Fifty-five Southern California hotels and 37 restaurants have earned the AAA 2005 Four Diamond Award, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. Eight restaurants and four hotels have joined the AAA Four Diamond ranks for the first time. The award-winning properties are among the top 4 percent of more than 2,000 Southern California hotels, motels and restaurants inspected by the Auto Club, the nation’s largest AAA affiliate. “The AAA Four Diamond status represents a profound effort and extraordinary accomplishment by a hotel or restaurant,” said the Auto Club’s Approved Accommodations Manager Charles Smith. “This award signifies that a property has met AAA’s objective rating criteria and met levels of excellence during extensive inspections. In the face of another difficult year for the travel industry, this year’s group of Four Diamond properties continued to reflect a high degree of hospitality and attention to detail.”

AAA’s Diamond rating program is the only hotel and restaurant review system in the nation that uses specially trained full-time field representatives. As part of AAA’s national network, the Auto Club’s own staff reviews establishments in Southern California without prior notification using objective and detailed rating procedures.

Lodging inspections include at least one unannounced inspection and one overnight visit each year. Inspectors review and rate exterior, grounds and public areas, room decor, ambiance and amenities, guest room, bathrooms, housekeeping and maintenance, management and staff and guest services. Once the inspection process is complete, properties that meet all requirements receive a rating of one to five Diamonds.
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