Michelin Key Awarded to First of the Premier Las Vegas Casino Resorts

The standard for luxury is being redefined in Nevada as Fontainebleau Las Vegas makes history, setting a new benchmark for the premier casino resorts in the region by becoming the city’s first to be awarded a prestigious Michelin Guide key.

Similar to Michelin stars awarded to restaurants, these keys signify properties that deliver exceptional service.
The Four Seasons and Waldorf Astoria in Las Vegas have also received keys, despite not having casinos.

Recently, Fontainebleau Las Vegas earned a “One Key” designation from the “2025 Michelin Guide,” making it the only gaming resort in Nevada to achieve this honour. Previously, the Waldorf Astoria and the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas were also awarded single Michelin keys last April as part of the hotel awards programme’s launch.

Vegas hotel — Image by favoritesunfl from Pixabay

Michelin keys recognise outstanding hotels globally based on several criteria, including architecture, service quality, personality, value, and contributions to the local community.

These keys, first awarded at a ceremony in Paris last April, follow a star system established for restaurants. Receiving one key denotes a hotel stay as “very special,” two keys signify “exceptional” experiences, and three keys indicate “extraordinary” service.

On October 8, Fontainebleau Las Vegas joined 37 other U.S. hotels on the key recipient list as the Michelin Guide released its first update for key selections. To date, a total of 317 U.S. hotels have received keys (with 232 receiving one key, 69 two keys, and 16 three keys).

Hotels may gain, retain, or lose keys based on ongoing evaluations, although Michelin does not disclose when keys are rescinded.

Stars of a Different Stripe

An important distinction between Michelin keys and stars is that Las Vegas entities qualify for these keys.

To be nominated for a Michelin star, a restaurant must be located in a city covered by a Michelin Guide, and Las Vegas was only included for two years. Michelin published its first guide to food and lodging in 1900 to stimulate consumer demand for cars — and hence, tires — enabling travel to listed destinations.

In 2008, the Michelin Guide was launched for Las Vegas, leading to 17 restaurants receiving one or more stars within a year. However, by 2009, the guide was discontinued in Las Vegas due to the effects of the Great Recession on the region’s economy.

Since then, Michelin has not reintroduced the Las Vegas guide and has remained tight-lipped about the reasons. In response to inquiries from Casino.org, a spokesperson stated only, “While the Guide’s goal is world coverage, we must ensure sustainable long-term development, which is why we are not currently in every state or city.”

At present, Michelin Guides are published in select U.S. cities, including New York, California, Florida, Illinois, Georgia, Colorado, and Washington, DC.

Interesting Points to Note:

The Michelin Guide’s key system introduced in 2025 aims to enhance hotel recognition.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas represents a significant milestone as the first gaming resort to be honoured with this distinction.
The consideration for the key is based on thorough assessments covering various aspects of hotel operation.

Overall, the recognition of Fontainebleau Las Vegas sets a new standard for service excellence in the gaming industry. As the first casino in the city to receive this accolade, it signals a shift towards valuing not just gaming experiences but overall hospitality and service quality in casino resorts.