Financial independence
Our revenue comes from booking commissions (IATA standard), identical from one hotel to another. No hotel pays to be listed or featured. No disguised affiliate links. Our recommendations don't depend on margin earned.
EEAT — Editorial method
Our editorial method
How does an address join our catalogue? On which criteria are our rankings built? Here is the public detail of the method applied by our concierge desk — named sources, verifiable scoring, total independence from hotels.
How does MyConciergeHotel curate its Palaces and 5-star hotels?
Every address in our catalogue goes through an 8-criteria audit: Atout France distinction (Palace, 5-star), Michelin Keys, Michelin dining stars, Forbes Travel Guide rank, author-collection membership (Relais & Châteaux, LHW), verified Amadeus reviews, service quality measured by internal audit, and editorial signature (signature room, view, access). Sources are named at the bottom of each ranking. No hotel pays for inclusion — MyConciergeHotel is an independent IATA-accredited agency. Last updated May 2026.
Four non-negotiable principles
Source transparency
Every ranking lists at the bottom of the page the external sources cited (Atout France, Michelin Guide, Forbes Travel Guide, Wikidata, hotel press). Every internal score is explained in the methodology section. You can verify.
Verified expertise
Every page is written by a member of our concierge team who has visited the hotel or spoken directly with management. No description comes from the hotel's commercial brochure or an aggregator. Advisors are identified by name and role.
Dated updates
Every page displays its latest editorial review date. Rankings are reviewed quarterly (pillar) or biannually (thematic). Distinction changes (Atout France, Michelin) are reflected within 30 days.
The 8 selection criteria
No criterion alone is enough — the selection cross-references several signals. A hotel without an Atout France distinction can enter if its dining is Michelin-starred and it belongs to an author collection. A Palace will not enter if its internal audit reveals degraded service.
#1
Atout France distinction
Palace mention (~30 addresses in France) or official 5-star classification. The Palace mention is France's highest hotel distinction — awarded for art of living, bespoke service, international reach.
#2
Michelin Keys
The Michelin Guide's hotel rating system (1, 2 or 3 keys). Launched in 2024, it's the hotel equivalent of dining stars. Weighted +20% in our score since 2026.
#3
Dining Michelin stars
One, two or three stars awarded to the hotel's gastronomic restaurant. Major criterion for our "Palaces gastronomy" category and thematic rankings.
#4
Forbes Travel Guide rank
Forbes 4 or 5-star rating (prestigious American system). Particularly useful for international hotels and chains (Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Rosewood).
#5
Author collection
Membership of Relais & Châteaux, Leading Hotels of the World, Small Luxury Hotels, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Virtuoso. These collections apply their own strict entry criteria.
#6
Verified Amadeus reviews
Aggregate sentiment on Amadeus (/5 + reviewCount). Filter: minimum 50 verified reviews. Inverse volume weighting to avoid penalising confidential small-scale addresses.
#7
MyConciergeHotel internal audit
Our concierge team visits, talks with management, tests services (check-in, room service, in-house concierge) and rates on 5 axes: welcome, room, dining, spa/experience, infrastructure.
#8
Editorial signature
An address must have a recognisable signature — a legendary numbered room, a view, a craft, a story to tell. Without a signature, the address joins the list but not the top of the rankings.
How an address joins our catalogue
Étape 1
Internal proposal
Our concierge team identifies an address — either following a market event (opening, takeover, Atout France), or on customer recommendation, or during a cluster audit ("which Palaces are missing on our French Riviera?"). No spontaneous candidacy accepted.
Étape 2
Field audit
An advisor visits the hotel or organises a video call with management. Verification of the 8 criteria, discussion of Amadeus GDS availability, payment terms, applicable loyalty programme, available photos, usage rights.
Étape 3
Writing and publication
The page is written by the advisor (600-1000-word long description), enriched with a Concierge's Tip (50-110 words, concrete operational secret). Internal editorial validation then publication. Each quarterly review can shift the address ranking.
Étape 4
Continuous review
Any material change (loss of Atout France, restaurant closure, takeover by a chain, unfavourable internal audit) triggers a review within 30 days. An address can leave the catalogue — rare but documented.
Questions about our method
Can a hotel pay to appear in your catalogue?
No, ever. MyConciergeHotel is an IATA-accredited agency — our revenue comes from booking commissions (IATA standard), not from advertising. Refusing pay-to-play is our strongest commitment to our customers.
How do you guarantee the independence of your audits?
Our audit visits are unannounced and we systematically pay our nights at public rates (never complimentary). The audit report is internal, the result published as a weighted score. No advisor has a direct commercial relationship with an audited hotel.
Can a bad customer experience lower a page's score?
Yes. If several past bookings through our concierge team report recurring operational issues (degraded service, overbooking, cleanliness), we trigger a re-visit. If the audit confirms, the address loses scoring points and may drop out of top rankings. Three documented cases since launch.
Why no direct customer reviews on your site?
Because we can't guarantee their verification 100% (sources, bias, moderation). We prefer to aggregate Amadeus sentiments (verified booking) and publish our own audit, signed by an identified advisor. More demanding, less manipulable.
How are rankings updated?
Quarterly for pillar rankings (Best Palaces of France, of Paris, French Riviera), biannually for thematic rankings (spa, gastronomy). Official changes (Atout France, Michelin Guide, closure) are reflected within 30 days outside cadence.
Can I report an error or suggest an address?
Yes — any factual correction (wrong address, lapsed distinction, outdated photo) is handled within 48h after contact via /le-concierge/contact. Address suggestions are studied at the next quarterly review cycle; we always reply even if the address isn't retained.