Colorado Springs hotels The Broadmoor, Mining Exchange earn Michelin keys

Driving the news: The Broadmoor and the Mining Exchange Hotel each earned one Michelin key, the hotel guide's designation for a "very special stay."

• The two local properties — one a century-old destination resort, the other a revived downtown landmark — are the only new Colorado additions to this year's key list.

What they're saying: Michelin highlighted The Broadmoor's sprawling grounds, European-inspired accommodations, golf courses, spa and extensive restaurant lineup.

• Reviewers praised the Mining Exchange's mix of Italian Renaissance architecture, art deco flourishes and Victorian-inspired interiors.

By the numbers: Michelin recognized 359 hotels across the U.S. this year, including 16 in Colorado.

• Keys are Michelin's hotel equivalent of restaurant stars.
• Dunton Hot Springs, a restored ghost-town resort near Dolores, remains Colorado's only two-key hotel. No Colorado property holds three keys.

How it works: Michelin evaluates hotels using five criteria:

• Architecture and interior design.
• Service quality and consistency.
• Personality and character.
• Value for the price.
• Contribution to the surrounding neighborhood or destination.

Zoom in: Three more local properties made Michelin's broader Selected Hotels list, which identifies high-quality stays:

• Hotel Polaris, near the Air Force Academy.
• Kinship Landing, in downtown's New South End.
• SCP Hotel Colorado Springs, on South Circle Drive.