The announcement was made overnight in Paris by Michelin, the tyre company that invented the Michelin Guide Star to recognise the world’s best restaurants.
Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef was given the top three-key award, the equivalent of three Michelin stars. It was one of five Queensland properties awarded keys: Spicers Peak Lodge and Silky Oaks Lodge each received two keys, while Qualia on Hamilton Island and The Calile Hotel Brisbane received one key.
Ranked in The World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2023 and 2024 as Australia’s top rated hotel, it is another feather in the cap of the urban resort The Calile. The rankings for the 50 best hotels in the world for 2025 are due out later this month.
The Calile’s co-owner, Catherine Malouf, was in Paris for the Michelin award ceremony.
“To have been awarded a Michelin Key in this inaugural ceremony marks a significant affirmation of The Calile’s place on the global hotel industry stage and reflects the dedication of our team, our collaborators and our loyal guests,” said Malouf.
Among other hotels to receive keys locally were Longitude 131° at Uluru, the rebuilt Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, Jackalope Hotel on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania which were awarded two keys, while The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne, Ace Hotel Sydney, the recently opened 1 Hotel Melbourne, Capella Sydney, the Langham in Sydney and the Four Seasons Sydney received one key.
In all, 35 Australian properties received Michelin Keys, as did 19 hotels in New Zealand.
Suggestions Michelin would enter the Australian market have swirled for years, especially among foodies.
Michelin’s move into the local market had not been widely publicised, although hoteliers noticed some extra “inspections” and unusual service requests, being already aware of visits from inspectors for other hotel awards including Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards.
Last month, select hoteliers were encouraged to attend a Michelin ceremony in Paris on October 8. Enquiries as to the reason for the ceremony and the invitation were vague at best.
The Michelin Guide to hotels now includes over 7,000 properties in 125 countries.
Keys are awarded by the Guide’s inspectors based on five universal criteria that go beyond simple services, evaluating the hotel experience more broadly.
The key criteria are: excellence in architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value for the price and significant contribution to the neighbourhood or setting.
