AAA Adds 8 Hotels, 6 Restaurants to 2015 Five Diamond List

AAA Adds 8 Hotels, 6 Restaurants to 2015 Five Diamond List
Over the past 12 months, AAA has announced 184 total hotels and restaurants that have received the AAA/CAA Five Diamond Rating, with that group representing just 0.3 percent of the total number of AAA/CAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants, which stands at more than 58,000.

The recently announced Five Diamond hotels are headlined by the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida (pictured above).

The only Five Diamond hotel in the Orlando area, the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort features an abundance of "upscale service options," including an iPad in each room that effectively serves as a point of reference for guests throughout their stay.

The luxury resort even allows guests to control the lighting and temperature from a keypad.

"At the ultra-luxury level we're seeing an increasing number of hotels offering guests the choice of high-end service by white glove or touch screen–in person or electronically," said AAA Inspections & Diamond Ratings director Michael Petrone in a statement.

"They're complementing personal delivery with technology options such as in-room iPads and TV menus for ordering and scheduling services, apps for accessing newspapers and local reservations, mobile check-in and text alerts when their room is ready. Some Five Diamond hotels even place a TV within the bathroom mirror to complete guests' high-tech stay," he added.

Joining the Four Seasons Resort Orlando on the list are the following accommodations: Four Seasons Hotel Denver; Grand Luxxe (Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico), One&Only Palmilla (San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico); Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa (Rancho Santa Fe, California); Shangri-La Hotel (Toronto, Ontario); The Langham (Chicago) and The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman (Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands).

Puerto Morelos, Mexico's Le Chique kicks off the list of recently selected restaurants, which also includes Orchids at Palm Court in Cincinnati and Palme d'Or in Coral Gables, Florida.

Passion by Martin Berasategui, located in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico made the list, as did San Francisco's Saison and Twist in Las Vegas.

AAA points out that Five Diamond restaurants are often ahead of the latest "trends in farm-to-table and super-local food sourcing."

What's more, these restaurants don't just supply delicious food, but provide a unique dining experience and are even becoming international destinations in some cases.

"Attaining the Five Diamond Rating is an impressive accomplishment and a point of great pride for these top hotels and restaurants,” said Petrone. “Five Diamond establishments stand apart by redefining personalized service, using creativity to enhance guest comfort and providing memorable experiences," said Petrone.