A small 17-room hotel in Tallinn, Estonia has been named as the best hotel opening of the year in an awards ceremony held in Paris by MICHELIN.
The tiny boutique was recognized alongside some of the world’s top hotels including the Atlantis The Royal in Dubai, helping shine a light on the picturesque city of Tallinn.
There was much anticipation this year in the run up to the first global MICHELIN Key Awards, debuting an all-new hotel ranking system comprised of three keys.
Operated by Bombay Group, the Burman Hotel opened earlier this year following a major €75 million investment. Nestled in the heart of Tallinn’s Old Town, this jewel has seen significant praise from guests, visitors and reviewers alike.
Now, in addition to its place in the Michelin Guide and as a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group, it has been awarded two MICHELIN Keys of distinction.
In the ‘two keys’ category, hotels are described as being ‘truly unique and exceptional in every way, where a memorable experience is always guaranteed’.
MICHELIN recognised the Burman's ‘obsessive attention to detail that should draw both business travellers and urban explorers’ to the city and added that it ‘delivers on the scale of a much larger hotel’, not least due to its leading live entertainment offerings and world leading facilities including a spa, multiple fine dining restaurants and even a bespoke casino.
Combined, these create an elegant, intimate and vibrant experience loved by guests both new and repeat.
The awards come as Tallinn looks to expand its tourism revenue. Earlier this year, it reported 2024 visitor numbers of 3.18 million, a seven percent increase on 2023, a record sum. With the Burman’s continued inclusion in such global rankings, it is likely that more will trek to the UNESCO-recognised Old Town of Tallinn to explore what it has to offer.
The Burman’s inclusion points to a growing post-pandemic demand for luxury boutique hotel offerings that are able to offer the same, if not better, amenities and service than major five-star chains.
Image credit: Burman Hotel
