What is the AAA 5 Diamond Rating, and why is it so prestigious?

Recently, Cocina de Autor, a Grand Velas Los Cabos restaurant, proudly earned the AAA Five Diamond Award. This accolade adds to a series of distinctions, such as Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, the only resort in the destination to hold this prestigious recognition for 18 consecutive years. But what are the AAA Diamond Awards?

Photo by Grand Velas Los Cabos

AAA Distinction

The AAA is a US federation founded in 1902 with more than 57 million members, offering financial services, credit, road assistance, and travel information through maps, routes, and travel guides.

These travel guides include the AAA’s 3 to 5 Diamond ratings for hotels and restaurants across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

For over 80 years, certified auditors have conducted anonymous visits to the properties that wish to be evaluated. These professionals decide if the establishment meets the guidelines available on their official website.

Photo by Grand Velas Los Cabos

How to obtain each Diamond?

To qualify for a Diamond Award, a hotel or restaurant must meet 34 minimum requirements, including cleanliness and condition, management and style of operation, exterior and public areas, guest rooms, and guest bathrooms.

Once approved, properties can be further evaluated to earn Diamonds. Some specific criteria for hotels include:

• Ambiance, room decor, and amenities.
• Calling guests by their name and answering the telephone before the third ring.
• Anticipating guests’ needs.
• 24-hour room service.
• Luxury amenities.
• The property must have an environmental conservation program.

Part of the evaluation guidelines for restaurants are:

• Food placement and visual appeal.
• Reservation time is honored within ten minutes.
• The associate initiates a conversation as a guest is seated.
• A professional mixologist or sommelier is readily available.
• The design elements to define the appearance, functionality, and ambiance.

The value of excellence

Diamond Guidelines are focused on overall quality, range of facilities, and level of hospitality, combined with overall guest experience. They go from:

Image by AAA

Diamond Approved
These are hotels and restaurants that meet the basic standards set by AAA inspections.

Image by AAA

Three Diamonds
For hotels, this is a synonym for comprehensive amenities, style, and comfort level. Regarding restaurants, it reflects a trendy menu with food skillfully presented in a remarkable setting.

Image by AAA

Four Diamond
Four Diamond properties offer upscale style and amenities enhanced with the right touch of service. And a restaurant with this distinction is led by an executive chef with complex and creative menus, offering an upscale ambiance and exclusive decor.

Image by AAA

Five Diamond
Finally, a resort with this rating provides ultimate luxury, sophistication, and comfort with extraordinary physical attributes, meticulous personalized service, extensive amenities, and impeccable standards of excellence.

As for restaurants, it ensures a world-class experience, offering a haute-cuisine menu with the finest ingredients and techniques by acclaimed chefs. It also provides exceptional service that exceeds diners’ expectations.

Did you know?

Five Diamond hotels and restaurants represent only 0.3% of the nearly 60,000 AAA-approved and Diamond-rated establishments.

The states with the most significant number of Five-Diamond establishments in the US are:

• California: 18 hotels | 11 restaurants
• New York: 11 hotels | 12 restaurants
• Florida: 11 hotels | 3 restaurants
• Massachusetts: 7 hotels | 2 restaurants
• Illinois: 4 hotels | 4 restaurants

Only The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs has maintained the Five Diamonds since 1976 when Diamonds were first introduced to hotels. The Inn at Little Washington restaurant in Virginia has maintained the Five Diamonds since 1988.

Honor where honor is due

Velas Resorts has a sum of 70 Diamonds due to their unparalleled experiences and having redefined the Luxury All-Inclusive concept.

Boutique hotel Casa Velas has received Four Diamonds as its Emiliano restaurant.

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit has proudly displayed a Five Diamond Award for 18 consecutive years, and its gourmet specialty restaurants Frida, Lucca, Piaf, and Sen Lin are certified with Four Diamonds.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya and its restaurant Cocina de Autor attained Five Diamond ratings, and the resort also features restaurants Frida, Piaf, and Sen Lin with Four Diamonds each.

Finally, Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos holds the AAA Five Diamonds, and Grand Velas Los Cabos also carries the Five Diamond award, as does Cocina de Autor restaurant.

Photo by Grand Velas Los Cabos

Such prestige has been achieved by the resorts’ spacious suites for relaxation and comfort, gourmet restaurants, unlimited premium drinks, personalized Concierge service, daily stocked in-suite minibars, Spas, gymnasiums, recreational activities, and Kids’ and Teens’ Clubs, to name just a few of the great benefits offered to guests.

When planning your next vacation, consider the accolades of your chosen destination—they could be the key to an unforgettable stay, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary memories