Five Diamond award
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The AAA Five Diamond Award is the highest level of the AAA Diamond Ratings System [1] for restaurants and lodgings administered by AAA (formerly known as the American Automobile Association).
For 2008, AAA Five Diamond properties total 160 (100 hotels [2] and 60 restaurants) [3] or only 0.27 percent of the 60,000 AAA Diamond Rated lodgings and restaurants throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
All properties must first meet AAA’s basic requirements before being evaluated by one of AAA’s 65 full-time inspectors. [4] Once evaluated, a rating of One to Five Diamonds is assigned, based on lodging [5]and restaurant [6] published guidelines for facilities, amenities and service. Ratings are listed in the AAA TourBook guides both in print and online, and can also be found online in the AAA TripTik Travel Planner.
AAA began in 1902 as a federation of independent motor clubs. In 1937, the first AAA representatives were hired to inspect lodgings and restaurants, and in 1963, AAA began assigning ratings from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’. In 1977 – AAA’s 75th (diamond) anniversary – the ratings became known as the AAA Diamond Ratings System for lodgings. Restaurants began earning Diamonds in 1989. [7]
The AAA Five Diamond Award has been featured in the 2007 film Ocean's Thirteen. The fictional hotel and casino, The Bank, is expected to win the award. The owner, Willy Bank (Played by Al Pacino), claims that all of his hotels have won the award. Bank's purchase of diamond necklaces to serve as trophies become part of the plot.
The AAA Five Diamond award is similar to a Five Star rating on a hotel. However, AAA chose to use diamonds instead of stars. It also is similar to the International Star Diamond Award that the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences issues to hotels, restaurants, and other industries.
