Michelin is not publishing guides for Los Angeles, Las Vegas or Austria this year amid the global economic downturn.
The company said there will not be 2010 guides for the two US cities, although the suspension is temporary, while the publication of the Austrian guide has been terminated.
The move represents a step back for the Michelin guide, published by the French tyre company, which has been expanding its portfolio of city guides across three continents in a bid to become the international benchmark by which restaurants are rated.
“It's true that due to the economic situation we will not publish 2010 guides for Los Angeles and Las Vegas but it’s only a temporary decision,” a spokeswoman for Michelin told Caterersearch.
“Regarding the Austrian guide, it will stop being published because the sales of this guide, since it was first launched five years ago, have never been good enough.”
However, she added that Michelin will continue its international expansion.
“The Michelin guide will continue its international development in the months and years to come. For instance, we are launching a new guide covering [the Japanese cities of] Kyoto and Osaka in October,” she said.
The Michelin guide for Kyoto and Osaka is the second Japanese guide after the Tokyo guide was first launched two years ago.
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By Kerstin Kühn
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