Forbes Travel Guide has launched a social media website, Startle.com, which will allow users to share their travel experiences and recommendations. The launch of Startle.com coincides with Forbes Travel Guide, formerly the Mobil Travel Guide, unveiling its 54th annual listing of 5-star and 4-star hospitality establishments worldwide. The number of Forbes Travel Guide 5-star hotels increased to 57 this year.
Along with the ability to include restaurants and hotels the user has visited, expert travel advice and insights are offered. Users enter a travel question, and the website generates a list of related answers. Pages are also dedicated to various destinations, hotels, restaurants and spas.
The website offers information on 72 U.S. destinations as well as Hong Kong, Macau, Beijing, Singapore and the Dominican Republic.
“No other site on the web has brought together such a prominent group of hoteliers with the level of in-depth, original content that our inspectors have collected year after year,” said Jayne Griswold, executive vice president of Forbes Travel Guide.
Partners on the project include brands such as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Trump Hotel Collection and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, as well as many of the leading independent properties including ARIA Resort and Casino, The Broadmoor, The Hermitage Hotel, The Jefferson Hotel, The Palazzo Las Vegas, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, The Venetian Las Vegas and Wynn Las Vegas.