What is the Michelin Guide?
The Michelin Guides are a guidebook series by the French tyre firm Michelin. In 1900, André and Édouard Michelin (founders of Michelin) had the idea of producing a little handbook. This book had helpful information about fuel pumps, car repair shops, restaurants, hotels, etc., in France. That's how the Michelin Guide was created.
Soon after, the guidebook started covering many other places. Later, the book also included a list of hotels in Paris and sorted restaurants into categories. The brothers saw that people really liked the restaurant part of the book. So, they hired a team of people to go to restaurants and rate them anonymously.
In 1926, stars were given to fine-dining restaurants. 1931, a ranking system was made with zero, one, two, and three stars. This is called the Michelin Star and is given to great restaurants worldwide for their excellent cooking. Any restaurant can get a star.
One star is awarded to restaurants that use good ingredients and make tasty food. Two stars are given if the chef is really talented and makes special dishes. Three stars are awarded when the chef is at their best and creates high-quality dishes that will become a classic.
Recently, Michelin Guide announced a new award.
Who will be given the new award?
On 5th October 2023, the Michelin Guide announced that it would award excellent hotels worldwide with a new "key" emblem. This award will help highlight remarkable hotels. The 'Michelin Key' will be given every year.
Currently, the hotels are being examined. The first Michelin Key awards will be given in the first half of 2024.
Is there a criteria for selecting the hotels?
There are five selection criteria:
- The hotel must be like a destination itself, increasing the local experience.
- Interior design and architecture excellence
- The individuality of the hotel
- Service quality and consistency, maintenance, and comfort
- Pricing and the level of experience must match.
Unlike restaurant ratings, whether a hotel can obtain more than one key is unknown.
