An iconic luxury retreat in Irving's Las Colinas district is one of seven Texas properties awarded a coveted Michelin Key this year. The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas — which was the Four Seasons prior to a multimillion dollar renovation and rebranding — joins several other Texas resorts to make this year's list, including:

• Four Seasons Hotel Austin
• The Frances Modern Inn (Austin)
• Hotel 1928 (Waco)
• Missing Hotel (Marble Falls)
• Sophie’s Gasthaus (New Braunfels)
• The Hotel Daphne (Houston)

In its entry on the Michelin website, the Guide’s inspectors admire the way The Ritz-Carlton's sprawling 400-acre retreat, complete with golf course, several hundred guest rooms, suites, and poolside villas "all but blend into a hilly Las Colinas landscape."

They add that although "golf is the draw, tennis and pickleball courts, three pools and a spa keep guests busy off the course."

Hotel representatives in a press release said they are honored to earn what they consider a "top-of-the-industry achievement" that is a "true testament to our ladies and gentlemen who work tirelessly to deliver unforgettable service."

"Following our massive property transformation," they add, "this accolade underscores our commitment to establishing a new benchmark for luxury hospitality here in North Texas."

Announced Friday, September 18, Michelin added 65 properties in America to its list of Key-worth stays, bringing the overall total to more than 350 hotels nationwide. Several Dallas-area hotels have previously been awarded keys, including last year's recipients Casa Duro on Greenville Avenue, Hotel Swexan in Uptown, Hotel Zaza in Uptown, and Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, all of which received a one key ranking.

The Bowie House, Auberge Collection in Fort Worth maintained its two-key ranking from 2024.

The state’s only two key properties are the Commodore Perry Estate (Austin) and Hotel Emma (San Antonio). No properties in Texas hold three Michelin Keys.

Similar to the famous Michelin Stars awarded to restaurants, hotels may receive one, two, or three keys, which is defined as follows:

• One Michelin Key for hotels that offer "very special" stays with service that "provides significantly more than similarly priced establishments."
• Two Michelin Keys for "exceptional stays" where memorable guest experiences are "always guaranteed" with a special emphasis on the hotel's design or architecture.
• Three Michelin Keys for hotels that provide "extraordinary stays" for "the ultimate in comfort and service, style and elegance."