Gem Show: AAA Diamond Properties Sparkle in the Desert
Arizona’s finest in hospitality stand laud and proud with coveted AAA award
AAA Arizona recently released its 2013 list of Arizona Five and Four Diamond properties. This year, the travel agency graced five properties with the prestigious Five Diamond status, while 65 properties shone with the travel leader’s Four Diamond status.
“As one of the oldest and only rating systems that include on-site evaluations by anonymous inspectors, earning a Five or Four Diamond Award is one of the highest accolades in the travel industry,” said Linda Gorman, communications and public affairs director for AAA Arizona who oversees the program in Arizona. “Arizona is home to 70 of these award winners. We are fortunate to have this gem show in our very own backyard.”
Noteworthy trends for 2013 include:
- More than a third of recipients have earned Five or Four Diamond status for 10 or more consecutive years. Seven properties have held their status for 20 or more years.
- With the addition of Casino del Sol Resort in Tucson – which is also the only new property to be awarded this year – four casino properties have earned a place on Arizona’s Four Diamond list.
- Scottsdale boasts the most diamonds in the state, with 25 properties on the list, including all four of the Five Diamond resorts in the state. Tucson claims the second with 12, while Phoenix comes in third with 11 resorts and restaurants.
- Five independent restaurants celebrate consecutive awards as the list’s only Four Diamond restaurants unaffiliated with a hotel or resort.
Below is the complete list of 70 Arizona establishments that earned the 2013 AAA Five or Four Diamond designation:
|
LOCATION |
PROPERTY |
YEARS AS DIAMOND RECIPIENT |
|
|
2013 FIVE DIAMOND RESTAURANTS |
|
|
CHANDLER |
Kai |
7 |
|
|
2013 FIVE DIAMOND HOTELS AND RESORTS |
|
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess |
22 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North |
12 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician |
6 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
The Phoenician |
9 |
|
|
2013 FOUR DIAMOND HOTELS AND RESORTS |
|
|
CAREFREE |
The Boulders, A Waldorf Astoria Resort |
5 |
|
CHANDLER |
Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa |
10 |
|
CHANDLER |
Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino |
2 |
|
GLENDALE |
Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa |
5 |
|
LITCHFIELD PARK |
The Wigwam |
9 |
|
MARANA |
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain |
3 |
|
ORO VALLEY |
Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort |
29 |
|
PARADISE VALLEY |
Montelucia Resort & Spa |
4 |
|
PARADISE VALLEY |
Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain |
11 |
|
PHOENIX |
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel |
9 |
|
PHOENIX |
Arizona Grand Resort |
11 |
|
PHOENIX |
JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa |
10 |
|
PHOENIX |
Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort |
6 |
|
PHOENIX |
Royal Palms Resort and Spa |
15 |
|
PHOENIX |
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel |
4 |
|
PHOENIX |
The Westin Phoenix Downtown |
2 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Doubletree Resort by Hilton Paradise Valley – Scottsdale |
6 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
FireSky Resort & Spa, A Kimpton Hotel |
7 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas |
10 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Hotel Valley Ho |
7 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch |
25 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa |
1 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino |
7 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Scottsdale Marriott at McDowell Mountains |
10 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center |
9 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Talking Stick Resort |
2 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa |
10 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
The Westin Kierland Villas |
5 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
W Scottsdale |
4 |
|
SEDONA |
Adobe Grand Villas |
9 |
|
SEDONA |
El Portal Sedona Hotel |
2 |
|
SEDONA |
Enchantment Resort and Mii amo Spa |
25 |
|
SEDONA |
L'Auberge de Sedona Inn and Spa |
10 |
|
SEDONA |
Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa |
7 |
|
SEDONA |
The Inn on Oak Creek |
16 |
|
TEMPE |
Tempe Mission Palms Hotel |
3 |
|
TUCSON |
Arizona Inn |
9 |
|
TUCSON |
Casino del Sol Resort-Spa-Conference Center-AVA Amphitheater NEW! |
1 |
|
TUCSON |
Loews Ventana Canyon |
28 |
|
TUCSON |
Omni Tucson National Resort |
4 |
|
TUCSON |
The Lodge at Ventana Canyon |
17 |
|
TUCSON |
The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa |
11 |
|
TUCSON |
Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa |
4 |
|
|
2013 FOUR DIAMOND RESTAURANTS |
|
|
CHANDLER |
Cork Restaurant |
3 |
|
PARADISE VALLEY |
elements |
11 |
|
PARADISE VALLEY |
LON's at the Hermosa |
7 |
|
PARADISE VALLEY |
Prado |
3 |
|
PHOENIX |
Different Pointe of View |
23 |
|
PHOENIX |
noca |
3 |
|
PHOENIX |
Quiessence |
3 |
|
PHOENIX |
T. Cook's |
9 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
BLT Steak |
4 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Bourbon Steak |
5 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Deseo |
10 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Il Terrazzo |
5 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
J & G Steakhouse |
4 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Palm Court |
9 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Sassi Ristorante |
4 |
|
SCOTTSDALE |
Talavera |
5 |
|
SEDONA |
L'Auberge Restaurant on Oak Creek |
23 |
|
TUCSON |
Anthony's In the Catalinas |
9 |
|
TUCSON |
GOLD |
19 |
|
TUCSON |
Main Dining Room at the Arizona Inn |
7 |
|
TUCSON |
Primo |
8 |
|
TUCSON |
The Grill at Hacienda del Sol |
2 |
AAA has been inspecting and approving lodgings for 75 years. The Diamond Rating system is the only system that covers the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Annually, AAA evaluates more than 58,000 lodging establishments and restaurants, and rates them on a scale of One to Five Diamonds.
AAA is the largest leisure travel agency in North America. To learn more about the AAA Diamond Award program, visit AAA.com/Diamonds.
AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and travel services to more than 825,000 Arizona members. Annually, AAA’s Roadside Assistance responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on Arizona roadways. The auto club also provides insurance, travel, auto repair, discounts and financial services to AAA members. Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.