The Michelin Rating Unit is a system used to rate restaurants and hotels. It is based on a scale of one to three stars, with one STAR indicating a 'very good' restaurant or hotel, two stars indicating an 'EXCELLENT' restaurant or hotel, and three stars indicating an 'EXCEPTIONAL' restaurant or hotel. The rating system was created by the Michelin Guide, which was first published in 1900 by the French tire company Michelin. The rating system has become a global standard for evaluating the quality of restaurants and hotels.