The Key Awards
Four distinctions. One standard.
Diamond Key
Among the best stays in the destination
Our highest and rarest recognition. Reserved for properties that define excellence: exceptional design, flawless execution and world-class hospitality. A Diamond Key property sets the benchmark that others in its destination are measured against.
Platinum Key
Significantly exceeds The Key Guide Standard
Awarded to properties that outperform the baseline across multiple pillars of evaluation, delivering superior quality, elevated design and a consistently exceptional guest experience.
Gold Key
Meets The Key Guide Standard
Recognizes properties that have passed our inspection criteria in full and deliver a refined, reliable and thoughtfully curated stay. Earning a Gold Key means meeting a high bar.
Key Choice
Notable, recognized by our inspectors
Key Choice recognizes properties our inspectors found notable for genuine strengths, but which do not yet fully meet The Key Guide Standard. It sits below the Keys and is not a Key itself.
Why this framework
Clear, credible and aspirational.
Instantly understandable
A clear good, great and best hierarchy that travelers read at a glance, without the confusion of competing scores.
Credibility first
Every distinction is grounded in objective inspection criteria, not marketing language or guest averages.
Built to scale
The same distinctions apply in every destination, so a Gold Key in one market means the same as a Gold Key in another.
How Keys are awarded
Keys cannot be purchased, influenced or requested. They must be earned.
Properties are selected and inspected by our evaluators. There is no fee to be considered, and no relationship with The Key Guide affects the outcome of an inspection.
Recognized properties are published in the annual Key Guide, with a write-up explaining why each one earned its distinction.
How we inspect