AAA bestows top honors on local hotels and restaurants IN TODAY’S INTERNET AGE, PEOPLE GET INFOR- MATION ON TRAVEL AND DINING
LOS ANGELES It’s been said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. The same could be said for hotels, motels and restaurants inspected by the Automobile Club of Southern California.
AAA’s largest affiliate on Tuesday announced the recipients of the AAA Four Diamond Award for 2008, tapping three hotels and one restaurant in Santa Monica.
The award-winning properties, which are among the top 4 percent of more than 2,600 inspected by the Auto Club, include The Fairmont Miramar Hotel, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, Le Merigot and Valentino, an Italian eatery on Pico Boulevard.
“The AAA Diamond rating system remains an objective and consistent method to measure upscale dining establishments and lodgings... members rely upon,” said Charles Smith, Auto Club’s approved accommodations manager.
A total of 62 hotels and 35 restaurants in Southern California earned the Four Diamond designation for 2008.
The Auto Club’s own staff reviews establishments without prior notification, using what the organization calls “objective and detailed rating procedures.”
An establishment pays a small application fee to be included in the rating. Those who do not apply are not considered.
Lodging inspections include at least one unannounced inspection each year. Inspectors review and rate the exterior, grounds and public areas, room decor, ambiance and amenities, guest rooms, bathrooms, housekeeping and maintenance, maintenance and staff, and guest services.
Once the inspection process is complete, properties that meet all requirements receive a rating between one and five diamonds. The five-diamond winners will be announced later this week.
Being named a Four Diamond recipient has its benefits, considering there are more than six million AAA members in Southern California.
“In today’s Internet age, people get information on travel and dining from so many different sources and AAA is one that has been out there for so many years. People really identify with it,” said Rosalind Napoli, director of public relations for Loews.“It definitely helps our business to be affiliated with them and their rating system.”
That’s not the case over at Valentinos, which has been a fixture in Santa Monica for more than 30 years and has built up a strong base of loyal customers. While the rating doesn’t hurt, Valentino General Manager Rachel Turner said it doesn’t help either.
“We’ve had that rating for (13) years,” Turner said. “We don’t really get business from AAA. It’s really about word of mouth.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 7, 2007. Read the original PDF.