Michelin Wants Us to Trust Its Hotel Ratings. Should We?
Ahead of its first-ever global “key” ceremony recognizing the top hotels in the world, the French company came clean on how it makes money.
Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club in Surfside, Florida, which has been designated with two Michelin keys.
Source: Four SeasonsAt an event at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs on the evening of Oct. 8, the Michelin guide unveiled its first global selection of keys—the equivalent of stars, but for hotels. But hours before, at a separate event at the ornate 18th century Pozzo di Borgo mansion in Paris, it unveiled something more controversial: An honest look into the ways that it makes money from such reviews, both on the hotel and restaurant sides of its operations.
It was the first time that the French company spoke explicitly about what many have known to be true for years: that government-run tourism boards pay for Michelin guide restaurant reviewers to come to their states and cities.