AAA released a list of 63 restaurants and 120 hotels that have earned the AAA Five Diamond Rating in the past 12 months, qualifying them for the 2017 Five Diamond Award list. This group represents just 0.3 percent of the nearly 59,000 “AAA Approved” and “Diamond Rated” restaurants and hotels.
The following venues earned the Five Diamond ranking for the first time in 2016 (includes notes from AAA):
The Modern – New York City (Restaurant)
An exquisite museum sculpture garden provides this AAA Five Diamond restaurant a sublime, cosmopolitan and relaxed setting for a most splendid meal. The prix-fixe menus focus on seasonal, high-quality ingredients; sautéed foie gras, lobster steamed in spinach, bone marrow-crusted beef and Long Island duck are standouts. Service is energetic and diligent. The wine list is ample, and desserts artistic.
Four Seasons Resort Lana'i – Lanai City, Hawaii (Hotel/Resort)
The newly renovated AAA Five Diamond resort provides panoramic ocean views atop rugged lava cliffs and white sand beaches. Accommodations are culturally contextual, giving a nod to Hawaiian aesthetics.
The St. Regis New York – New York City (Hotel/Resort)
A New York landmark since 1904, this appealing AAA Five Diamond property offers style at a grand level. When combined with contemporary luxury and attentive services, it is in a rarefied, supreme class.
Spice Island Beach Resort – St. George's, Grenada (Hotel/Resort)
Situated on a gorgeous white-sand beach, this all-inclusive AAA Five Diamond resort has richly decorated, luxurious suites with furnished balconies or terraces. Some units also come with private plunge pools and four-poster canopy beds. The suites, tucked among private gardens dotted by lemon, almond and sea grape trees, are spread out in several buildings and afford very nice privacy.
Four Seasons Hotel Mexico D.F. – Mexico City (Hotel/Resort)
Recently renovated from top to bottom, the design of this AAA Five Diamond hotel is stylish and sophisticated throughout. The elegantly appointed guest rooms are chic and many overlook a beautifully landscaped courtyard. Spanish colonial-inspired rooms feature marble bathrooms.
Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Dorado, Puerto Rico (Hotel/Resort)
Cutting-edge AAA Five Diamond luxury is wrapped in an envelope of naturally preserved sanctuary-style surroundings. The guest suites are spacious and have luxurious amenities and ocean views, with some also featuring private pools. Guests can indulge at the stupendous five-acre spa that includes a complete hydro treatment area and treehouse treatment rooms. The service is stellar from beginning to end.
The Jefferson Hotel – Richmond, Va. (Hotel/Resort)
This ornate 1895 Beaux-Arts hotel is a historic landmark with striking architectural details, including a Tiffany stained-glass rotunda, a marble statue of Thomas Jefferson and a grand staircase.
"Five Diamond establishments represent the upper echelon of hospitality, redefining personalized service, using creativity to enhance guest comfort and providing memorable experiences," said Michael Petrone, director, AAA Inspections and Diamond Ratings. "Attaining the Five Diamond Rating is an impressive accomplishment."
Candidates for the Five Diamond Rating undergo multiple unannounced evaluations and a final decision by a panel of experts. Using guidelines weighted by member priorities, inspectors evaluate guest services and physical attributes to assess the level of competence, refinement and hospitality.
A complete list of Four and Five Diamond facilities is available at AAA.com/DiamondAwards.
