MIDDLEBURG, VA  – Salamander Middleburg was today awarded three prestigious Five-Star Ratings by the Forbes Travel Guide for the second consecutive year, making the Sheila Johnson-owned luxury resort one of only five properties in the United States and 26 globally to earn separate Five-Star Awards for its accommodations, restaurant and spa.

For 2025, Salamander’s luxurious accommodations were recognized for the seventh year in a row, while Salamander Spa achieved the desirable designation for the fourth year in succession and the resort’s Harrimans Grill received the coveted honor for the second successive time.

“I am incredibly proud of our team once again,” said Scott Little, Managing Director of Salamander Middleburg. “We are honored and flattered to be recognized alongside some of the most treasured destination resorts in the world. With service levels forged by the constant passion for luxury of our Founder Sheila Johnson, and our partnership in luxury with the Forbes Travel Guide, we look forward to another season on our unending journey to excellence.”

Forbes Travel Guide is the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruises, and has set the gold standard in the hospitality industry since 1958. Forbes Five-Star ratings are based on professional, anonymous inspections.

Part of Johnson’s growing Salamander Collection portfolio, Salamander Middleburg has received worldwide plaudits and is a community gathering point and executive retreat for the Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland area. Under the guidance of Little, the resort is one of the foremost luxury destination resorts in the country and has garnered other prestigious awards and accolades including the AAA Five Diamond award and a coveted key from the MICHELIN Guide. The resort consistently earns top rankings in various readers’ choice awards from esteemed publications such as Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and U.S. News & World Report for its exceptional hospitality and service.

Located on 340 picturesque acres in the storied village of Middleburg – the heart of Virginia’s famed horse and wine country – the resort is only 35 minutes from Washington Dulles International Airport.  Designed to blend into the surrounding rolling countryside, Salamander Middleburg draws its architectural inspiration from Johnson’s nearby farm. It offers a series of immersive experiences unique to the area, including a tree-top zip line tour and a 22-stall equestrian center with riding arena. This summer, Salamander Middleburg will unveil an exciting new resort pool experience, complete with adult-only and family pools, and a variety of poolside services.

Virginia’s only Five-Star spa, Salamander Spa offers a unique health and wellness journey tailored to guests’ specific well-being needs. Led by Director of Spa and Fitness Ashley Helmick, the 13-treatment room facility features integrative and regionalized treatments as well as holistic and result-driven therapies. It is committed to providing more than just an experience, but insights to a better, healthier lifestyle. The luxurious, nature-inspired location seamlessly balances both mind and body through spectacular spatial offerings including private stone treatment terraces, stunning aromatic steam rooms, luxurious changing areas, sun-lit relaxation spaces, a remarkable couple’s suite, and a secluded spa courtyard with an elegant infinity-edge pool and cabanas.

Led by Food and Beverage Director Nicholas Owen, Harrimans Grill features bold and flavorful dishes celebrating the rich resources and history of Virginia’s most fertile region. With menus created by Executive Sous Chef Jose Linares and Executive Pastry Chef Mollie Turner, the cuisine is locally driven and based on the bounty of Middleburg’s surrounding farms, butchers, and specialty sourced seafood from coastal waters. The octagonal-shaped dining room features sweeping views of Salamander’s pastoral estate, and offers a dedicated Cooking Studio, expansive Culinary Garden and firepits perfect for after-dinner drinks.

Other Salamander properties were also recognized by Forbes Travel Guide. Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica retained its Forbes Four-Star rating, making it the highest-ranked property in the country, while Hotel Bennett in Charleston, SC, also retained its Forbes Four-Star rating, ranking it among the Holy City’s finest properties.

For more information about Salamander Middleburg, visit www.SalamanderResort.com or call 540-326-4000.

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About Salamander Collection

Salamander Collection is privately owned and operated, and based in Middleburg, VA, just outside Washington, D.C. Founded by entrepreneur Sheila Johnson, it has a luxury portfolio featuring the Forbes Five-Star Salamander Middleburg, an equestrian-inspired property in the Virginia countryside; Salamander Washington DC, an elegant and recently enhanced hotel located along the capital’s vibrant Southwest waterfront; Half Moon, the storied resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, featuring three distinct experiences including the acclaimed Eclipse; Aspen Meadows Resort, which features sweeping views on 40 beautiful acres in Aspen, CO’s west end and newly renovated Herbert Bayer-inspired accommodations and arrival experience; Hotel Bennett, a spectacular grand hotel in Charleston, SC, overlooking the city’s historic Marion Square; Innisbrook Resort in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, which hosts the PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship each year on its famed Copperhead Course; and PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, which recently underwent a $100 million enhancement and hosts the PGA TOUR’s Cognizant Classic each year on its renowned Champion Course. www.SalamanderHotels.com.

About Forbes Travel Guide

Forbes Travel Guide is the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas. Our anonymous professional inspectors evaluate based on hundreds of exacting standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, to help discerning travelers select the world’s best experiences. The only way to get a Five-Star, Four-Star or Recommended rating is by earning it through our independent inspection process. For more information about Forbes Travel Guide, please vis