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Friday, Sep. 19, 2025

Do Colorado cities pay to have restaurants reviewed for the Michelin Guide?

Tyler Hickman, The Colorado Sun
yes

The Colorado Tourism Office, along with tourism boards in Denver, Boulder, Aspen, Vail, Beaver Creek and Snowmass, have contributed between $70,000 and $100,000 annually since 2023 to bring Michelin inspectors to restaurants in their cities. 

Sponsorships from food brands, liquor distributors, hotel chains and tourism agencies help fund the Michelin Guide and its reviewers. While the money does not guarantee that restaurants will receive Michelin recognition, it solidifies these cities as locations that inspectors will visit. 

Several other cities and states across the U.S. have reported similar sponsorship deals to bring the Michelin guide to their area. In 2023, Atlanta spent $1 million on a three-year contract with the guide, and five Texas cities invested a total of $2.7 million over three years to receive Michelin coverage. Fifty Colorado restaurants received Michelin recognition in 2025, nine of which earned Michelin stars. 

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