Orlando,
Fla. - 11/9/2007 - AAA has announced the 100 hotels and 60 restaurants
that have achieved Five Diamond status, the travel authority’s highest
rating for hotels and restaurants.
For 2008, eight hotels made their first appearance on the
list: The
Canyon Suites at the Phoenician, Scottsdale, Ariz.; St. Regis Resort,
Monarch
Beach, Dana Point, Calif.; The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Las Vegas;
The Umstead Hotel & Spa, Cary, N.C.; Four Seasons Resort Whistler,
Whistler, BC; The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman; the JW Marriott Resort
&
Spa, Cancun and the Fairmont Mayakoba, Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
The four dining additions are The Penrose Room at The
Broadmoor (Colorado’s
first Five Diamond restaurant), Lautrec, Farmington, Pa.; Blue, Cayman
Islands and Le Basilic in Cancun.
Representing the upper echelon of the hospitality industry,
AAA Five
Diamond Award® winners make up just 0.27 percent of the 60,000
Diamond
Rated® lodgings and restaurants throughout the United States,
Canada,
Mexico, and the Caribbean.
“Five Diamond establishments reflect the characteristics of
ultimate
luxury and sophistication,” said Michael Petrone, director of AAA
Tourism
Information Development. “The physical attributes of these properties
are
extraordinary in every manner, and personalized services for guests
consistently
exceed expectations of even the most refined traveler. To achieve and
maintain
this level of service is an amazing accomplishment, and AAA is pleased
to honor these establishments as Five Diamond Award recipients.”
The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, The Greenbrier in West
Virginia and
The Camelback Inn in Scottsdale have maintained a Five Diamond Rating
for
32 consecutive years – since the hotel Diamond Ratings were first
published
in the AAA TourBook® guides. Two restaurants have also maintained
Five
Diamond status for 20 consecutive years (since the Diamond Ratings were
first applied to restaurants): The Inn at Little Washington Dining Room
in Washington, Va., and Le Bec-Fin in Philadelphia.
The assignment of a AAA rating of one to five Diamonds marks
the completion
of a successful annual evaluation. All properties must first meet AAA’s
rigorous requirements and guidelines during an evaluation by one of
AAA’s
65 full-time professional inspectors to become AAA Approved.
AAA’s Diamond Rating System is the only ratings system that
covers all
of North America and one of only two that conduct physical, on-site
evaluations.
It is the only system that uses full-time, professionally trained
evaluators
to inspect each property on an annual basis using a set of guidelines
that
are made available to all establishments. AAA rates more properties
than
any other rating entity. AAA considers and investigates member feedback
during reviews, but does not depend on guest opinions to derive a
rating.
In addition, AAA provides travelers the opportunity to post comments
about
their experiences at AAA Approved establishments.
As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel
organization,
AAA provides more than 50 million members with travel, insurance,
financial
and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the
not-for-profit,
fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and
security of all travelers. Consumers can visit AAA on the Internet at
AAA.com
and access complete Five Diamond Award lists and information at
AAA.com/Diamonds.
The Many Facets of Five Diamonds Establishments
All AAA Five Diamond establishments offer exemplary
surroundings and
service. “In addition to providing unwavering quality, many Five
Diamond
establishments enhance the diner or guest experience with unique
elements
such as the following, noted by AAA inspectors during their
evaluations,“
said Michael Petrone:
• Kai (in the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort
& Spa)
– Phoenix, Ariz.
“The menu uses seasonal ingredients farmed on the local Native American
reservation and unique plants developed from the Native Seeds/SEARCH
Institute
in Tucson. The dining room overlooks Montezuma Peak and the desert
floor
where wild horses truly do roam.”
• Le Baccara – Gatineau, Quebec
“Le Baccara restaurant is located in a casino connected to a luxurious
Four Diamond Hilton Hotel. What makes this dining room particularly
special
for foodies is the open kitchen behind a low glass wall. While guests
dine,
they can watch the orchestration of details that go into each course -
from the preparation of individual menu ingredients to the symphonic
presentation
and garnishing of each plate.”
• Signatures @ Le Cordon Bleu – Ottawa, Ontario
“The Five Diamond experience is dependent on a property’s ability to
consistently elevate the ordinary to the exceptional. Case in point:
squash
soup at Signatures @ Le Cordon Bleu. The soup is served with the
finesse
that benefits any fine creation, and visually demands the diner’s
attention.
But of course the proof is in the eating, and this squash soup with
mixed
temperatures, textures and flavors creates an unexpected sensation on
the
palate that is wonderfully delicious and unique.”
• The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park – New York,
N.Y.
“Located only five blocks from Ground Zero, The Ritz-Carlton New York,
Battery Park is a phoenix that rose among the ashes and tears of
September
11. Its greatest distinction is the magnificent views of the Statue of
Liberty. Guests will find the landmark riveting to the point of
distraction.
