this 90th anniversary year, The Lodge at Sea Island is currently undergoing a $25 million enhancement project that will include six new cottages, a new state-of-the-art Golf Performance Center, an oceanfront pool and pool house, and a new putting course. The project is slated for completion in November.

Forbes Travel Guide has been publishing the Star Rating Awards for 60 years, recognizing the

world's finest properties and rewarding gracious, intuitive service. In 2018, there are only 199 Five-Star recommended hotels in the world, and an elite group of just 13 properties earned Five-Star awards for their hotel, restaurant and spa – including Sea Island. The other member of the Sea Island resort family, The Broadmoor, in Colorado Springs, is the longest consecutive winner of the Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond awards. EIL reached out to Sea Island’s President of Operations/Hotel and Golf, James Gibson, to discuss Sea Island’s stellar accomplishment and impressive history.

EIL: What does it feel like to set a world record as the only resort to receive four Forbes Five-Star awards for ten consecutive years?

JG: This is the 60th anniversary of Forbes awards to hotels, spas, and restaurants in 50 countries. There are only 199 5-star hotels, 60 5-star spas, and 64 5-star restaurants in the entire world. Winning one in a given year is special given that the most exacting standards in the industry are used, emphasizing graciousness, thoughtfulness, and personal service. Being part of a team that continues to set a world record with four is an exceptional honor.

EIL: How difficult is it to obtain a 5-star rating?

JG: As you can imagine, it’s quite rigorous. Regarded as the most prestigious standard for luxury hospitality in the world, Forbes has a team of expert inspectors who anonymously evaluate properties against up to 900 rigorous and objective standards in 162 destinations across 50 countries. With anonymous visits, our staff knows that any guest on any given day could be with Forbes. We have to be on our toes every moment, providing the finest experience possible to all of our guests and members. So it’s not just meeting standards most of the time; it’s meeting them all of the time with great consistency that makes the difference.

EIL: What does it take to maintain that standard on a daily basis?

It takes awareness of the standards, which means that we have ongoing training programs for current and new team members.  It takes commitment and caring, and, more than anything else, having a heart for service and the ability to provide genuine Southern hospitality.

EIL: What do you think sets Sea Island apart from other world-class resorts?

JG: Without a doubt, it’s the people who work here. While our guests appreciate the quality of facilities and experiences offered at Sea Island, what we hear repeatedly is that it is our staff that makes a visit to Sea Island truly special. They provide the genuine, heartfelt Southern hospitality that has set us apart from our earliest days.

EIL: What does recognition like this mean to you personally?

JG: All of the pride and recognition goes to our team. Every single member of our staff is responsible for achieving exacting quality every day with every guest and member. They are all extremely proud of the awards and of our service legacy and I’m proud to be a part of this team.

EIL: Is receiving this distinction extra special this year since it’s the 90th anniversary of Sea Island?

JG: It’s certainly a wonderful coincidence, adding a special touch to a milestone year!

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Since 1928, Sea Island has been known as an exceptional destination appealing to those who appreciate gracious service and heartfelt hospitality. With the four Forbes Five-Star experiences at The Cloister at Sea Island, The Lodge at Sea Island, The Spa at Sea Island, and the Georgian Room restaurant, Sea Island entices families, outdoor and activity enthusiasts, and those simply wanting to refresh and recharge. Site of a G-8 Summit of world leaders, Sea Island provides exceptional settings and service for conferences and executive retreats. For recreation, Sea Island features five miles of private beach, a Beach Club, tennis and squash centers, Yacht Club, Shooting School, and Camp Cloister. Sea Island is steeped in golf tradition and is home to three championship golf courses, including Seaside and Plantation, home of the PGA TOUR’s RSM Classic, as well as the nation’s finest Golf Performance Center. Located on St. Simons Island, The Inn at Sea Island offers comfortable, casual accommodations with access to many Sea Island amenities. Guests may also enjoy nearby Broadfield, a Sea Island Sporting Club and Lodge, offering a variety of seasonal hunting, fishing, sporting and organic culinary opportunities. For additional information about Sea Island or to book a reservation, please visit seaisland.com or call 1.800.SEA.ISLAND.

Here’s to 90 years of Southern hospitality, the past ten years of sparkling stars, and the pleasure of experiencing it all right here in our own backyard.