MIDDLEBURG, VA (April 26, 2022) – Salamander Resort & Spa, the luxury Virginia property owned by Sheila Johnson, was today awarded two prestigious Five-Star Ratings by the Forbes Travel Guide. The resort’s Salamander Spa received the coveted honor for the first time, making it the only Five-Star spa in Virginia, while the 168-room property received the lodging distinction for the fourth consecutive year, placing it among the most iconic and revered properties worldwide.

The gold standard in the hospitality industry since 1958, the Forbes Five-Star ratings are based on professional, anonymous inspections. There are only 63 properties worldwide with Five-Star ratings for both lodging and spa, and just 30 in the United States.

“I am so incredibly proud and humbled to receive 10 stars from Forbes Travel Guide,” said Johnson, Resort Owner and Founder & CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts. “Maintaining our unique style of thoughtful, warm and caring service, and a creative approach to the guest experience is something we pride ourselves on, particularly through the unprecedented times we’ve all recently faced and especially in a spa environment. I am so grateful to our entire team of service professionals who strive to exceed our guests’ expectations on a daily basis. They have truly earned these ratings.”

Since its highly-anticipated grand opening in August 2013, Salamander Resort & Spa has received worldwide plaudits, and also become a community gathering point and executive retreat for the Washington, DC., Virginia and Maryland area. Under the guidance of General Manager David Mars, the resort continues its leadership as one of the foremost luxury destination resorts in the country.

“Congratulations to Salamander Resort & Spa – what a remarkable achievement and development for the Commonwealth. Thanks to businesses like the Salamander Resort & Spa, Virginia is an amazing destination to visit, relax, and live,” said Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.

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 Resort & Spa draws its architectural inspiration from Johnson’s nearby farm. It offers a series of immersive experiences unique to the area, including Harrimans Virginia Piedmont Grill, a Cooking Studio and Culinary Garden, a tree-top zip line tour, and a 22-stall equestrian center with riding arena. The resort is also developing Residences at Salamander, which offers 49 luxury, built-for-sale homes within a pristine landscape.

The resort’s Salamander Spa offers a unique health and wellness journey tailored to guests’ specific well-being needs. Led by Spa Director Penny Kriel, 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 elegant infinity-edge pool and cabanas.

Other Salamander properties were also recognized by Forbes Travel Guide. Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica retained its Forbes Four-Star rating, while the resort’s latest experience, Eclipse at Half Moon, also received the Four-Star award for the first time. There are no other Four-Star properties in Jamaica. Additionally, Half Moon Spa Therapist Sumi Bailey-Johnson was named a finalist for the worldwide Spa Employee of the Year. Hotel Bennett in Charleston, SC, which was recently recognized as the finest hotel in America by USA TODAY, also retained its Forbes Four-Star rating.

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

###

Connect with Salamander Resort & Spa:

Facebook: /SalamanderResort | Instagram: @SalamanderResort | Twitter: @SalamanderVA | #SalamanderResort | #SalamanderSpa

About Salamander Resort & Spa

Salamander Resort & Spa is a Forbes Five-Star rated and LEED Green Building Certified resort situated on 340 picturesque acres in the historic village of Middleburg, Va. Located only one hour from Washington, D.C. and just 35 minutes from Washington Dulles International Airport, the resort is designed to respect the architectural traditions of Virginia’s countryside with 168 spacious rooms and suites that blend into their natural environment. Resort Owner Sheila C. Johnson has created a luxurious destination featuring an award-winning 23,000-square-foot spa, Harrimans Virginia Piedmont Grill, the Gold Cup Wine Bar, a dedicated Cooking Studio, a chef-inspired Culinary Garden as well as the adventurous Tree Top Zip Tour. The resort includes a full-service Equestrian Center with unique programming, a 22-stall stable and riding arena. All spa, culinary and equestrian facilities and programs are open to the community. The resort is also developing Residences at Salamander, which offers 49 luxury, built-for-sale homes within a pristine landscape. For more information, visit www.SalamanderResort.com.

About Salamander Hotels & Resorts

Salamander Hotels & Resorts delivers comfortable and immersive experiences which enrich the lives of its guests. The company is privately owned and operated, and based in Middleburg, VA, just outside Washington, D.C. Founded by entrepreneur Sheila Johnson in 2005, it has a luxury portfolio featuring the Forbes Five-Star Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, a 340-acre equestrian-inspired property near Washington, D.C.; Half Moon, the storied resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, which features three distinct experiences including the newly opened Eclipse; the elegant Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club in Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla, which recently opened after a multimillion-dollar. Aspen Meadows Resort, an internationally famous destination property with sweeping views of the Aspen, CO, mountains; Hotel Bennett, a spectacular grand hotel in Charleston, SC, overlooking the city’s historic Marion Square; Innisbrook Resort in Tampa Bay, which hosts the PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship each year on its famed Copperhead Course. www.SalamanderHotels.com.