Forbes Travel Guide Standards Checklist
Forbes Travel Guide ratings are earned through consistent execution, not through a one-time “inspection prep” sprint. The Forbes Travel Guide Standards Checklist turns FTG expectations into a single, verifiable workflow across the full guest journey—pre-arrival, arrival, service delivery, cleanliness and facility readiness, issue recovery, and closeout controls. It’s built to help hospitality teams run standards as an operating system, not as a seasonal project.
The checklist reflects real inspection conditions. It focuses on what inspectors actually experience: speed and precision of service, calm professionalism, seamless handoffs between departments, and a property that feels “ready” at every touchpoint. Each item is concrete and observable—so managers can spot drift early, coach it fast, and keep service quality stable across shifts.
Use the checklist as a printable PDF for manager walk-throughs, training sessions, and standards reviews, or run it in a mobile checklist app to assign responsibilities, track completion in real time, and capture notes or photos as evidence (where permitted). This creates reliable handovers between teams and a clear audit trail of what was checked, when, and by whom.
Outlet type (Hotel / Restaurant / Spa / Multi)
Target rating (Five-Star / Four-Star / Recommended)
Primary risk areas for this cycle (top 3)
Anonymous-guest inspection mindset briefed to leadership
End-to-end guest journey mapped (pre-arrival → departure)
“Service execution first” principle communicated to teams
Cross-department handoffs defined with owners (FOH/BOH/Rooms/Spa)
Shift-by-shift verification routine active (not “inspection week”)
FTG standards owner assigned per department
Role-based SOPs documented and accessible to staff
Daily opening/closing checklists active for all outlets
Service recovery policy documented (who can comp/replace/escalate)
Approval thresholds defined (recovery, refunds, upgrades)
Escalation chain visible to staff (manager on duty, duty phone)
Quality meeting cadence set and followed (weekly)
Corrective action log maintained (root cause + owner + due date)
Training program exists for each role (host/server/therapist/housekeeping/etc.)
New-hire certification gate defined (skills checklist)
Refresher training scheduled (monthly/quarterly)
Service language standards trained (greeting, recovery, farewell)
Menu/service knowledge checks completed (count)
Allergen / contraindication training completed (restaurant/spa)
Shadow shifts documented (count)
Coaching notes captured per trainee (with next actions)
Guest preference capture process defined (what, where, who updates)
Preferences executed across departments (test case completed)
VIP/occasion handling process defined and trained
Preference execution evidence captured (example notes)
Uniform/grooming standards documented and enforced
Pre-shift briefings executed consistently (daily)
Staff posture/body language standards coached
Noise discipline maintained (no loud staff talk)
Discretion and privacy practices verified (guest data, conversations)
Preventive maintenance plan active (open items tracked)
Critical defects list zeroed daily (lights, HVAC, plumbing)
Cleanliness standards verified in public areas
Restrooms inspected and stocked on a schedule
Ambient controls set to standard (lighting/music/scent/temperature)
Public-area readiness photo (sample)
Spot-check program active (daily/weekly)
Audit results tracked (pass rate %)
Repeat issues identified and trending (top 3)
Photo/notes captured for key standards (where allowed)
Time-stamped corrective actions assigned from audits
Reservation response time meets standard (hotel/restaurant/spa)
Pre-arrival confirmation/outreach active (arrival time, preferences, policies)
Guest greeted promptly and warmly on arrival
Guest name used when known
Wait time managed and communicated (if queue)
Arrival flow defined and staffed (door/host/desk/concierge)
Welcome experience consistent (escort/refreshment/orientation when applicable)
Room readiness verified before release (hotel)
Housekeeping staging standard consistent (bed, amenities, bathroom)
Amenity presentation premium and consistent (hotel/spa)
Linen quality and condition verified (hotel/spa)
Bathroom spotless; no odors; drains/hardware checked (hotel/spa)
Turn-down service executed to standard (if offered)
Room readiness photo (sample, where permitted)
Housekeeping defect log reviewed daily
Guest request ownership model active (“one owner end-to-end”)
Response time standard defined and measured
Recovery playbook trained (apology → fix → follow-up)
Recovery cases documented (count this week)
Follow-up performed after recovery
Reservation capture includes allergies/dietary needs/occasion (restaurant)
Host stand coverage maintained; greeting prompt (restaurant)
Table readiness verified (glassware/cutlery/linen spotless) (restaurant)
First server contact within standard (restaurant)
Water/beverage initiation executed unobtrusively (restaurant)
Course pacing controlled (no long gaps; no rushing) (restaurant)
Check-back after first bites/sips executed (restaurant)
Plating consistent with standard (restaurant)
Correct temperatures on delivery (restaurant)
Doneness accuracy maintained (restaurant)
No chipped plateware / damaged serveware (restaurant)
Food quality spot-check notes (restaurant)
Food presentation photo (sample, where permitted)
Wine list clean and current (restaurant)
Wine presentation sequence correct (label shown, opening, tasting) (restaurant)
Proper glassware used (restaurant)
Refills timed unobtrusively (restaurant)
Cocktails built to spec and consistent (restaurant)
Premium non-alcoholic options offered (restaurant)
Complaint handling calm and immediate (restaurant/hotel/spa)
Manager escalation used appropriately
Recovery action documented (issue + action)
Farewell delivered warmly; invitation to return (where appropriate)
Booking confirmation clear (arrival time, policies) (spa)
Health screening captured (pressure, allergies, contraindications) (spa)
Reception greeting prompt and discreet (spa)
First-time guest orientation offered (spa)
Waiting experience premium (tea/water, calm ambiance) (spa)
Locker rooms spotless and stocked (towels/robes/slippers) (spa)
Showers/sauna/steam within standards and odor-free (spa)
Wet area safety controls in place (slip risks managed) (spa)
Facilities photo (sample, where permitted)
Treatment room staged and spotless (spa)
Tools sanitized; disposables stocked (spa)
Therapist uniform/grooming meets standard (spa)
Consultation conducted before treatment (spa)
Draping technique correct and respectful (spa)
Comfort checks done appropriately (pressure/temp) (spa)
Treatment begins/ends on time (spa)
Aftercare guidance provided clearly (spa)
Treatment room photo (sample, where permitted)
Hand hygiene compliance observed (spa)
Laundry separation process (clean vs used) (spa/hotel)
Chemical storage compliant (locked/labeled) (spa)
Incident reporting process defined and used (spa/hotel/restaurant)
Weekly “standards drift” review performed (what slipped, why)
Top 3 recurring gaps identified
Corrective actions assigned with due dates
Owner accountability tracked (overdue actions count)
Guest feedback themes summarized (last 30 days)
Overall readiness status (Ready / Partially ready / Not ready)
Critical issues to resolve before next cycle
























