Travel is a gift – one that unlocks new experiences, fresh perspectives, and stories to take home. But it’s also an investment, which is why it matters to know you’re booking the best possible overall experience.
This is where the MICHELIN Keys comes in. You may have heard us mention them recently — two of our destinations, GweGwe Beach Lodge in South Africa and Shipwreck Lodge in Namibia, have been awarded these coveted distinctions for 2025, a prestigious recognition amongst world’s leading hotels.
MICHELIN’S Stars have long been associated with the world’s finest restaurants and represent the gold standard for dining. Now, the MICHELIN Keys are serving the same purpose for hotels.
Hotels have appeared in The MICHELIN Guide since the 1920s, but the Keys — introduced in 2024 — allow standout properties to rise to the top, highlight the most exceptional experiences among more than 7,000 hotels recommended worldwide. And we’re thrilled that two of our properties have been nominated.
What Sets the MICHELIN Keys Apart
The MICHELIN Keys recognise the entire experience — not just a single aspect. Properties must meet five universal criteria, these are excellence in architecture and interior design; quality and consistency of service; overall personality and character; value for the price; and a meaningful connection and significant contribution to the location or setting.
It’s not enough to excel in one area — hotels must shine across all five. The Keys look beyond amenities to evaluate how a place makes you feel, how it tells its story, and how it honours its setting.
There are three different Key levels that can be awarded:
• One MICHELIN Key – A “very special stay” that shows originality, strong personality, and service that exceeds expectations for its class.
• Two MICHELIN Keys – An “exceptional stay” defined by memorable design, charm, attention to detail, and a deep sense of place.
• Three MICHELIN Keys – An “extraordinary stay” and among the best in the world — elegant, comfortable, service, style, and often a destination in itself.
The Keys made their debut in 2024 and became a truly global award in 2025, opening the door for every recommended hotel worldwide — and now bringing Africa to the fore. As the programme expands, we’re excited to see how future editions may highlight our Botswana properties too, completing the picture across all three of the African countries we work in.
Our 2025 Winners
It’s with enormous pride that we celebrate Shipwreck Lodge receiving Two MICHELIN Keys. The MICHELIN guide’s description captures the magic of this remote masterpiece perfectly:
“You’re unlikely to find a more fascinating setting than Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, where dunes, deserts and ghost towns meet the Atlantic Ocean. Here’s a Two-Key hotel with design inspiration from the ships that have long met disaster along this treacherous stretch, with its plush accommodation a base for all variety of adventure.”
In South Africa, GweGwe Beach Lodge has earned One MICHELIN Key, with the MICHELIN guide highlighting its remarkable connection to land, history, and community:
“GweGwe Beach Lodge sits on land once lost and reclaimed. This stretch of South Africa’s Wild Coast was returned to its original communities in 2004, after decades of forced removal under colonial and apartheid rule. Today, the lodge is owned by a seven-village trust and run in partnership with conservation-focused operator Natural Selection. There are just nine rooms, each with views of the sea, private plunge pools, huge decks, and interiors that echo the landscape in tints of driftwood, sea grass and stone. From bed or bath, the ocean is always in sight.”
These accolades celebrate what we’ve always believed: true luxury isn’t about excess – it’s about experience, connection, and a story you can take home with you.