It’s an odd juxtaposition, the horror and grief that emanates from the
World Trade Center site, and the hope and promise that the Lady and her
torch represent. Between the two stands a modern hotel, with stellar
Five
Diamond service and a bold and defiant New York state of mind.”
• The Greenbrier – White Sulphur Springs, W. Va.
“The Greenbrier is a legendary American resort nestled amid West
Virginia’s
Allegheny Mountains. The current hotel has graced the site since 1913
and
has a long history of welcoming both presidents and royalty. Its grand
parlors, spas, many guest rooms and cottages are still decorated in the
flamboyant mix of colors, patterns and flowers made famous by designer
Dorothy Draper in the 1950s. The staff consists of mostly locals, some
of whom are descended from as many as four generations of The
Greenbrier
employees.”
• Four Seasons Resort Whistler – Whistler, British
Columbia
“Aside from the spectacular mountain setting and beautifully appointed
guest rooms, the on-site recreational facilities at the Four Seasons
Resort
Whistler are most impressive, including cardio machines that feature
small
television screens. After an arduous workout, the hotel’s changing
rooms
offer a sublime retreat featuring a unique rain shower system.”
• The American Club – Kohler, Wis.
“In the quaint little village of Kohler is one of the quiet gems of
the hospitality industry. Built in 1918 by the Kohler Company to house
immigrants coming to America to work in its foundry, The American Club
is rich with history, artistry, craftsmanship and perhaps a ghost or
two.”
2008 AAA/CAA Five
Diamond Lodgings
Number indicates consecutive years as a AAA Five Diamond Award
Winner.
List published November 9, 2007, and is subject to change
based
on establishment operation.
.
UNITED
STATES
Arizona
CAREFREE
The Boulders Resort and Golden
Door Spa,19
SCOTTSDALE
Camelback Inn, A JW Marriott
Resort & Spa, 32
The Canyon Suites at the
Phoenician, 1
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 17
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale
at Troon North, 7
The Phoenician, 4
California
BEVERLY HILLS
The Peninsula Beverly Hills, 15
Raffles L'Ermitage Beverly Hills, 7
CARLSBAD
Four Seasons Resort Aviara, 9
DANA POINT
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, 22
St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach, 1
HALF MOON BAY
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, 6
LA JOLLA
The Lodge at Torrey Pines, 6
LOS ANGELES
Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles
at Beverly Hills, 7
MARINA DEL REY
The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, 16
NEWPORT BEACH
The Island Hotel Newport Beach, 16
OAKHURST
Château du Sureau, 14
OJAI
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, 2
PASADENA
The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington
Hotel & Spa, 5
SAN FRANCISCO
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, 14
SANTA BARBARA
Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara, 3
Simpson House Inn, 11
Colorado
ASPEN
The Little Nell, 17
BEAVER CREEK
The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, 3
COLORADO SPRINGS
The Broadmoor, 32
Connecticut
WASHINGTON DEPOT
The Mayflower Inn & Spa, 12
District of Columbia
WASHINGTON
Four Seasons Hotel Washington D.C., 19
The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown, 4
The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C., 7
Florida
AMELIA ISLAND
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, 14
COCONUT GROVE
The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami, 5
KEY BISCAYNE
The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, 3
MIAMI
Four Seasons Hotel Miami, 2
NAPLES
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, 5
The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, 21
PALM BEACH
The Breakers, 12
PONTE VEDRA BEACH
Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, 6
SARASOTA
The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, 3
Georgia
ATLANTA
Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, 9
The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta, 5
The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, 22
GREENSBORO
The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation, 2
ST. SIMONS ISLAND
The Lodge at Sea Island, 7
Hawaii
KAPALUA
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, 12
KAUPULEHU
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu, 10
WAILEA
Four Seasons Resort, Maui at Wailea, 17
|
Illinois
CHICAGO
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, 18
The Peninsula Chicago, 6
The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago
(A Four Seasons Hotel), 3
Massachusetts
BOSTON
Four Seasons Hotel Boston, 20
Nevada
LAS VEGAS
Bellagio, 7
Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, 9
Skylofts at the MGM Grand Hotel, 2
The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, 1
Wynn Las Vegas, 2
New York
New York City
Four Seasons Hotel New York, 14
Mandarin Oriental, New York, 3
The Peninsula New York, 9
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park, 6
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, 6
The St. Regis Hotel, New York, 14
North Carolina
CARY
The Umstead Hotel & Spa, 1
PITTSBORO
The Fearrington House Inn, 14
Ohio
AURORA
Walden Country Inn & Stables, 4
Pennsylvania
FARMINGTON
Falling Rock at Nemacolin Woodlands
Resort, 2
PHILADELPHIA
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, 24
The Rittenhouse Hotel and Condominium Residences, 17
The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, 8
South Carolina
CHARLESTON
Wentworth Mansion, 5
KIAWAH ISLAND
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island
Golf Resort, 2
SUMMERVILLE
Woodlands Resort & Inn, 11
Tennessee
NASHVILLE
The Hermitage Hotel, 5
Texas
DALLAS
The Mansion On Turtle Creek, 17
HOUSTON
Four Seasons Hotel Houston, 13
The St. Regis Hotel, Houston, 7
IRVING
Four Seasons Resort and Club, 5
Utah
PARK CITY
Stein Eriksen Lodge, 6
SALT LAKE CITY
The Grand America Hotel, 4
Virginia
RICHMOND
The Jefferson Hotel, 15
WASHINGTON
The Inn at Little Washington, 19
Washington
SEATTLE
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 24
West Virginia
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS
The Greenbrier, 32
Wisconsin
KOHLER
The American Club, 23
Wyoming
TETON VILLAGE
Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole, 2
|
.
