These 7 AZ hotels made Michelin Guide’s inaugural Key Hotel list

Check out the seven Arizona hotels that made the Michelin Guide’s very first “Key Hotel” list. 

You’re probably familiar with Michelin Stars (the highly coveted badge of honor for impressive restaurants), but what about Michelin Keys? In April 2024, the Michelin Guide debuted the Michelin Key distinction, which recognizes the most outstanding hotels in the world—think of these as the crème de la crème, excelling in design, architecture, service, and personality.

Just like a Michelin-rated restaurant, a Michelin-rated hotel can earn One, Two, or Three Keys: 

• One Key: a very special stay
• Two Keys: an exceptional stay
• Three Keys: an extraordinary stay

The 2024 Michelin Guide hotel selection in the United States now includes 16 Three-Key hotels, 70 Two-Key hotels, and 207 One-Key hotels. Seven Arizona properties have made the distinguished list. 

These hotels, a couple of which have Two and Three Keys, are located all around the state, from Tucson to Sedona. The best part? They’re right in your own backyard, just waiting to be explored. Even if you just pop by for a drink or a spa treatment (though hotel stays during the summer slow season can be surprisingly affordable!), you’ll instantly be transported to a five-star experience you won’t soon forget.

One-Key Hotels

Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale, Paradise Valley

Once a swanky Rat Pack hideaway, Mountain Shadows was completely overhauled in 2017. It features twin 75-foot swimming pools, an 18-hole par 3 golf course, and a fantastic cocktail bar.

Royal Palms Resort and Spa, Phoenix

A pillar in the greater Phoenix and Scottsdale communities for over 75 years, Royal Palms Resort and Spa is designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. It offers a rejuvenating spa and sweeping desert landscapes at the base of Camelback Mountain. 

The Global Ambassador, Phoenix

New to the Phoenix luxury-hotel scene, The Global Ambassador is the brainchild of James Beard Award-nominated restaurateur Sam Fox. Expect culinary prowess at the four onsite restaurants, and enjoy the onsite spa and luxuriously appointed suites.

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, Scottsdale

Set in a sprawling and rugged desert landscape in far north Scottsdale, the sophisticated Four Seasons Resort exudes southwest charm and luxury. Two championship courses are open to Four Seasons guests, plus there are three restaurants and a spa with fabulous indigenous-inspired treatments.  

El Portal, Sedona

Nestled in the heart of Sedona, El Portal is more of an adobe-style guest house than a resort—there are only 12 rooms, each meticulously decorated. Enjoy the courtyard fire pit with s’mores kits, complimentary drinks and snacks, and a pet-friendly policy.  

Two-Key Hotels

Ambiente, A Landscape Hotel, Sedona

With 40 individual and adults-only glass atriums perched above the Sedona landscape, Ambiente features breathtaking views of the area’s iconic Red Rock formations and vistas. This nature-filled escape was designed to inspire and restore your senses.

Three-Key Hotels

Canyon Ranch, Tucson

This world-class all-inclusive wellness resort may have five locations around the country, but Canyon Ranch’s Tucson property is incredibly special thanks to its Sonoran Desert habitat. Guests can take advantage of canyon hikes, activities like “desert drumming,” horseback rides, and desert botanical salve-making. 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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