Uptown spa highlighted by Forbes Travel Guide after hotel’s multimillion-dollar revamp

A multimillion-dollar revamp has put the spotlight on The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Charlotte. That luxury spa was awarded four stars in Forbes Travel Guide’s 2025 Star Awards for the first time.

Three luxury hotels and one restaurant in Charlotte also caught the publication’s attention. That includes The Ivey’s Hotel in Charlotte, which was a four-star recipient for the second consecutive year. Forbes’ four-star ranking considers a property to be exceptional with high levels of service and quality of facility to match.

For the sixth straight year, The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte and The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, were both featured in the Forbes Recommended category. It recognizes excellent properties with consistently good service and facilities.

The Ballantyne’s Gallery Restaurant, with its refined Southern fare, earned a separate nod in the recommended category.

The rating system acknowledges the most luxurious hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean liners around the globe. It includes more than 2,100 properties in 90 countries.

Forbes describes the Ritz-Carlton’s spa as eco-friendly wellness in uptown.

The spa spans the hotel’s 17th and 18th floors and was updated as part of a multimillion-dollar renovation that began in 2023. Forbes highlights the spa’s plush furnishings, calming neutral tones and natural light. It notes that “natural materials dominate the design, creating an air of elegance and tranquility.” Signature treatments include massages, facials and body therapies — all tailored to individual needs. The spa’s amenities include a vitality pool, steam rooms, salt spa and full-service salon.

The Ritz also revamped the luxury hotel’s meeting space and added signature restaurant, The Fifth Fork, as part of that project.

The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary clinched the triple five-star rating for the sixth year in a row. It received that rating in the hotel, restaurant and spa categories.

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