Hoteliers are cottoning on to the fact that the way to our hearts - and our wallets - is through our stomach. Editors of the bestselling Good Hotel Guide 2002 , which went on sale last week, said that despite the twin spectres of foot and mouth and recession that are haunting the British tourism industry, certain sectors are thriving: namely restaurants-with-rooms and design-led hotels that put a strong emphasis on food and wine, writes Joanne O'Connor.

To reflect this new trend, the guide has created two separate categories in its index this year, Hotels for Gourmets and City Hotels with Designer Style.

Among the103 new entries listed in the guide are the Hotel du Vin & Bistro in Birmingham (sister hotels in Bristol, Tunbridge Wells and Winchester have already earned a loyal following of wine lovers), and the Hotel Barcelona in Exeter and Hotel Kandinsky in Cheltenham which are the latest offerings from Alias Hotels,which is targeting the Mint brigade (middle income, no tie).

'Food is a more important part of a hotel stay than ever before,' said co-editor Desmond Balmer. 'We are seeing a growth in the designer mini-chains that often serve Mediterranean style food in a buzzy atmosphere, and restaurants with rooms are going from strength to strength.'

Lettonie in Bath, which has two Michelin stars and just four rooms, and Mr Underhill's in Ludlow, which has three Michelin stars and six rooms, are typical of this growing breed.

'We are also seeing food used as a way of invigorating established hotels, such as the The Halkin in London, which has appointed Australian chef David Thompson to open a Thai restaurant,' said Balmer.

The Good Hotel Guide, now in its twenty-fifth year, champions hotels, guest houses, inns and B&Bs that have character and high standards of service. Full descriptions and reviews are given for over 750 hotels. Hotels do not pay for their entry and reviewers accept no free hospitality.

Each year the guide gives its own César awards to a handful of hotels considered to be of 'outstanding merit'. Among the winners this year are Hazlitt's in Soho, which was named London Hotel of the Year; Painswick Hotel in Gloucestershire which won Country House Hotel of the Year; and Hundred House in Shropshire which won the award for Utterly Enjoyable Mild Eccentricity.

To order a copy of the Good Hotel Guide 2002 (Ebury Press, £16.99) for £13.99 plus p&p, telephone the Observer Book Service on 0870 066 7989