AAA chooses Five Diamond hotels, restaurants for 2014
Fourteen hotels and restaurants have joined AAA's annual list of Five Diamond establishments in North America, the travel authority's highest honor.
This year, AAA selected 124 hotels and 59 restaurants for the coveted title. Six hotels and eight restaurants were added to the list. Seven hotels and two restaurants were removed.
Properties have to go through multiple unannounced visits from AAA inspectors before a final decision is made by a panel of experts. AAA inspectors visit about 1,200 hotels and restaurants each week.
"Establishments at this level must consistently provide an unparalleled guest environment and experience," says Michael Petrone, director of AAA Tourism Information Development.
Travel agents say that Five Diamond status is still important when planning a trip even if travelers now have multiple channels to turn to for reviews.
"This is a great shortcut for knowing if we can, in good conscious, recommend the hotel to a traveling client," says Elias Garcia, a marketing specialist with Global Basecamps, a travel agency in San Diego.
The awards come as luxury hotels are making a comeback after losing a lot of their business during the recession.
Occupancy levels are even higher than they were before the recession after dropping dramatically in 2009. Average daily rates are almost what they were before 2009.
Through November of 2013, 75.4% of luxury hotel rooms were filled, while the average daily rate was $287.94. In 2009, 63.7% of luxury hotel rooms were occupied with an average daily rate of $243.98, according to STR.
Petrone says hotels are moving toward minimalism in design but providing over-the-top services and amenities such as private butler service and spa-like bathrooms.
"Guests enjoy highly personalized, learning-oriented experiences worthy of immediate sharing through digital channels," he says.
Fine dining is also having a renaissance, Petrone says.
"Reservations are increasingly hard to get as formality is reduced in favor of greater creativity and attention to food sourcing," he says. "Innovative chefs handcraft artisanal menus featuring local, fresh and healthy ingredients."
This year's new Five Diamond Hotels are:
Château du Sureau, Oakhurst, Calif.
Wynn Tower Suites, Las Vegas
Montage Deer Valley, Park City, Utah
Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto
Banyan Tree Cabo Marques, Acapulco, Mexico
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
The new Five Diamond restaurants are:
The Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena, Calif.
Acadia, Chicago
Grace Restaurant, Chicago
Sixteen, Chicago
Per Se, New York
Restaurant La Tanière, Québec, Canada
Restaurant Le Patriarche, Québec, Canada
Cocina de Autor, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Chicago, others earns accolades
Chicago had a notable year, gaining three Five Diamond restaurants. That brings its total to seven restaurants earning top honors, putting it on par with culinary heavyweight New York City.
The states with the most number of Five Diamond restaurants are New York and California, with eight each. Each city gained one more Five Diamond restaurant this year.
California and Quintana Roo, Mexico, have the distinction of being the only states to score both a Five Diamond hotel and restaurant.
Meanwhile, Canada and Mexico each gained three Five Diamond properties.
The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., is the most consistent hotel winner. It has held its Five Diamond rating for 38 consecutive years, since AAA first introduced the ratings system for hotels.
The Inn at Little Washington Dining Room in Washington, Va. is the restaurant with the longest-running Five Diamond tenure. It has earned the highest marks every year since 1988.
From Five Diamonds to Four
AAA also downgrades properties each year. These hotels and restaurants that were Five Diamond establishments last year now have Four Diamond ratings.
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, Calif.
Simpson House Inn, Santa Barbara, Calif.
The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas
Four Seasons Resort and Club, Irving, Texas
The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia
Restaurant Toqué! Montréal, QC (Canada)
Two hotels — The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Va., and The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman -- lost their Five Diamond status and were placed in the FYI category. They are included in AAA guidebooks without a rating either because they are undergoing a major renovation or are too new to rate. AAA re-inspects them after the renovation.
And the Restaurant at The Four Seasons in Palm Beach, Fla., has closed.
