Awards

The Little Nell is Aspen's only Five-Star, Five-Diamond, ski-in/ski-out hotel—a Forbes Five-Star winner every year since 1996 and AAA Five-Diamond honoree since 1991. Its restaurant, Element 47, named after Aspen's silver mining days, holds the Wine Spectator Grand Award and one of the world's most celebrated wine lists, named Best Hotel Wine List in the World for three consecutive years.

MICHELIN GUIDE

Element 47 received the MICHELIN Guide Colorado's "Recommended Restaurant" distinction for 2023 and 2024. Little Nell Wine Director Chris Dunaway was named the MICHELIN Guide Colorado Sommelier Award winner for 2024.

The first MICHELIN Key hotels in the U.S. were announced in 2024 and The Little Nell was awarded One Key, indicating “a very special stay.” This inaugural program from The Michelin Guide recognizes hotels around the world that stand out for “a unique hospitality concept, distinctive character, warm welcome and very high level of service.” The Little Nell was awarded a MICHELIN One Key consecutively in 2024 & 2025.

Ski Magazine

The Little Nell was recognized in SKI Magazine’s 2025 Travel Awards as The Best Overall Winner in the category of 7 Best Hotels for Dedicated Skiers.

TRAVEL + LEISURE

The Little Nell has often been recognized by Travel + Leisure in their annual World's Best Awards, The Little Nell was ranked #8 for "Best Resort Hotels in the American West" in 2020 and named to the T+L 500 in 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, which recognizes the top 500 properties in the world. The Little Nell was also voted one of the top 10 Favorite Resorts in Colorado in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

LA LISTE

The Little Nell was named among the Top 200 Best Hotels in the world by LA LISTE for their World’s Best Hotels and Special Awards Hotels 2023.

JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION

Element 47 has been nominated for "Most Outstanding Wine Program" multiple times. In 2000 (finalist), 2011 (finalist), 2014 (finalist), 2016 (semi-finalist), 2018 (finalist), 2019 (semi-finalist) 2020 (semi-finalist), 2022 (finalist). In 1997, George Mahaffey, executive chef at The Little Nell, was named Best Chef Southwest.

Forbes Travel Guide

Celebrating 30 years as Aspen’s only Five-Star, Five-Diamond, ski-in/ski-out hotel, The Little Nell has earned the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award every year since 1996 — a distinction reserved for the finest hotels in the world. In 2023, Forbes named The Little Nell the Best Ski-In/Ski-Out Hotel in Aspen, and in 2024, Element 47 was honored as a Forbes Four-Star Restaurant.

The Little Nell has also been recognized by Forbes with the Responsible Hospitality Verified rating, an industry-leading sustainability standard for luxury hospitality. Introduced in 2024, Forbes’ comprehensive assessment verifies best practices that protect the environment and support the well-being of employees, guests, and the community. Our sister property, Ojai Valley Inn, was the inaugural recipient of this recognition, with The Nell proudly becoming the second.

AAA FIVE-DIAMOND

Recipient of the prestigious American Automobile Association's (AAA) Five Diamond Award since 1991, "for uncompromising standards of excellence in all aspects of the operation."

U.S. News & World Report

The Little Nell has been ranked among the top 50 "Best Hotels in the US" since 2014. In 2024 and 2025, The Little Nell earned a Gold badge for Best Hotels in the United States. Currently, it ranks # 1 in Aspen and Colorado and # 5 in the United States.

TRAVEL CURATOR

The Little Nell was recognized by Travel Curator as one of the 75 most exquisite hotels in the world in 2026. The TC75 list honors the hotels that editors, creators, and celebrities love.

WINE SPECTATOR

Recipient of the Grand Award for having an exceptional wine program since 1997, the highest distinction by this discerning publication.

WINE ENTHUSIAST

Recognized as one of "America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants" since 2011. Named to Wine Enthusiast's inaugural Hall of Fame list since 2018.

