AAA has revamped its AAA Diamond
Program that rates hotels and restaurants, replacing some of its ratings with
designations.
What were One and Two Diamond hotels and restaurants will
now get an “Approved” designation. Three, Four and Five Diamond hotels and
restaurants will retain their designations.
AAA indicated there's a perception that a lower-end Diamond rating means poor quality, and that isn't the case.
“We’re consolidating the One and Two Diamond ratings into the new 'Approved' designation because other rating systems include poor quality properties in their inventory and travelers equate low ratings with low quality,” said AAA public relations manager Julie Hall. “In contrast, AAA excludes poor quality options, ensuring every Diamond property is a good choice.”
AAA said its 2020 inspections will determine all properties’
future designation. It has modernized guidelines, removing Coutdated criteria
in favor of factors that more directly relate to guest comfort, design and
industry trends,” AAA said in a statement.
For example, inspectors will look at storage space and
shelving in guestrooms instead of printed guest information and ironing boards.
Almost 60,000 properties in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the
Caribbean are part of the Diamond Program (27,000 are hotels and 30,000 are
restaurants). To be included, an establishment must pass an unannounced,
on-site evaluation, where hotels are graded for cleanliness, comfort and
hospitality. Restaurants are evaluated for cleanliness, food preparation and
service.
AAA said 28% of the hotels in the program are Approved, 63%
are Three Diamond properties, 6.5% are Four Diamond properties and 0.4% are
Five Diamond properties. Seventy-one percent of restaurants are Approved, 36%
are Three Diamond, 2.3% are Four Diamond and 0.2% are Five Diamond.