Michelin move into boutique hotel market with Tablet travel agency acquisition
Hospitality bellwether Michelin has acquired Tablet, an online travel agency which specialises in boutique and luxury hotels.
The first online travel agency to specialise in boutique and luxury hotels, Tablet was founded in 2000 by Laurent Vernhes and Michael Davis. The firm is based in New York and primarily caters to a US audience, which makes up 52% of its market.
Currently the brand's website features 3,500 hotels with more than 80 high-end London sites including The Beaumont, The Ned and The Connaught. In total 143 sites are listed in the UK.
Now under Michelin, the company is expected to expand further into the worldwide market. Pascal Couasnon, director of gastronomic and tourist activities of the Michelin group, said: "Travellers and foodies are now looking for experiences which tell a story, and which help them discover a universe where they can show their appreciation of the local cultures.
"Tablet is part of this new lifestyle that fully corresponds to the ethos of the Michelin guides. We want to offer our readers the best, by revealing places that offer this extra soul and express the fruit of the work of hoteliers and passionate chefs alike."
Laurent Vernhes and Michael Davis, co-founders of Tablet, commented: "Michelin and Tablet share an unbiased approach to curation. Our dedication to integrity has made us leaders in our respective fields, and now we're combining forces for a ground-breaking union that will change the scale of Tablet and transform the Tablet Plus program.
"Likewise, hotel reservations driven by expert curation and exclusive privileges will be a significant addition to Michelin's travel portfolio."
