AAA makes it easy for travelers seeking a world-class, luxurious resort or spectacular cuisine. The auto club has announced its annual list of Arizona’s finest restaurants and resort destinations. For 2011, AAA honored 67 Arizona establishments with Four Diamond status, while six establishments have earned the travel authority’s elite Five Diamond status.

“We are thrilled to recognize these properties for their excellence in the hospitality industry,” said Jim Prueter, travel spokesman for AAA Arizona.“These restaurants and resorts consistently deliver a high level of personal comfort, attention to detail, and an exceptional experience to each guest." 

New to the list this year are two Four Diamond properties and six Four Diamond restaurants.

     New Four Diamond properties include:

• The Ritz Carlton, Dove Mountain, Marana
• Tempe Mission Palms Hotel & Conference Center, Tempe

     New Four Diamond restaurants include:

• Binkley’s Restaurant, Cave Creek
• Cork Restaurant, Chandler
• Core Kitchen & Wine Bar, Marana
• Noca, Phoenix
• Prado, Paradise Valley
• Quiessence, Phoenix

Noteworthy trends for 2011 include:

• The JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, is the only Arizona property and one of three properties nationwide that has maintained Five Diamond status for 35 consecutive years – every year since the awards inception.
  
  
• The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has retained its Five Diamond status for 20 years.
  
  
• Kai at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, Chandler, maintains its position for the fifth year as the only Five Diamond restaurant in the state.
  
  
• 25 percent of Arizona Diamond Award recipients have received a Four or Five Diamond award for more than 10 consecutive years.

• AAA Four and Five Diamond establishments make up just 3.5 percent and 0.28 percent, respectively, of the 58,000 AAA/CAA Diamond Rated lodgings and restaurants throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

“To achieve and maintain these ratings is a commendable accomplishment, and we are honored to present these establishments with the Four or Five Diamond Award designation for 2011,” added Prueter.

Below is the complete list of Arizona establishments that earned the 2011 AAA Four or Five Diamond Award:

AAA annually evaluates more than 58,000 lodging establishments and restaurants, and rates them on a scale of One to Five Diamonds. To be evaluated, properties must first meet the auto club’s requirements to become AAA Approved®. Four and Five Diamond award winners represent the upper echelon of Arizona’s resort and restaurant industry. The Club has awarded the Diamond status for the past 26 years. 

For a complete listing of Four and Five Diamond requirements, see AAA’s chart of lodging criteria and the AAA chart of restaurant criteria.

AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services more than 800,000 Arizona members.  Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing 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.  In 2008, AAA was ranked the No. 1 “socially responsible” brand by Landor’s BrandAsset® Valuator.