The Michelin Key will launch next year and follow the spirit of the Michelin Star. The brand already showcases more than 5,000 hotels on its website – which travellers can book directly – but the new Key distinction will help benchmark the selection. 

Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, said: “The Michelin Key is a clear, reliable indication for travellers. Just as the Michelin Star distinguishes those restaurants that are at the peak of their art, the Michelin Key recognises the most exceptional hotels throughout the world. It is also an acknowledgment of the teamwork of committed, enthusiastic hospitality professionals.” 

The Michelin Guide team are currently reviewing hotels around the world, and will announce their selection in the first half 2024. Judging is based on five criteria, including how the hotel contributes to the local experience; excellence in architecture and interior design; quality and regularity of service, comfort and maintenance; showcasing a unique character; and consistency between the quality of the experience and the price paid. 

In a statement Michelin said: “The Guide puts its expertise at the service of travellers to support them in their search for personalised experiences. In response to the hyper standardisation of accommodation (design, interior decoration, attention to detail in the room, etc.), we wish to arouse the emotion of customers by directing them towards establishments that excel in all areas—architectural choices, the art of craftsmanship and detail to doing a job, and asserting your own personality.”