IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2002-- Stars are shining upon North America's best lodgings and restaurants as ExxonMobil Travel Publications has announced the 2002 recipients of the Mobil Four- and Five-Star Award.

This year, 25 lodgings and 14 restaurants have been awarded the coveted Mobil Five-Star rating. In addition, 240 lodgings and 241 restaurants across the U.S. and Canada have received the Mobil Four-Star rating.

"Of the thousands of properties included in Mobil Travel Guide, only a fraction achieve the level of excellence required by the Four-, and particularly the Five-Star, designation," said Kenneth P. Cohen, Vice President, Public Affairs, Exxon Mobil Corporation.

"Our notable newcomer is New York's restaurant Alain Ducasse, which enters the rating program as a Five-Star recipient; this is a rare and extraordinary accomplishment."

World-renowned Chef Alain Ducasse opened his Manhattan venue in the Essex House hotel in June, 2000 with the vision to create an American showcase for the artistry of his food using local produce. The 65-seat main dining room offers Mediterranean-influenced and contemporary classic cuisine ranging from three- to six-course prix-fixe tasting menus. 

"Throughout the years, Mobil Travel Guide has brought together America's best hotels and restaurants, and I cannot tell you how proud I am to be
part of the chosen few to receive this prestigious Five-Star Award," said Ducasse. "On behalf of my staff, we are truly honored and want to thank everyone at Mobil Travel Guide for the acknowledgement." Mobil inspectors were particularly impressed with the extraordinary level of skill exhibited in the preparation, finishing, and presentation of cuisine, referring to the overall dining experience as "world class."

"What makes Mobil Travel Guide stand apart from other travel award programs is our professional reviews process," notes Cohen.

"A national network of independent culinary and hospitality experts brings their knowledge and experience to the fore when evaluating properties from the consumer's point of view. The entire experience, from arrival through departure, is taken into account."

The Mobil Five-Star Award indicates that a property is one of the best in the country and able to provide an unequivocal level of service, quality, and ambience. Also highly regarded is the Mobil Four-Star Award, which honors properties for exceptional achievement in guest accommodation and attention to detail. General evaluation criteria for each Mobil Star level can be found on the Mobil Travel Guide website, www.exxonmobiltravel.com.
 

39 Mobil Five-Stars (25 Lodgings; 14 Restaurants)
481 Mobil Four-Stars (240 Lodgings; 241 Restaurants) Note: The city names appearing in italics denote the location of each property, and are not part of their name.
 

The ten volumes of Mobil Travel Guide will be available in bookstores nationwide beginning the week of January 14, 2002. Geographic regions include: New England & East Canada, New York & New Jersey, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Florida, Great Lakes, Great Plains, California, Northwest, and Southwest. Orders for Mobil Travel Guide and Mobil Travel Guide America's Best Hotels and Restaurants: The Four- and Five-Star Winners of 2002 are available by calling 800/653-0220.

The 2002 Mobil Travel Guide series, along with its accompanying website, www.exxonmobiltravel.com, provides comprehensive, up-to-date information on more than 22,000 lodging and dining establishments and 19,000 attractions in more than 4,900 cities and towns throughout North America. Complete with four-color printing, a compact design, driving and walking tours, and area maps, the guides provide a full range of traveling options from the very basic to the elaborate. "Travelers will be pleased to discover the growing presence of quality dining and lodging opportunities in their own backyard that offer both value and convenience," adds Cohen.

Mobil Travel Guide, an ExxonMobil Travel Publication, has been committed to providing quality service and products to North America's traveling public since 1958. Guides are published by Publications International, Ltd.