Colorado restaurant achieves highest ranking DENVER, Nov. 9 — A Colorado restaurant has become the state’s first ever to achieve the restaurant industry’s top distinction: the AAA Five Diamond Award. The Penrose Room in Colorado Springs joined an exclusive club of 60 restaurants chosen for 2008, from more than 60,000 AAA rated restaurants and hotels across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Just 0.27 percent of the AAA rated lodgings and restaurants received the prestigious designation. "Achieving the AAA Five Diamond award is the top distinction earned in the restaurant industry," said Tony DeNovellis, President and CEO of AAA Colorado. "We congratulate The Penrose Room for becoming the first Colorado restaurant to earn this award, which signifies the highest restaurant experience possible." Equally impressive is the fact that three Colorado hotels earned the Five Diamond rating for 2008. The Broadmoor, also in Colorado Springs, was chosen for the 32nd consecutive year and is one of only three hotels in the nation who has maintained the distinction since the Diamond ratings were first applied to hotels. The Little Nell in Aspen was chosen for the 17th consecutive year; the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gultch in Beaver Creek was selected for the third consecutive year. Nationally, only 100 hotels achieved the Five Diamond status. To become AAA Approved and Diamond rated, hotels and restaurants undergo a thorough inspection by one of AAA’s 65 full time, professional evaluators. Five Diamond establishments complete a more extensive review that includes a series of inspections and final committee review. Some 60,000 hotels and restaurants nationally will be listed in the 2008 AAA TourBook guides, in print and online at www.aaa.com/diamonds. This year, 31 Colorado hotels received the Four Diamond rating, which is up from 28 a year ago. The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa in Denver, the General Palmer Hotel in Durango and the Lost Valley Ranch in Deckers received the award for the 32nd consecutive year. New to the Four Diamond Award list in Colorado are the Antlers Hilton and Cheyenne Mountain Resort, both in Colorado Springs, and the Hotel Jerome in Aspen. Twenty Colorado restaurants received the Four Diamond Award. The restaurants with the greatest longevity on this list are The Flagstaff House Restaurant in Boulder and The Palace Arms in Denver, both with 19 consecutive years. The Keystone Ranch Restaurant in Keystone and The Left Bank in Vail achieved the Four Diamond distinction for the 18th consecutive year. AAA first started listing accommodation information in its travel publications in the early 1900s. In 1937, the first field inspectors were hired to inspect hotels, motels, and restaurants. In 1963, AAA began to rate all accommodations as good, very good, excellent or outstanding. The Diamond rating process, introduced in 1977 for hotels and 1989 for restaurants, continues to be recognized, as the most trusted rating process for North American travelers. More information about the Diamond program can be found at www.aaa.com/diamonds. 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 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 upon guest opinions to derive a rating. In addition, AAA provides travelers the opportunity to post comments about their experiences at AAA approved establishments. AAA Colorado has more than 500,000 members in Colorado and is an advocate for safety and security for all travelers. As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 50 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services, as well as member-exclusive savings. AAA can be visited on the Internet at www.aaa.com. ###
Media: Sign up to receive news and updates from AAA. |