CANADA
British Columbia
VANCOUVER
The Sutton Place Hotel, 19
WHISTLER
Four Seasons Resort Whistler, 1
CARIBBEAN
Barbados
HOLETOWN
Sandy Lane Hotel, 5
Cayman Islands
SEVEN MILE BEACH
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, 1
Jamaica
ROSE HALL
The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort,
Rose Hall, 7
St. Kitts and Nevis
CHARLESTOWN
Four Seasons Resort Nevis, 6
|
MEXICO
Baja California Sur
SAN JOSE DEL CABO
Las Ventanas al Paraiso, 7
Distrito Federal
MEXICO CITY
Four Seasons Hotel Mexico D.F., 12
Nayarit
NUEVO VALLARTA
Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort, 2
PUNTA MITA
Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita Mexico, 7
Quintana Roo
CANCUN
Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach, 14
JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa, 1
The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun, 12
PLAYA DEL CARMEN
Fairmont Mayakoba, 1
Occidental Royal Hideaway Resort & Spa, 2
PUERTO MORELOS
Paraiso de la Bonita Resort and Thalasso, 4
|
.
2008 AAA/CAA
Five Diamond
Restaurants
Number indicates consecutive years as a AAA Five Diamond Award
Winner.
List published November 9, 2007, and is subject to change
based
on establishment operation.
.
UNITED
STATES
Arizona
PHOENIX
Kai, 2
(in the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass
Resort and Spa)
SCOTTSDALE
Mary Elaine's, 9
(in The Phoenician)
TUCSON
The Ventana Room, 3
(in the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort)
California
BEVERLY HILLS
The Belvedere, 13
(in The Peninsula Beverly Hills)
HEALDSBURG
Cyrus, 2
OAKHURST
Erna's Elderberry House Restaurant, 12
(in the Château du Sureau)
SAN FRANCISCO
The Dining Room, 12
(in The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco)
Gary Danko, 5
YOUNTVILLE
The French Laundry, 3
Colorado
COLORADO SPRINGS
The Penrose Room, 1
(in The Broadmoor)
District of Columbia
WASHINGTON
CityZen, 2
(in the Mandarin Oriental,
Washington D.C.)
Florida
AMELIA ISLAND
Salt, The Grill at The Ritz-Carlton, 14
(in The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island)
LAKE BUENA VISTA
Victoria & Albert's, 8
(in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa)
NAPLES
Artisans in The Dining Room, 9
(in The Ritz-Carlton, Naples)
PALM BEACH
L'Escalier, 7
(in The Breakers)
The Restaurant at The Four Seasons, 13
(in The Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach)
Georgia
ATLANTA
The Dining Room, 19
(in The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead)
Hawaii
HONOLULU
La Mer, 18
(in the Halekulani)
Illinois
CHICAGO
Alinea, 2
Arun's, 6
Avenues, 2
(in The Peninsula Chicago)
Charlie Trotter's, 14
Everest, 12
Seasons Restaurant, 8
(in the Four Seasons Hotel, Chicago)
Tru, 8
|
Kentucky
LOUISVILLE
The Oakroom, 10
(in The Seelbach Hilton, Louisville)
Maine
KENNEBUNK BEACH
The White Barn Inn Restaurant, 16
(in The White Barn Inn & Spa)
Massachusetts
BOSTON
Aujourd'hui, 13
(in the Four Seasons Hotel, Boston)
L'Espalier, 9
LENOX
Wheatleigh's Dining Room, 3
(in the Wheatleigh)
Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS
The 1913 Room, 6
(in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel)
Nevada
LAS VEGAS
Alex, 3
(in the Wynn Las Vegas)
Joël Robuchon, 2
(in the MGM Grand Hotel)
Le Cirque, 5
(in the Bellagio)
Picasso, 7
(in the Bellagio)
New York
NEW YORK CITY
Aureole, 11
Daniel, 9
Jean Georges Restaurant, 10
(in the Trump International Hotel & Tower)
North Carolina
PITTSBORO
The Fearrington House Restaurant, 13
(in the Fearrington House Inn)
Pennsylvania
FARMINGTON
Lautrec, 1
(in the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort)
PHILADELPHIA
Fountain Restaurant, 14
(in the Four Seasons Hotel, Philadelphia)
Le Bec-Fin, 20
South Carolina
SUMMERVILLE
The Dining Room at Woodlands, 12
(in the Woodlands Resort & Inn)
Texas
DALLAS
The French Room, 19
(in The Adolphus)
Virginia
WASHINGTON
The Inn at Little Washington Dining Room, 20
(in The Inn at Little Washington)
Washington
WOODINVILLE
The Herbfarm Restaurant, 6
|
.
