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Who and What You Represent:
Mobil Corporation (now known as ExxonMobil
Corporation, following a 1999 merger) began producing the Mobil Travel Guide
following the introduction of the US Highway system in 1958. The first edition
covered only 5 southwestern states. Since then, the Mobil Travel Guide has become
the premier travel guide in North America, covering the 48 contiguous states and
major cities in Canadian provinces.
The current Mobil Travel Guide Regional
Travel Guide product consists of 10 volumes, each representing a geographical
region of the United States, the Guide provides for the traveling public a comprehensive
reference that identifies and describes 4,000 locations, 21,000 points of interest,
14,000 motels, hotels, inns, resorts, guest ranches and many others, plus 8,000
restaurants. Regional road maps, driving tours, and detailed maps of major cities
are also included.
Selection of establishments for listing in the Guide
is geared toward providing the traveler with a representative sample of restaurants
and accommodations available in each area of the country. Establishments are described
by their distinguishing characteristics, price range, the quality of service and
facility, and by the area surrounding them.
Each restaurant, motel,
hotel, inn, resort, guest ranch, etc. is inspected and must meet the basic requirements
of cleanliness and a solid facility to be included in the Guide. Following the
decision to list an establishment, ratings are then determined.
How
are Ratings Determined:
Based upon written establishment inspection
reports, Mobil Travel Guide management determines those establishments eligible
for listing. Only facilities meeting Mobil Travel Guide standards of cleanliness,
maintenance and stable management are listed in the Guide. Deteriorating, poorly
managed establishments are deleted. A listing in the Mobil Travel Guide constitutes
a positive quality recommendation; every rating is an accolade; a recognition
of achievement.
Ratings are assigned according to the following scale:
 One
of the best in the country
 Outstanding-worth
a special trip
 Well-appointed
establishment, with full services and amenities
 Comfortable
establishment with expanded services and amenities
 Clean,
convenient establishment with limited services
All ratings are reviewed
annually and are the responsibility of Mobil Travel Guide management. Each property
listed in Mobil Travel Guide is rated according to national standards and requirements.
The Quality Assurance Team reports inspection findings to the home office.
In addition to careful scrutiny of findings detailed in inspection reports,
several other sources are used in final ratings determinations.
- Incognito inspections
where we dine in the restaurant or overnight in the hotel/resort/inn to gauge
the service expertise of the hotel and restaurant
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Extensive files of reader comments and letters
- Media
reviews and other competitive rating information
All
of these elements combined determine the final rating of the property. As the
Mobil Travel Guide's goal is to be a consumer advocacy group on travel, our
quality assurance program is designed to grade a property on what an average consumer
would encounter during their stay at a hotel or during a dining experience.
The Mobil Travel Guide Star Rating System is the oldest hotel and restaurant
inspection and rating program in North America (43 years) and is committed to
providing this invaluable service to the traveling consumer well into the future.
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