Here is the complete list of Five Diamond hotels in the USA:
Arizona
Scottsdale, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Scottsdale, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
Scottsdale, The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician
Scottsdale, The Phoenician
California
Beverly Hills, L'Ermitage Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, Montage Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows
Beverly Hills, The Peninsula Beverly Hills
Carlsbad, Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa
Dana Point, St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach
Dana Point, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
La Jolla, The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Laguna Beach, Montage Laguna Beach
Marina Del Rey, The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey
Montecito, Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara
Newport Beach, Island Hotel Newport Beach
Newport Beach, The Resort at Pelican Hill
Oakhurt, Château du Sureau
Ojai, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
San Diego, The Grand Del Mar
San Francisco, The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
Truckee, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
Westlake Village, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village
Colorado
Aspen, The Little Nell
Colorado Springs, The Broadmoor
Denver, The Ritz-Carlton, Denver
Connecticut
Morris, Winvian
Washington, The Mayflower Grace
District of Columbia
Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C.
The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington DC
The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C.
Florida
Bal Harbour, St. Regis Bal Harbour
Fernandina Beach, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Fort Lauderdale, The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale
Manalapan, Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa
Miami, Four Seasons Hotel Miami
Miami, Mandarin Oriental, Miami
Naples, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples
Naples, The Ritz-Carlton, Naples
Palm Beach, Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach
Palm Beach, The Breakers, Palm Beach
Ponte Vedra Beach, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club
Sarasota, The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
Sunny Isles Beach, Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach
Georgia
Atlanta, Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta
Atlanta, InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta
Atlanta, St. Regis Atlanta Hotel & Residences
Atlanta, The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta
Atlanta, The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead
Greensboro, The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation
St. Simons Island, The Lodge at Sea Island
Hawaii
Kapalua (Maui), The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
Kaupulehu (Hawaii) Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu
Wailea (Maui) Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
Illinois
Chicago, Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
Chicago, The Peninsula Chicago
Chicago, Trump International Hotel & Tower
Chicago, Waldorf Astoria Chicago
Massachusetts
Boston, Four Seasons Hotel Boston
Boston, Mandarin Oriental, Boston
Boston, The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common
Missouri
St. Louis, Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis (2008)
Nevada
Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino
Las Vegas, ARIA Sky Suites
Las Vegas, Bellagio
Las Vegas, Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas
Las Vegas, SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand
Las Vegas, The Palazzo Las Vegas
Las Vegas, The Venetian Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Wynn Tower Suites
New York
New York City, Four Seasons Hotel New York
New York City, Mandarin Oriental, New York
New York City, The Peninsula New York
New York City, The Pierre New York-A Taj Hotel
New York City, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park
New York City, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
New York City, Trump International Hotel & Tower
New York City, Trump SoHo, New York
North Carolina
Cary, The Umstead Hotel & Spa
Charlotte, The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte
Fearrington-Village, The Fearrington House Inn
Ohio
Aurora, Inn Walden
Pennsylvania
Farmington, Falling Rock at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
Philadelphia, Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia
Philadelphia, The Rittenhouse
Rhode Island
Watch Hill, Ocean House
South Carolina
Bluffton, The Inn at Palmetto Bluff
Kiawah Island, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Tennessee
Nashville, The Hermitage Hotel
Texas
Houston, Four Seasons Hotel Houston
Houston, The St. Regis Houston
Utah
Park City, Montage Deer Valley
Park City, Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley
Salt Lake City, Grand America Hotel
Virginia
Washington, The Inn at Little Washington
Wisconsin
Kohler, The American Club
Wyoming
Teton VIllage, Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole
The complete list of Five Diamond hotels in Canada:
British Columbia
Vancouver, Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver
Whistler, Four Seasons Resort Whistler
Ontario
Toronto, Four Seasons Hotel Toronto (2013)*
Toronto, The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto (2011)
Québec
Montreal, The Ritz-Carlton Montréal (2012)
The complete list of Five Diamond hotels in the Caribbean:
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua, Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort
Barbados
Holetown (St. James Parish), Sandy Lane Hotel
Dominican Republic
Punta Cana, Tortuga Bay Punta Cana Resort & Club
Nevis
Charlestown, Four Seasons Resort Nevis, West Indies
Puerto Rico
Rio Grande, St. Regis Bahia Beach Puerto Rico
St. Lucia
Soufriere, Jade Mountain Resort
The complete list of Five Diamond hotels in Mexico:
Baja California Sur
Cabo San Luca, Capella Pedregal Resort and Spa
San Jose Del Cabo, Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort
Distrito Federal
Mexico City, Four Seasons Hotel Mexico D.F.