CANADA
Alberta
BANFF
Eden, 5
(in The Rimrock Resort Hotel)
The Banffshire Club, 5
(in The Fairmont Banff Springs)
British Columbia
VANCOUVER
Lumière, 4
Ontario
CAMBRIDGE
Langdon Hall Dining Room & Terrace, 4
(in the Langdon Hall Country House
Hotel & Spa)
OTTAWA
Signatures @ Le Cordon Bleu, 3
TORONTO
Truffles, 14
(in the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto)
Québec
GATINEAU
Le Baccara, 8
MONTRÉAL
Nuances, 8
Toqué!, 3
|
CARIBBEAN
Bermuda
SOUTHAMPTON PARISH
The Newport Room, 4
(in the Southampton Princess Hotel)
Cayman Islands
SEVEN MILE BEACH
Blue, 1
(in the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman)
MEXICO
Quintana Roo
CANCUN
The Club Grill, 9
(in The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun)
Fantino, 2
(in The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun)
Le Basilic, 1
(in the Fiesta Americana Grand
Coral Beach)
|
.
Five Diamond Facts
-
Five Diamond Award® winners are a select group; for 2008, just 0.27
percent of the 32,000 AAA Rated® lodgings and 28,000 AAA Rated
restaurants
received the prestigious designation.
-
The 160 AAA/CAA Five Diamond Award winners for 2008 include 100
lodgings
and 60 restaurants throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and
the
Caribbean.
-
Twelve Five Diamond Award winners – eight hotels and four restaurants –
were added for 2008, and five properties were removed.
-
For 2008, AAA added more hotels than restaurants; for 2007 more hotels
were also added than restaurants; for 2006 AAA added more restaurants
than
hotels.
-
Three hotels have maintained the Five Diamond Rating for 32 consecutive
years (since the Diamond Ratings were first applied to hotels): The
Broadmoor
in Colorado Springs, Colo.; Camelback Inn, a JW Marriott Resort &
Spa,
in Scottsdale, Ariz.; and The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.
Va.
-
Two restaurants have maintained Five Diamond status for 20 consecutive
years (since the Diamond Ratings were first applied to
restaurants):
The Inn at Little Washington Dining Room in Washington, Va.; and Le
Bec-Fin
in Philadelphia.
-
Colorado gained its first Five Diamond restaurant; The Penrose Room (in
The Broadmoor) in Colorado Springs, Colo.
-
Two restaurants and one lodging in Cancun, Mexico, have completed
renovations
following hurricane-related damage to reinstate their Five Diamond
status;
The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun; The Club Grill (in The Ritz-Carlton) and
Fantino
(in The Ritz-Carlton).
-
Chicago continues to have the most Five Diamond restaurants, with seven
establishments.
-
Cancun and the Cayman Islands are the only two places to add both a
Five
Diamond restaurant and lodging. Cancun added the JW Marriott
Resort
and Spa and Le Basilic. The Cayman Islands added The Ritz-Carlton
Grand Cayman and Blue (in The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman).
-
States with the most Five Diamond hotels: California (16), Florida (9),
Arizona (6), New York (6), Georgia (5) and Nevada (5).
-
States with the most Five Diamond restaurants: Illinois (7) – all in
Chicago,
California (6), Florida (5).
-
States with the most Five Diamond winners: California (22) – 16
lodgings/6
restaurants, Florida (14) – 9 lodgings/5 restaurants, Illinois (10) – 3
lodgings/7restaurants, Nevada (9) – 5 lodgings/4 restaurants, New York
(9) – 6 lodgings/3 restaurants, and Arizona (9) 6 lodgings/3
restaurants.
-
Properties eligible to receive the Five Diamond Rating for the first
time
undergo multiple evaluations and a final decision by a panel of
experts.
Similarly, Five Diamond properties in danger of losing their rating
undergo
several evaluations and a final panel decision.
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