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Michelin Guide gets an appetite beyond restaurants

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/10/09 .. n-guide-gets-an-appetite-beyond-restaurants.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Thursday, October 9th 2025 at 12:58 GMT by montanarightnow

Michelin Guide Expands Its Horizon: From Restaurants to Hotels, Travel, and Sustainability

A recent feature in Montana Right Now highlights a major shift in the world of culinary and hospitality criticism: Michelin, long revered for its restaurant stars, has broadened its purview to include hotels, travel destinations, and a new focus on sustainability. The article, titled “Michelin Guide Gets an Appetite Beyond Restaurants,” provides a detailed look at how the iconic guide is redefining luxury and quality across multiple sectors.

From Street‑Level Guides to Global Prestige

Michelin’s origins trace back to the early 20th‑century French tire company’s street‑level travel guides. The original guides offered motorists practical information—maps, gas stations, hotels—and, by the 1920s, they began rating restaurants with stars. Today, Michelin stars are among the most coveted marks of culinary excellence worldwide. The Montana Right Now piece acknowledges that while the restaurant segment remains Michelin’s flagship, the company’s appetite has grown.

The article cites an interview with Michel Vial, the guide’s chief editor, who explains that Michelin “has always been about guiding travelers to the best experiences, not just in food but in lodging and leisure.” This perspective set the stage for Michelin’s expansion into hotels and broader travel categories.

The New Michelin Guide for Hotels

A key focus of the article is the introduction of a Michelin Guide for hotels, a first for the organization. According to the guide’s official page (link provided in the article: https://guide.michelin.com/en/hotels), Michelin will award one, two, or three stars to hotels based on a rigorous assessment of service, amenities, and the overall guest experience. The criteria are adapted from the restaurant system but also include factors unique to lodging: cleanliness, décor, location, and the quality of breakfast offerings.

The Montana Right Now feature lists several early recipients of the new hotel stars: The Ritz‑Carlton in New York, the Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada, and the Grand Hotel Baia Mare in Romania. These hotels earned their accolades after “several weeks of inspections by Michelin’s seasoned evaluators,” a process that mirrors the restaurant inspections but takes into account a longer stay to gauge consistency.

Sustainability Comes into Focus

Another important development highlighted in the article is Michelin’s “Green Star” rating, a sustainability badge introduced to recognize hotels that achieve high standards in environmental stewardship. The guide’s Green Star criteria, detailed on Michelin’s sustainability page (https://guide.michelin.com/en/sustainability), include energy efficiency, waste reduction, sourcing of local and organic food, and overall eco‑responsibility. The Montana Right Now article notes that this move aligns Michelin with growing global concerns about climate change and responsible tourism.

The Green Star system has already been adopted by 12 hotels across Europe, the United States, and Asia. One such example is the Shangri‑La Hotel in Bali, which received a Green Star after implementing solar panels, water‑recycling systems, and a farm‑to‑table menu that sources produce from local growers.

Michelin’s New “Travel” Edition

Beyond restaurants and hotels, Michelin is venturing into the realm of travel destinations. The guide’s “Travel” edition—available at https://guide.michelin.com/en/travel—provides ratings for cities, attractions, and experiences. According to the article, this edition follows the same inspection methodology used for restaurants but focuses on the overall appeal and cultural richness of a place. Notable highlights include Michelin’s rating of Paris, Kyoto, and Vancouver as “Michelin‑recommended cities,” underscoring how the guide is becoming a comprehensive travel companion.

What Does This Mean for Travelers?

The Montana Right Now piece stresses that the expansion is likely to influence how travelers plan their trips. The article quotes travel blogger Sarah Lee, who says, “Now that Michelin has a hotel rating, I’ll check the guide before booking my stay, not just my restaurant reservations.” Additionally, the introduction of the Green Star encourages guests to choose eco‑friendly accommodations, potentially driving a broader shift toward sustainable tourism.

Michelin’s press release, linked in the article (https://www.montanarightnow.com/press/michelin-hotel-guide), highlights the company’s commitment to “continuous improvement” and assures that the standards for hotel inspections will be as stringent as those for restaurants. The release also notes that Michelin will publish its first full hotel guide next spring, with a dedicated section for the Green Star.

Conclusion

The Montana Right Now article captures a pivotal moment for Michelin: a bold leap from being a niche food guide to becoming a global authority on hospitality and sustainable travel. By awarding stars to hotels, recognizing sustainability through the Green Star, and evaluating travel destinations, Michelin is redefining what it means to offer “the best” in hospitality. For the modern traveler, Michelin’s expanded guide promises a more comprehensive set of tools for choosing quality, service, and responsibility—whether at the table, in the bedroom, or across the landscape.