Turning Stone Earns Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Awards for 2024 for The Lodge, Skana Spa, TS Steakhouse and Wildflowers

Turning Stone is the only resort in New York to earn four Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Awards with TS Steakhouse and Wildflowers as the only restaurants in the state outside of New York City to earn a Five- or Four-Star Award. Each of Turning Stone’s four venues is recognized by Forbes Travel Guide for providing exceptional amenities, an unparalleled experience and personalized guest service. Contributing to earning the Forbes Star Awards, Turning Stone has recently made several significant investments in its evolution, including the unveiling of completely remodeled guest rooms at The Lodge.

Oneida Indian Nation Homelands (February 7, 2024) – Forbes Travel Guide, the world’s leading authority in hospitality and luxury travel, today awarded Turning Stone Resort Casino with four of its coveted Four-Star Awards for 2024. The Lodge, Skʌ:nʌ́: Spa, TS Steakhouse and Wildflowers were each recognized for exceptional amenities, unparalleled experience and personalized guest service, distinguishing Turning Stone as the only resort in New York to earn four Forbes Four-Star Awards. TS Steakhouse and Wildflowers are the only restaurants in New York outside of New York City to earn a Five- or Four-Star Award from Forbes Travel Guide.

A key contributor to earning this year’s Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards is the significant investments Turning Stone is making to evolve the guest experience. The Lodge recently revealed a total transformation of its 95 guest rooms, bringing a sophisticated, timeless design to the award-winning resort. The renovated guest rooms are in addition to recent investments made at The Lodge, including The Lodge Lounge and The Lodge Boardroom.

Forbes Travel Guide rates properties in more than 80 different countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. With only 600 hotels, 121 restaurants and 201 spas in the world to achieve a Forbes Four-Star Award, Turning Stone continues to be distinguished as one of the most prestigious properties in the world.

“The Forbes Four-Star Award is a recognition of the incredible guest experiences that have earned all of Turning Stone Enterprises a sterling reputation”, said Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Turning Stone Enterprises CEO. “These awards reflect our team members’ exceptional skill and passion for delivering the best-in-class guest service that Turning Stone Resort Casino, and all our enterprises, have become known for.”

Turning Stone’s world-class properties have earned the coveted Forbes Four-Star Award since 2016. Maintaining extremely high-standards for excellence and exceeding Forbes’ rating criteria for nine consecutive years is a testament to Turning Stone’s commitment to always evolve and provide superior guest experience.

“This year’s Star Awards reflects the forecasted surge in demand for more thrilling travel experiences,” says Amanda Frasier, President of Ratings for Forbes Travel Guide. “All of our Award winners are delivering at the very top of their game and reimagining the future of luxury across design, dining and well-being.”

Turning Stone’s Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award Experience

• The Lodge is known for its personalized guest service and its exceptional experience that has become synonymous with premier hospitality. The completely remodeled and elegantly refined guest rooms feature opulent carpeting, custom furnishings from Stickley Furniture, one of Central New York’s leading furniture manufacturers, sophisticated light fixtures, elegant drapery on the suites’ floor-to-ceiling windows and Native American artwork throughout.  The Lodge also features a luxury a la carte pillow menu, 24-hour concierge and room service, nightly s’mores, and is home to Skʌ:nʌ́: Spa and Wildflowers, one of the most celebrated restaurants in Upstate New York. 

• Skʌ:nʌ́: Spa is recognized as one of the leading spas in the country, Skʌ:nʌ́: not only earned the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award, but was also named the No. 1 Spa in New York by Spas of America last month. For nearly two decades, Skʌ:nʌ́: has offered guests world-class amenities and treatments while honoring Oneida cultural traditions as the first Native-American-inspired spa in the Northeast. Skʌ:nʌ́: offers a completely unique experience and has redefined the spa experience by providing superior guest service, expert recommendations and unique, luxurious amenities.

• TS Steakhouse & Wildflowers: Led by Enterprise Executive Chef Ron Ross, TS Steakhouse Chef de Cuisine Ray Wells and Wildflowers Chef de Cuisine Joseph Kolo, TS Steakhouse and Wildflowers offer a culinary experience unlike anything else in Upstate New York. From masterfully-prepared menu options to breathtaking tableside presentations and exquisite views, TS Steakhouse and Wildflowers are among Turning Stone’s elite dining experiences. Turning Stone’s culinary team includes more than 325 talented chefs with decades of combined experience, who are vital for offering the award-winning experience the resort is known for.

Only properties that meet Forbes’ extremely high hospitality standards — the most stringent in the industry — are able to achieve a Four Star rating, which has established a global benchmark for luxury travel. Forbes touts all four of Turning Stone’s Four-Star rated venues as “exceptional properties that offer high levels of service and superior quality of facility to match.” 

This recognition from Forbes Travel Guide is among a long list of recent accolades for Turning Stone from the world’s most prestigious and trusted names in hospitality. Wine Spectator Magazine named several of Turning Stone’s restaurants with its highly respected Awards of Excellence for their outstanding wine lists. Skʌ:nʌ́: Spa at Turning Stone was named the No. 1 Spa in New York and No. 4 Spa in North America by Spas of America for 2023, earned nearly 20 OpenTable Diners’ Choice Awards, and was named #1 Best Overall Dining for 2023 by Casino Player Magazine.