The global reference for hospitality.
How we assess
Our standards are published so that our judgements can be trusted.
Editors book under their own names or through third parties, arrive unannounced and never identify themselves before, during or after a visit.
HBB pays for every meal, room and treatment. Hosted stays, complimentary tables and press rates are declined.
No distinction rests on a single evening. A venue is visited at least twice, by different editors, in different seasons.
Each venue is assessed on product, service, setting, consistency and character. Restaurants and hotels are judged separately, each against its own standard.
Findings are presented to the Editorial Board. HBB Icons and HBB Recommended are awarded by majority vote, never by one person.
Every distinction is reviewed each year and withdrawn quietly when standards slip.