- MICHELIN launches first global Key awards for outstanding hotels.
- Over 1,500 hotels across 120+ countries set to be honored.
- Keys awarded in three tiers based on five core criteria.
- Four new Special Awards spotlight design, wellness, and cultural stays.
Imagine checking into a hotel so stunning, so dialed into its surroundings, that the stay itself becomes the destination. This October, the MICHELIN Guide is flipping the hospitality script once more. For the first time ever, its signature precision is crossing into hotel territory globally with the unveiling of the MICHELIN Key Selection, a brand-new benchmark for truly unforgettable stays, from design-forward escapes to soul-soothing wellness retreats.
Long synonymous with fine dining’s highest accolades, the MICHELIN Guide has spent the last few years quietly building its hotel portfolio, and now it’s ready for its moment in the spotlight. The upcoming global MICHELIN Key Selection, dropping on October 8 in Paris, marks a new chapter in travel.
Following the 2024–2025 rollout across 15 destinations, this first global list recognizes over 1,500 exceptional properties across 125+ countries. Like its iconic Star system, MICHELIN Keys are awarded across three tiers:
- One MICHELIN Key: A very special stay with standout character and service
- Two MICHELIN Keys: An exceptional stay full of design, charm, and authenticity
- Three MICHELIN Keys: An extraordinary stay offering world-class experiences and luxury
But this isn’t just about plush beds and marble bathrooms. Inspectors dig deeper, measuring every stay against five universal criteria, from architecture to value, local connection to uniqueness, to identify the kind of places that stay with you long after checkout.
To complement the Key reveal, the MICHELIN Guide will also introduce four Special Awards honoring standout performances in areas that today’s travelers crave:
- Architecture & Design Award (Nominees revealed August 13): For hotels that wow with visual storytelling
- Wellness Award (August 27): For holistic havens that go beyond spa menus
- Local Gateway Award (September 10): For properties rooted deeply in their cultural surroundings
- Opening of the Year Award (September 24): For debut hotels making instant global impact
Only one winner per category will be crowned at the grand ceremony at Paris’ Musée des Arts Décoratifs, promising elegance, heritage, and a whole lot of hospitality buzz.
By blending their trusted inspection ethos with a new travel-forward lens, the MICHELIN Guide is setting the tone for what exceptional stays should look like in 2025 and beyond. Whether you’re chasing soul, style, or something in between, the Key might just become your next go-to guide.
Mark your calendar for October 8, and get ready to book your next unforgettable escape!
Instagram: @michelinguide
