Eight Hotels Achieve 2008 AAA Five Diamonds for First Time

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. October 14, 2008

ORLANDO, FL, November 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(R) winners make up just 0.27 percent of the 60,000 Diamond Rated(R) 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(R) 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.

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.

---| 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."