After helping travelers and foodies discover the best restaurants in the world for over a century, the famous Michelin Guide has now added hotels to its exclusive and coveted roles.

In a statement, Michelin Guide said hotel selection is based on the same standards that restaurants are used to select. The rules for choosing restaurants and hotels are therefore the same. Michelin aims to “strive for excellence, promote uniqueness and highlight local know-how and the art of living”.

(Selected image source: The Chedi Andermatt / Tablet Hotels / Michelin Guide; Hero Image Credit: Sasha Stories / Unsplash)

The Tainaron Blue Retreat overlooks the ocean. (Photo credit: © Tainaron Blue Retreat / Michelin Guide)

Tablet hotels and selection process

Hotels are selected by a team of Tablet Hotels and its travel community, according to Michelin, the French tire manufacturer and mobility company.

Tablet Hotels, an online travel agency, was acquired by Michelin in 2018 and has been the guide’s hotel experts ever since. Michelin says hotel selection helps maintain its “historic commitment to delivering only unforgettable experiences”.

Restaurants, on the other hand, are selected by renowned, anonymous Michelin Guide inspectors.

The Villa Crespi on Lake Orta, Italy. (Photo credit: Villa Crespi / Tablet Hotels / Michelin Guide)

How does it work?

Hotels can use the official Michelin website and mobile apps.

Verified guests booking hotels on a tablet can share their feedback to aid in the Michelin Guide review process. Based on the reviews, hotels may be removed if the reviews are unsatisfactory.

When choosing hotels, Michelin Guide emphasizes the style, service and personality of hotels that help travelers find the best accommodation regardless of price. The criteria include interior design, architecture, authenticity, service quality and the importance of the hotel as a destination.

According to Michelin, the system makes the recommendations “worthy of the trust of its users”.

While the selection of restaurants covers more than 35 destinations, the hotel selection extends to over 120 countries.

Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of Michelin Guides, said: “By making our hotel selection even more stringent and focusing only on the strongest, most unique and unforgettable experiences, the MICHELIN Guide aims to bring the know-how and expertise of its teams to travelers and gourmets the whole world.”

Lucy Lieberman, CEO of Tablet Hotels, said: “Today, as hotel experts for the MICHELIN Guide, we are dedicated to the same goal as the guide’s restaurant selection: To show travelers only places that are worth their time – places that add meaning to theirs Trip.”

“And as we do for restaurateurs, we’re delighted that our selections highlight the talent, expertise and personalities of passionate hoteliers who help make the world’s great travel destinations forever attractive,” added Lieberman.

Underlining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hotels and travelThe Michelin Guide stated in its statement that it is “committed to actively promoting the industry and meeting the expectations of travelers and gourmets who are more eager than ever to enjoy authentic culinary experiences and unforgettable getaways”.

Sukhothai BangkokA view of The Sukhothai Bangkok. (Photo credit: The Sukhothai Bangkok / Tablet Hotels / Michelin Guide)

Kind of hotels on his list

Hotels currently listed in the guide are among the best in the world and offer excellent hospitality services. Michelin says the hotel is a stone watchtower, built centuries ago on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea.

Another notable addition is Dunton Hot Springs in a ghost town in the southwestern Colorado wilderness. Michelin says that while the buildings don’t seem to have changed since 1918, the accommodations are “some of the most sought-after”.

Incredibly strange places aren’t the only ones on the list. There are farmhouses in southern Italy like the Luxus Boutique hotel Masseria Calderisi in Savelletri di Fasano, as well as a long list of other famous names from around the world.

This includes the breathtakingly beautiful The Chedi Andermatt in Andermatt, Switzerland; the magnificent Hotel des Grands Boulevards in Paris, France; the modern high-end luxury The PuXuan Hotel & Spa in Beijing, China; the naturally equipped The Sukhothai Bangkok in Thailand; and acclaimed actor Robert DeNiros at The Greenwich Hotel in New York City, USA.