Mexico Acknowledged with More AAA Five Diamond Awards

Mexico Acknowledged with More AAA Five Diamond Awards
Grand Velas Riviera Maya and the La Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun join twelve other Mexican hotels to have already earned this distinction, giving Mexico a total of fourteen AAA Five Diamond Awards. With a total of four AAA Five Diamond Restaurants Mexico is now home to 18 AAA Five Diamond properties.

With these two new honorees, Mexico offers a full range of Five Diamond resorts including brands from which travelers have to come to expect luxury, as well as a few diverse and lesser-known properties that are unique to Mexico. Travelers can enjoy all of the Five Diamond properties throughout Mexico and the beautiful destinations in which they are located. Mexico’s other AAA Five Diamond properties are as diverse and brilliant as Mexico itself and include properties in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico City, Playa Del Carmen, Riviera Nayarit, Cancun and Riviera Maya (full list below).

In a travel climate where 54 percent of active leisure travelers in America depend on hotel and resort ratings systems when booking travel, these distinctions are even more important and valued by the Mexico Tourism Board. AAA annually evaluates more than 59,000 lodging establishments and restaurants, and rates them on a scale of one to five Diamonds. One Diamond rated properties meet AAA's basic standards for comfort, cleanliness, and hospitality, while Five Diamond rated properties reflect the characteristics of the ultimate in luxury and sophistication.

The Five Diamond award is reserved for outstanding properties that exemplify the highest level of excellence in every facet of operation. Only one-third of one percent of the more than 59,000 properties approved by AAA achieve the coveted designation. AAA is the only ratings system that makes consumer’s list of top 20 considerations when choosing travel preferences.

Following a complete list of Mexican hotels and resorts to have earned the AAA Five Diamond Award:

LOS CABOS
Las Ventanas al Paraiso

MEXICO CITY
Four Seasons Hotel Mexico DF

RIVIERA NAYARIT
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita
The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort

CANCUN
JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun
La Blanc Spa Resort, Cancún

RIVIERA MAYA
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Fairmont Mayakoba
Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya
Royal Hideaway Resort & Spa
Rosewood Mayakoba
Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita

Following a complete list of Mexican restaurants to have earned the AAA Five Diamond Award:

RIVIERA NAYARIT
Carolina at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort

CANCUN
Fantino (in The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun)
Le Basilic (in the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach)
The Club Grill (in The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun)

In addition, several Mexican hotels were recognized in Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List 2011. The destinations recognized are considered to be the best places to stay in the world, and are voted on by Condé Nast Traveler readers. The below Mexican properties were awarded this very prestigious designation:

• Esperanza – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• One & Only Palmilla – San José del Cabo, Mexico
• Excellence Playa Mujeres – Isla Mujeres, Mexico
• Excellence Riviera Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
• Fairmont Mayakoba – Riviera Maya, Mexico
• Four Seasons Resort, Punt Mita – Punta Mita, Mexico
• Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort – Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico
• La Casa Que Canta – Zihuatanejo, Mexico
• Las Hadas Golf Resort & Marina – Manzanillo, Mexico
• Las Mananitas Hotel, Garden & Resort – Cuernavaca, Mexico
• Las Ventanas al Paraíso – San José del Cabo, Mexico
• Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa – Cancun, Mexico
• Maroma Resort and Spa – Solidaridad, Mexico
• Omni Puerto Adventuras Hotel Beach Resort – Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
• Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Holistic Retreat & Spa – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Resort & Spa – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• Ritz-Carlton, Cancun – Cancun, Mexico
• Royal Hideaway Playacar – Playa del Carmen, Mexico
• Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun – Play del Carmen, Mexico
• Valentin Imperial Maya – Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Each year, Travel + Leisure asks readers to vote for their favorite hotels around the world. In this year’s annual World’s Best Hotels 2011 competition, Mexico placed 15 properties on the list. Of those 15 properties, the Four Seasons Hotel Mexico in Mexico City was included in the World’s Top 25 Hotels list. The 15 Mexican properties that are considered by Travel + Leisure to be the World’s Best Hotels are:

• Four Seasons Hotel Mexico, D.F. – Mexico City, Mexico
• Las Brisas, Acapulco – Acapulco, Mexico
• CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort – Cancun, Mexico
• Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun Resort & Spa – Cancun, Mexico
• Hilton Cancun Golf & spa Resort – Cancun, Mexico
• Le Méridien Cancun Resort & Spa – Cancun, Mexico
• Ritz-Carlton, Cancun – Cancun, Mexico
• Esperanza, An Auberge Resort – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• Las Ventanas al Paralso, a Rosewood Resort – San José del Cabo, Mexico
• Meliá Cabo Real All-Inclusive Beach & Golf Resort – Los Cabos, Mexico
• One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos – San José del Cabo, Mexico
• Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort & Spa – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• JW Marriott Mexico City Hotel – Mexico City, Mexico
• Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita – Punta Mita, Mexico
• Fairmont Mayakoba – Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Photo: Grand Velas Riviera Maya