From a historic Forbes Travel Guide milestone in Las Vegas to Michelin stars in Macau and a James Beard Award at Casa Playa, Wynn Resorts celebrates a remarkable year of global recognition.
The past year brought a whirlwind of remarkable success and prestigious accolades to the dining rooms, spas and elegant suites of Wynn and Encore resorts worldwide.
From dazzling coastal Mexican cuisine in the heart of the Nevada desert to magnificent tasting menus in the jewel-toned dining rooms of Macau, the global portfolio of Wynn Resorts continues to redefine luxury hospitality.
In 2026, the brand secured its status as the independent hotel company with the longest-running collection of Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards, earning 18 Five-Star honors across its global portfolio.
Wynn Tower Suites Celebrates 20 Years of Five-Star Recognition
At the flagship Wynn Las Vegas property, an unparalleled dedication to the guest experience resulted in a monumental achievement.
Wynn Tower Suites celebrated its 20th consecutive year as a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star destination, making it the longest-held Five-Star hotel recognition in Las Vegas.
“This year marks the 20th consecutive Five-Star rating for Wynn Tower Suites, a remarkable milestone and powerful reflection of the consistency that defines Wynn,” says Craig S. Billings, CEO of Wynn Resorts. “Sustaining Five-Star status for this many years speaks to the level of precision our teams bring to every detail of the guest experience. From our hotels and spas to our dining establishments, this accomplishment belongs to our employees, whose commitment to excellence sets the standard year after year.”
The distinction reflects the kind of recognition that cannot be captured in a single stay. It represents two decades of carefully calibrated service, meticulous accommodations and an enduring commitment to making every visit feel distinctively Wynn.
Wynn Palace Sets a Global Five-Star Standard
Around the globe, Wynn’s Macau resorts continue to command the attention of international epicureans and luxury travelers.
For the third consecutive year, Wynn Palace retained its position as the world’s largest Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star resort. It is also the only resort worldwide with six individual Five-Star awards. Together, Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace earned a combined 63 Forbes Travel Guide stars in 2026.
The dining scene at Wynn Palace remains particularly extraordinary. For seven consecutive years, the resort has held the distinction of having more Forbes Five-Star restaurants than any individual resort in the world.
Four restaurants at Wynn Palace received Five-Star honors in 2026: Chef Tam’s Seasons, Mizumi, Sushi Mizumi and SW Steakhouse. At Wynn Macau, Wing Lei also retained its Forbes Five-Star restaurant distinction.
Chef Tam’s Seasons Reaches New Culinary Heights
The culinary accolades extend far beyond the Forbes Travel Guide list.
Chef Tam’s Seasons at Wynn Palace holds two Michelin stars and a place on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants extended list. In 2026, it climbed to No. 7 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, further establishing executive chef Tam Kwok Fung as one of the region’s most influential culinary figures.
His refined Cantonese cuisine draws inspiration from the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms, building menus around seasonality, craftsmanship and carefully selected ingredients.
The Baked Stuffed Crab Shell layers seasonal crab meat with broth, milk, and mushrooms inside a burnished shell. It is an elegant expression of the precision that has earned the restaurant international recognition.
Michelin Stars Illuminate Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace
Wynn’s Macau restaurants also maintained a prominent place in the 2026 Michelin Guide.
Chef Tam’s Seasons at Wynn Palace holds two Michelin stars, while Wing Lei at Wynn Macau also holds two stars. Together, the restaurants demonstrate the breadth of Wynn’s culinary ambitions in Macau, moving from refined seasonal Cantonese menus to the polished traditions of one of the region’s most established fine-dining rooms.
The recognition adds another layer to a portfolio already distinguished by Forbes Travel Guide honors, international rankings and a concentration of acclaimed dining rooms rarely found within a single resort collection.
James Beard Honors for Casa Playa and Wynn Mixology
The James Beard Foundation also recognized culinary and cocktail excellence at Wynn Las Vegas.
Mariena Mercer Boarini, Wynn’s master mixologist, was named a 2026 semifinalist for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service. Her work has helped shape the resort’s beverage identity through creative menus, technical precision and an approach to hospitality that extends far beyond the glass.
The year brought an even larger milestone for Sarah Thompson, executive chef of Casa Playa. After being named a finalist earlier in the awards cycle, Thompson won the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest, representing Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Oklahoma.
