Apple Maps Ups Its Game with Michelin Guide, The Infatuation & Golf Digest Integrations
Get ready for a more discerning travel experience! Apple Maps is rolling out a significant update, transforming itself into a more comprehensive discovery tool. The big news? Apple has partnered with industry giants like the MICHELIN Guide, The Infatuation, and Golf Digest to bring expert-curated recommendations directly to your fingertips.
This collaboration promises to elevate how users explore restaurants, hotels, and even golf courses via Apple Maps. Forget endless scrolling through generic reviews; now, you can tap into the trusted insights of these leading authorities.
MICHELIN Guide integration leads the charge, offering users in the U.S. access to MICHELIN-starred, Green Star, and Bib Gourmand restaurants. Imagine effortlessly finding a restaurant with a coveted MICHELIN rating right within Apple Maps! Hotel recommendations and booking services from the MICHELIN Guide will also be available. Gwendal Poullennec, MICHELIN Guide’s international director, stated that the integration, "will significantly enhance global access to exceptional gastronomy and hospitality experiences.”
But the culinary adventure doesn't stop there. The Infatuation, known for its authentic and relatable restaurant recommendations, will soon add its expertise to Apple Maps. Paul Needham, CEO of The Infatuation, emphasized the importance of meeting users where they are, noting that "Apple Maps is a key part of their daily lives, making this integration a natural fit.”
For golf enthusiasts, Golf Digest brings its decades of experience in course rankings and reviews to the app. Meredith Bausback, Golf Digest’s VP of Marketing & Audience Development, believes the integration will "empower golfers to discover and choose courses with the confidence that comes from decades of expert evaluation.”
According to Apple, place cards within Maps will showcase distinctions, descriptions, and images from these expert sources. Additionally, select hotels will allow direct booking from within the app, with restaurant reservations through MICHELIN and tee times through Supreme Golf also coming soon.
David Dorn, Apple’s senior director of Internet Software and Services Product, expressed excitement about the partnerships. “These new integrations make Maps an even more useful and seamless resource for users to discover great new places whether in their hometown or traveling somewhere new,” he said.
This update marks a significant step forward for Apple Maps, transforming it from a simple navigation tool into a comprehensive discovery platform. Will this entice more users to switch from Google Maps? Only time will tell.
What do you think of Apple Maps' new integrations? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!