ASTANA – Kazakhstan has been included in the MICHELIN Guide’s global hotel selection for the first time, with five hotels receiving the prestigious One MICHELIN Key distinction and nine others entering the guide’s recommended hotel selection. The MICHELIN Guide has unveiled its MICHELIN Key Selection 2026, a global selection of outstanding hotels assessed through independent and anonymous inspections.
Kazakhstan’s inclusion marks the country’s debut in the MICHELIN Guide’s hotel geography. Five Kazakh hotels received the One MICHELIN Key distinction: The Veil Hotel, The St. Regis Astana and The Ritz-Carlton in Astana, as well as The Ritz-Carlton and Tenir Eco Hotel in Almaty, reported Kazakh Tourism on Sept.
22. The MICHELIN Guide also included nine more hotels in its recommended selection. They are Sheraton Astana Hotel, Swissôtel Wellness Resort Alatau Almaty, Qazaq Auyl Eco Hotel, Qazaq Garden, Donatello Premium Almaty, Radisson Blu Hotel Almaty Airport, Zvezdnaya Eco-Hotel, YURTA Boutique Hotel and Medina Palace Hotel.
The MICHELIN Guide highlighted Kazakhstan’s growing appeal as an international tourism destination, placing the country among destinations that offer travelers experiences beyond established global tourism routes. “The first MICHELIN Key is a celebration. It is also an invitation for travelers to look beyond the world’s most established destinations,” the MICHELIN Guide said, highlighting the diversity of experiences identified by its inspectors, from remote safari destinations to architectural landmarks in Kazakhstan’s capital.
The inclusion of Kazakh hotels followed strategic initiatives by Kazakh Tourism to develop tourism infrastructure and raise hospitality standards. Kazakh Tourism Chairman Talgat Gazizov said the recognition could help strengthen the country’s position in the international premium tourism market.
“Having Kazakhstan appear on the global MICHELIN map is a significant recognition of the quality of service and authenticity offered by domestic hotels. The presence of 14 properties in the international selection confirms the competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s hospitality sector and provides a strong multiplier effect for tourism infrastructure development.
Our key task is to translate this international recognition into sustainable growth in inbound tourism and strengthen Kazakhstan’s image as a key destination in Central Asia,” Gazizov said. The MICHELIN Key was introduced in 2024 as a hotel distinction based on a methodology comparable to the rigorous standards that the MICHELIN Guide has applied to restaurants since 1900.
Anonymous inspectors assess hotels against five universal criteria: their ability to provide guests with a destination experience; the quality of architecture and interior design; consistency of service and comfort; the consistency between price and the experience offered; and the property’s individuality and authenticity.
The One MICHELIN Key distinction is awarded to hotels with a distinct character that provide a level of hospitality above the standard expected within their category.