125 years after its creation, the Michelin guide is continuing its expansion into the hotel sector, applying to this field what made it famous for restaurants: precious awards recognising exceptional places. Launched last year with an initial batch of French hotels, followed by versions in several major European countries, as well as in the United States and Japan, the Michelin Clefs have broadened their scope. Recently unveiled at a ceremony at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the selection has grown from 1,500 to 7,000 hotels worldwide.
Nearly 2,500 of these establishments have been awarded one, two or three Keys, in recognition of stays ranging from the singular to the extraordinary. Hotels as diverse as an arty property in Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Golden Rock Inn, the Explora Rapa Nui on Easter Island or the intimate Villa Nai 3.3 in the heart of an olive grove in Croatia, not to mention the famous ecoresort The Brando in French Polynesia. Or, when it comes to the world's top destinations, the legendary Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok, one of Asia's finest hotels, or the highly luxurious Atlantis The Royal in Dubai, the only three-key hotel in the Middle East.
As with the famous Red Guide, the Michelin Keys are subject to promotions, though obviously fewer in number than the restaurants, of which there are only around twenty. Most of these are in Italy, where the inspectors have upgraded the Bvlgari Rome and the Four Seasons Florence to the highest status, and the two Rocco Forte hotels in Rome, the Hotel De La Ville and the Hotel de Russie, the St. Regis Rome and the Mandarin Oriental Milan from one to two Keys. Also in this batch are two new two-key hotels: the astonishing Barcelo Group hotel in the Canfranc railway station, on the Franco-Spanish border, and the Warren Street in New York.
While the majority of Michelin-awarded hotels are ideal holiday resorts, at least a third are on the business traveller's route, in capital cities or major business metropolises. Just the thing to give ideas to nomadic professionals in search of excellence. " Les Clefs Michelin is a reliable guide to discovering, exploring and booking unforgettable holidays that will inspire and delight all travellers, whether they are looking for an iconic or historic hotel or a rare gem away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities." said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide.
Of course, they don't need any introduction to Anantara, Bvlgari, Capella, Dorchester Collection, Four Seasons, InterContinental, Mandarin Oriental, Park Hyatt, Peninsula, Ritz-Carlton, Rocco Forte, Ritz-Carlton, Rosewood, St Regis, Soho House, or, among the Accor group brands, Raffles and Fairmont. All these big names in the luxury hotel industry, with a strong presence in the award-winning hotels, are already offering them the assurance of exceptional business stays. As well as high hotel ratings. In the same way, during their travels, they were able to appreciate the lifestyle atmosphere of brands such as Andaz, Kimpton, W, SO/ and 25Hours.
But for business travellers looking for more intimate hotels, the Clefs Michelin selection highlights independent hotels with personalised service, some of which are members of voluntary chains such as Relais & Châteaux, Leading Hotels, Preferred or Small Luxury Hotels. All of which are often small-capacity establishments that are not always on the radar of the major business travel agencies and online booking tools.
To add value to business trips with local colour and an intimate atmosphere, some of the hotels awarded a Clef include the Craftsmen in Amsterdam, with its 14 rooms in a historic house overlooking Singlegracht, The Merchant in Baku, with its 63 rooms in a building dating from the mid-19th century.e The Casa Polanco in Mexico City, an intimate hotel with 19 rooms and suites, is made up of a neo-colonial mansion from the 1940s and a modernist building. Or the Eclat in Beijing, a 100-room boutique hotel in the heart of the business district, with a collection of works by Dali, Warhol and Francis Bacon, as well as Chinese artists such as Zhang Xiaogang, Liu Ruowang and Chen Wenling.
From Paris with the JK Place and Nolinski to New York with the Nine Orchard and the Mark Hotel, not forgetting the Juliana in Brussels, the Ham Yard in London, the Merrion in Dublin and the Patrick Hellmann Schlosshotel in Berlin, the selection includes intimate Deux Clefs alongside the gotha of the luxury hotel industry. Among them, too, is The Burman Hotel in Tallinn's Old Town, which won the Michelin Opening of the Year award for this charming 17-room hotel where guests enjoy privileged access to the Bombay Club, where they can enjoy gourmet cuisine, a spa and entertainment.
As for the crème de la crème, the Three Keys, guaranteeing an out-of-the-ordinary stay, some hotels stand out alongside the Four Seasons, Raffles, Peninsula and others, such as the Villeroy, La Réserve and the Saint James in Paris, the Woodward in Geneva, as well as the Crosby Street and The Whitby Hotel, from the Firmdale Hotels group, in New York or Claridge's and the Connaught, from the Maybourne group, in London. But the most astonishing of all these extraordinary hotels in the world's major cities is truly out of the ordinary.
The only Trois Clefs in a major African city alongside La Mamounia in Marrakech, Giraffe Manor in Nairobi plunges travellers into a Karen Blixen-style atmosphere, with its 12 rooms housed in a mansion dating back to the 1930s, the time of the first safaris. Originally dedicated to hunting, the site has been devoted to the preservation of Rotschild's giraffes for over 50 years. Free to roam around the immense park, it's not unusual for one or other of them to stretch out its long neck to greet the residents at breakfast time. An unforgettable stay, far, far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
