Its North American guide is one of a series of books Johansens publishes annually that showcase luxury accommodations around the world � from castles, inns and hotels in Europe to hotels and game lodges in Southern Africa.

�We have been pleased with the response to our North American guide since its launch in 1998,� says Jane Valentine, Johansens� North American Publisher.  �The number of properties seeking and renewing their inclusion is growing steadily � and we�re constantly on the lookout for candidates that meet our high standards of excellence.�

Unlike some guides, Johansens team of inspectors annually evaluates each property seeking inclusion in its guides.  They are rated according to a range of standards, including ambience (from décor in public and private rooms to amenities offered guests), attitude and warmth of staff, cleanliness of rooms, ambience of aligned restaurant and quality of its cuisine, and value for the money. 

�The fact is that this approach has allowed us to develop and maintain our worldwide reputation for including only top-calibre hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts,� said Valentine. 

�As a result, not every property seeking inclusion makes the cut � but we�re happy to reconsider them after improvements are made.�

The benefits of inclusion in the Johansens guides include:

• Automatic listing in the Johansens website (www.johansens.com), with photos and description.  Recently revamped, the new Johansens website has a variety of state-of-the-art features, including a �call free now� button on each participant�s page that puts visitors to the site directly in touch with the hotel�s or inn�s reservation desk. For the year 2001, Johansens will also create complementary hyperlinks between its site and the hotel�s.
• Provision of 50 complimentary sets of Johansens guides to be featured in guest rooms. Only one book is more commonly seen in guest bedrooms than Johansens guides:  Gideon�s Bible.  Some hoteliers make special displays of these books and sell them to interested guests, making up the cost of inclusion in the guides. Additional copies are available at discount.
• Cross-listing of North American properties in Johansens� other guides, including Recommended Hotels � Europe, and Recommended Hotels and Game Lodges � Southern Africa.  Additionally, appropriate hotels and inns with meeting and convention facilities can also be considered for inclusion in Johansens guide to Recommended Business Meeting Venues for a nominal additional fee.
• Access to special pricing and promotions available from Johansens preferred partners, including Moet & Chandon Champagne, Dunhill Aged Cigars and Ercol, a major furniture manufacturer catering to the hotel industry.
• Access to special marketing programs available for nominal fees provided by Johnansens, including special advertising supplements in The Sunday Times (London) and the Marks and Spencer Magazine.  Marks and Spencer is the United Kingdom�s largest department store.