The World of Fine Wine

Based on accolades from The World of Fine Wine, The Little Nell holds top global and regional honors for its world-class wine program. Judged by independent international panels, the hotel earned the overall Wine List of the Year title in 2025 and has maintained a Three-Star Wine List rating (2014, 2023, 2024). Over the years, it has won Best Hotel Wine List in the World (2014, 2023–2025), Best Hotel Wine List for North America (2023–2026), and Best Champagne & Sparkling Wine in North America (2024).

Star Wine List

Element 47 was named a finalist in the 2025 Star Wine List of the Year International Open for three categories - Best Sparkling Wine, Best By The Glass Wine, and Best Long Wine List (600 or more selections) and earned recognition as a Silver Star List. Element 47 has also designated as a White Star Venue by Star Wine List.

Condé Nast Traveler

The Little Nell is regularly recognized by Condé Nast Traveler in their annual Readers' Choice Awards, having been rated a top property every year since 2017, most recently #10 for "Top 15 Hotels in Colorado" in 2024 and among "The World's Best New Hotel Spas" in 2024.

HOSPITALITY DESIGN AWARDS

Residences at The Little Nell won the Branded Residences category at the 21st Annual Hospitality Design Awards in 2025 for its renovation by Rottet Studio and Poss Architecture + Planning and Interior Design.

elle

For the first-ever editors’ list of the best spas in the world, Elle.com named The Spa at The Little Nell among “The Best Spas to Visit in 2024.” Each spa destination was carefully selected, tested, and awarded by an ELLE editor. The Spa has won this award again in 2025.

Luxury Travel Awards

The Little Nell was named Ski Resort of The Year for 2024 by The Luxury Travel Awards who recognize and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the luxury travel and tourism industry. LTA’s team of experts scour the globe and travel extensively in order to identify the very best hotels, airlines and tour operators through to highlighting the most reputable transfer service companies.

Luxury Lifestyle Awards

Element 47 Restaurant was named a winner of the Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2024 in the category of Best Luxury Resort Restaurant in Aspen, Colorado. This global awards program evaluates over 5,000 brands across 400 categories from more than 100 countries to curate a top list of the very best of hospitality in the world each year.

DEPARTURES

The Little Nell was recognized in the 2021 Legends' Awards in the category of "8 Most Impressive Ski Resorts in the US."

Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association

In 2017, The Little Nell earned the Good Earthkeeping Award. In 2011, The Nell received the Hospitality Green Award for its work on sustainability, as well as being named the most environmentally responsible hotel in the state.

Trip Advisor

The Little Nell is a favorite of Trip Advisor, which has honored us with the prestigious Certificate of Excellence award since 2010. Named a Trip Advisor 2015 Silver Level GreenLeader for sustainable hotel practices.

Celebrated Living

The Little Nell was named "Top Sporting Hotel in the World" on the 2018 Platinum List and one of the "Best Boutique Hotels Worldwide" in 2016 on the Platinum List for Celebrated Living, American Airlines’ first and business-class in-flight magazine.

AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL’S 25 TOP PROPERTIES

The Little Nell received the honor of "Most Bespoke Service Experience" in 2016 in celebration of Fine Hotels & Resorts' 25th anniversary.

AMERICAN EXPRESS FINE HOTELS & RESORTS

The Little Nell received the honor of "Hotel Partner of the Year" in 2017, chosen among 979 properties as the very best. In 2021, The Little Nell was selected as one of AMEX Platinum Card Member Favorites out of 164 hotels.

Brides

The Little Nell was named one of the Best Wedding Venues in The West by BRIDES Magazine in 2016 and 2017.

ELITE TRAVELER

The Paepcke Suite has been named one of the "Best 100 Suites in the World" by Elite Traveler for several years, most recently in 2020.

THE AUSTRALIAN'S WISH MAGAZINE

The Little Nell has been ranked "World's Best Ski Resort," and 5th on the overall "The Travel Top 50" for 2014.

AUSTRALIA'S LUXURY TRAVEL MAGAZINE

For the fourth year running, The Little Nell was named "Best Overseas Ski Property" in the 2016 Gold List Awards.

FREESKIER MAGAZINE

Ajax Tavern won Best Après-Ski Bar in Aspen in 2016.