Renowned for its annual restaurant recommendations, the Michelin Guide revealed its inaugural hotel rankings on Monday, recognising 189 French hotels varying in size from three to 248 rooms.
Unveiled in October, the new initiative has been a few years in the making, stated Head of the Michelin Guide Gwendal Poullennec at a press conference.
Hotels earning distinctions were awarded 'keys': 127 hotels gained one key, indicating a "unique stay"; 38 establishments secured two keys for an "outstanding stay"; and 24 hotels received a top rating of three keys for an "extraordinary stay".
"Just like our stars, these are legitimate distinctions," asserted Poullennec. Rather than simply showcasing a directory of available services, the new system recognises a broad array of concepts, ranging from large hotel chains to small, independent guesthouses, he explained.
Of the 12 Parisian establishments boasting the 'palace' label, only six received three Michelin keys. Notably, one of them, the Mandarin Oriental, received no recognition.
Credit: Mandarin Oriental, Paris
Included in the highest tier's selection were Le Cheval Blanc and Les Sources de Caudalie in Bordeaux, LVMH's inaugural Parisian hotel, alongside seven establishments in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, a renowned hub of luxury French tourism.
"I am glad that hotels are also being recognised to inspire young people," applauded Laure Pertusier, manager of Paris' three-key rated Saint James. "It isn't often that we see such impressive hotel selections, and there is no denying Michelin's stronghold within our industry," she told AFP, praising the list's eclectic mix.
"There is a sense of continuity with Michelin. The hotel rankings complement the restaurant awards – it is coherent," acknowledged Guillaume Ranvier, the director of Paris' three-key rated Four Seasons Hotel George V.
Credit: Four Seasons Hotel George V
The selection was compiled from 600 French hotels already recommended on the Michelin Guide's website. Anonymous inspectors used different criteria from those used for restaurants to assess the establishments.
Five evaluation criteria were highlighted: local integration, design and decor, consistent service quality, appropriateness of price point to services offered, and the authenticity of the experience.
"Our aim is to offer a broad range of services to the traveller, from selection to direct online booking via our platform," noted Poullennec.
The group, which acquired American boutique and luxury hotel recommendation and booking specialist, Tablet Hotels, in 2018, already offers hotel bookings on its platform. It features 6,000 hotels across 120 countries and plans to roll out more key rankings throughout 2024 in major global tourist destinations, including New York on 24 April, Madrid on 29 April, Italy on 7 May, and Japan on 4 July.
Related News
- Michelin Guide 2024: Which restaurants have received stars?
- Belgium's most prestigious restaurant slashes prices from 2024
- Brussels restaurant ranks in top 100 'vegetable restaurants' in the world
"We will ensure that these distinctions carry the same value around the world," promised the Guide's director, adding that he considers this to be the very beginning of a long-term process of hotel ranking. "In such a congested hotel market, I am confident that we will make an impact."
The guide plans to monetise the feature through bookings, charging hotels a commission of between 10% and 15%. Poullennec emphasised the strict separation between commercial teams and selection committees.
French rival La Liste, which has competed with Michelin on restaurant ratings for several years, delved into the hotel industry in 2023.
