Sea Island Makes Mobil Five-Star History

The Cloister at Sea Island made Mobil Five-Star history when it garnered three of the awards for the hotel itself, its signature restaurant, the Georgian Room, and the world-class Cloister Spa. In addition, The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club maintained its Five-Star distinction for the ninth consecutive year.

The Cloister Spa is the only Mobil Five-Star spa in Georgia and one of only eight so recognized in the U.S. and Canada. The Georgian Room shares its status with only one other restaurant in the state and 19 other restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. This extraordinary recognition by Mobil comes just three years after The Cloister's complete resort rebuild.

Criteria to earn a Mobil Five-Star rating are stringent, based on more than 750 standards for hotels, more than 250 for restaurants, and more recently 450 different guidelines for spas, making it the most rigorous and comprehensive in the industry. To achieve Mobil Five-Star status, properties must then meet or exceed Mobil's bar-setting service standards, which are determined through an unannounced, undercover service evaluation conducted by Mobil Travel Guide's expert inspectors.

"Winning four Mobil Five-Star awards is an incredible achievement," said Bill Jones III, chairman and CEO, Sea Island Company. "Beautiful buildings alone do not achieve this level of recognition. People – our employees – make the difference, by providing the genuine, heart-felt service and authentic Southern hospitality that distinguishes Sea Island."

The Cloister is no stranger to Mobil's Five-Star awards. Prior to the resort's recent rebuild, the hotel held the distinction for 22 years. Resuming its place among America's most extraordinary resorts, The Cloister offers unparalleled levels of service and hospitality generations have come to expect.

With rich stories and artifacts that date back more than 80 years, Sea Island is the unequivocal grande dame of historic American resorts. Lured by privacy, value, impeccable service and comfort, generations of families and noteworthy guests return to Sea Island year after year.

Commemorating its Mobil Travel Guide historic achievement, Sea Island has created a Five Star Celebration package. The three-night package, available at either of Sea Island's Five-Star properties, features a $500 gift card, which can be used for any of the activities enjoyed by generations of families, including rounds of golf, dining in the Mobil Five-Star Georgian Room and rest and relaxation at The Cloister's Mobil Five-Star Spa. Rates for this special value, which is valid Jan. 23 through March 31, 2009, begin at $525/night and may be booked by calling 888.SEA ISLAND (732.4752) or online at the resort's web site at www.seaisland.com. Reservations must be made before February 28, 2009.

A private resort and real estate development company founded in 1928, Sea Island Company today owns and operates Sea Island Resorts, featuring two of the world's most coveted destinations: The Mobil Five-Star Cloister at Sea Island and The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club, a Mobil Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond property. Sea Island Resorts encompasses The Golf Learning Center, three championship golf courses, the Mobil Five-Star Georgian Room restaurant, Camp Cloister, one of America's renowned children's program, the Tennis Club, Equestrian Center, Yacht Club, Shooting School and Mobil Five-Star Cloister Spa.

A recent transformation of the resort has married the company's storied history with unparalleled 21st century amenities. Sea Island has received numerous honors and accolades, including recognition as the "top golf resort" in North America by Golf Digest and inclusion on the Travel + Leisure list of the Top 100 Hotels in the World. Sea Island was noted in 2007 and 2008 as the "top golf community" in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure Golf. www.seaisland.com