Forbes now has company. After rating fine-dining restaurants with “stars” for over 100 years, Michelin has moved into the hotel segment and will start awarding “keys” to hotels in 2024.
The French company said in a release that its Michelin Guide teams have zeroed in on more than 5,000 hotels across 120 countries with varied price ranges and styles. After four years of work, the Michelin Guide teams have finalized their selection and will independently recommend properties that “constitute true destinations.”
Just like the Michelin Star honors restaurants “which are at the peak of their art,” the Michelin Key will recognize “exceptional” hotels and will be an acknowledgment of the teamwork and hospitality professionals, said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Micheline Guide.
The Guide will help travelers in their search for personalized experiences and “arouse the emotion” of customers by directing them toward hotels that excel in areas such as the art of craftsmanship, architectural choices and detail.
The selection of the Michelin Guide is based on five criteria — destination-worthy locations; architecture and interior design; quality of service, maintenance and comfort; the unique essence of the hotel; and consistency between price paid and experience.
Every year, one or multiple stays will be conducted anonymously by the Michelin Guide selection teams, Michelin said in the release.
The Guide teams are currently in the field and will announce the first Michelin Key list in the first half of next year. This selection of hotels will be developed independently and sans pre-established quotas, Michelin said.
The Guide has three objectives:
- Assist travelers to boutique hotels which offer much more than a room for a night.
- Extend or precede a gastronomic dining experience with a hotel stay.
- Allow travelers to view options, book and comment on their stay on one independent platform.
The Michelin Guide will be available on a website and a mobile app, which will help travelers plan and book their hotel stays. Michelin said the platform is ad-free and available round the clock, with a dedicated team of experts assisting travelers.
According to AFP, hotels will pay Michelin a 10-15% commission for reservations made using its site. Editorial and sales teams will function independently, Poullennec mentioned.
The Michelin Guide began in 1900 and has now become a global benchmark for fine dining restaurants. The Guide started as a 400-page guidebook with general information for travelers and was distributed among motorists free of charge. Today, Michelin Stars are one of the biggest accolades a restaurant can earn. Currently, there are three levels of stars — one Michelin Star (high-quality cooking — worth a stop), two Michelin Stars (excellent cooking — worth a detour) and three Michelin Stars (exceptional cuisine — worth a special journey).