Guerrero
Acapulco, Banyan Tree Cabo Marques
Nayarit
Nuevo Vallarta, Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
Punta Mita, Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico
Punta Mita, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort
Quintana Roo
Cancun, JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
Cancun, Le Blanc Spa Resort
Cancun, The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun
Playa del Carmen, Fairmont Mayakoba
Playa del Carmen, Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Playa del Carmen, Rosewood Mayakobá
Playa del Carmen, Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun
Puerto Morelos, Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya
Here is the complete list of Five Diamond restaurants in the USA:
Arizona
Chandler, Kai (in the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa)
California
Beverly Hills, The Belvedere (in The Peninsula Beverly Hills)
Oakhurst, Erna's Elderberry House Restaurant (in the Château du Sureau)
Sacramento, The Kitchen Restaurant
St. Helena, The Restaurant at Meadowood (in the Meadowood Napa Valley)
San Diego, Addison (in The Grand Del Mar)
San Francisco, Benu
San Francisco, Gary Danko
Yountville, The French Laundry
Colorado
Colorado Springs, The Penrose Room (in The Broadmoor)
Connecticut
Morris, Winvian (in the Winvian)
District of Columbia
CityZen (in the Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C.)
Florida
Fernandina Beach, Salt (in The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island)
Lake Buena Vista, Victoria & Albert's (in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa)
Hawaii
Honolulu (Oahu), Chef Mavro
Honolulu (Oahu), La Mer (in the Halekulani)
Illinois
Chicago, Acadia
Chicago, Alinea
Chicago, Arun's
Chicago, Everest
Chicago, Grace Restaurant
Chicago, Sixteen (in the Trump International Hotel & Tower)
Chicago, Tru
Kentucky
Louisville, The Oakroom (in The Seelbach Hilton Louisville)
Maine
Kennebunk Beach, The White Barn Inn Restaurant (in The White Barn Inn & Spa)
Massachusetts
Boston, L'Espalier
Boston, Menton
Lenox, Wheatleigh's Dining Room (in the Wheatleigh)
Nevada
Las Vegas, Joël Robuchon (in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino)
Las Vegas, Le Cirque (in the Bellagio)
Las Vegas, Picasso (in the Bellagio)
Las Vegas, Restaurant Guy Savoy (in Caesars Palace)
New York
New York City, Daniel
New York City, Del Posto
New York City, Eleven Madison Park
New York City, Jean Georges Restaurant (in the Trump International Hotel & Tower)
New York City, Le Bernardin
New York City, Marea
New York City, Per Se
Tarrytown, Blue Hill at Stone Barns
North Carolina
Cary. Herons Restaurant (in The Umstead Hotel & Spa)
Fearrington Village, The Fearrington House Restaurant (in The Fearrington House Inn)
Pennsylvania
Farmington, Lautrec (in the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort)
Philadelphia, Fountain Restaurant (in the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia)
Texas
Dallas, The French Room (in The Adolphus)
Virginia
Washington, The Inn at Little Washington Dining Room (in The Inn at Little Washington)
Washington
Woodinville, The Herbfarm Restaurant
The complete list of Five Diamond restaurants in Canada:
Alberta
Banff, Eden (in The Rimrock Resort Hotel)
Ontario
Cambridge, Langdon Hall Dining Room & Terrace (in the Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa)
Québec
Gatineau, Le Baccara (in the Hilton Lac-Leamy)
Quebec, Restaurant Initiale
Quebec, Restaurant La Tanière
Quebec, Restaurant Le Patriarche
The complete list of Five Diamond restaurants in the Caribbean:
Cayman Islands
Seven Mile Beach (Grand Cayman), Blue (in The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman)
The complete list of Five Diamond restaurants in Mexico:
Nayarit
Punta Mita, Carolina at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort (in The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort)
Quintana Roo
Cancun, Fantino (in The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun)
Cancun, Le Basilic (in the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun Resort & Spa)
Cancun, The Club Grill (in The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun)
Playa del Carmen, Cocina de Autor (in the Grand Velas Riviera Maya)