A returning nominee from 2025, Thompson continues to captivate the culinary world with her elevated coastal Mexican cuisine. Her command of live-fire techniques, heirloom masa and seasonal seafood transports guests toward the shores of Mexico while delivering an energetic, flavor-forward experience that stands apart in the competitive Las Vegas dining landscape.
Her victory marked an important achievement not only for Casa Playa, but also for Wynn Las Vegas and the city’s broader culinary community.
Encore Boston Harbor Maintains Five-Star Distinction
The standard of excellence spans coast to coast.
Encore Boston Harbor maintained its distinction as North America’s largest regional resort destination to achieve Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star recognition in 2026.
Set along the Mystic River, the resort brings together luxury accommodations, expansive gaming, dining and spa experiences within reach of downtown Boston. Its continued Five-Star recognition places the property within the same global story of service and hospitality unfolding across Wynn Resorts.
Why Wynn Resorts’ 2026 Awards Matter
Awards may recognize individual hotels, spas, chefs and restaurants, but together they tell a larger story.
From Wynn Tower Suites’ 20-year Five-Star streak to the extraordinary concentration of acclaimed restaurants at Wynn Palace, the achievements of 2026 reflect a hospitality culture built around consistency as much as innovation.
In Las Vegas, that culture emerges through Thompson’s live-fire cooking and Mercer Boarini’s approach to cocktails. In Macau, it comes alive through the disciplined Cantonese cuisine of Chef Tam’s Seasons and Wing Lei, alongside restaurants recognized by Forbes Travel Guide. In Boston, it is expressed through a resort experience that continues to command Five-Star recognition.
The awards offer an invitation to discover those achievements firsthand, but for guests, their significance becomes clear in quieter moments: a precisely timed welcome, an elegant room, an unexpected flavor or a meal remembered long after the final course.
Wynn Resorts' 2026 Honors at a Glance
- 18 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards: Wynn Resorts received 18 Five-Star honors across its global portfolio in 2026.
- 20 consecutive years: Wynn Tower Suites achieved its 20th consecutive Five-Star rating, the longest-held Five-Star hotel recognition in Las Vegas.
- World’s largest Five-Star resort: Wynn Palace retained that distinction for the third consecutive year.
- 63 Forbes Travel Guide stars in Macau: Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace earned 63 combined stars.
- Four Five-Star restaurants at Wynn Palace: Chef Tam’s Seasons, Mizumi, Sushi Mizumi and SW Steakhouse received the highest Forbes Travel Guide distinction.
- Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants: Chef Tam’s Seasons ranked No. 7 in 2026.
- Michelin recognition: Chef Tam’s Seasons and Wing Lei each hold two Michelin stars.
- James Beard Award winner: Sarah Thompson of Casa Playa won Best Chef: Southwest.
- James Beard semifinalist: Mariena Mercer Boarini was recognized for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
- Boston Five-Star recognition: Encore Boston Harbor maintained its Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star status.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards did Wynn Resorts receive in 2026?
Wynn Resorts received 18 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards across its global portfolio in 2026.
How many consecutive Five-Star Awards has Wynn Tower Suites received?
Wynn Tower Suites achieved its 20th consecutive Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating in 2026, making it the longest-held Five-Star hotel recognition in Las Vegas.
Why is Wynn Palace notable in the Forbes Travel Guide awards?
Wynn Palace is the world’s largest Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star resort and the only resort worldwide with six individual Five-Star awards. It also has more Five-Star restaurants than any other individual resort.
Which Wynn Palace restaurants received Forbes Five-Star Awards?
Chef Tam’s Seasons, Mizumi, Sushi Mizumi and SW Steakhouse received Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star restaurant awards in 2026.
Which Wynn restaurants in Macau have Michelin stars?
Chef Tam’s Seasons at Wynn Palace and Wing Lei at Wynn Macau each hold two Michelin stars in the 2026 Michelin Guide.
What awards has Chef Tam’s Seasons received?
Chef Tam’s Seasons holds two Michelin stars, a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating, a place on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants extended list and the No. 7 position on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2026.
Did Sarah Thompson win a James Beard Award?
Yes. Sarah Thompson, executive chef of Casa Playa at Wynn Las Vegas, won the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest.
What James Beard recognition did Mariena Mercer Boarini receive?
Mariena Mercer Boarini was a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
Is Encore Boston Harbor a Forbes Five-Star resort?
Yes. Encore Boston Harbor maintained its Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star recognition in 2026 and is described by Wynn as North America’s largest regional resort destination to hold that distinction.
