AAA Hoosier Motor Club
June 2008
The AAA Hoosier Motor Club e-Letter

The Diamond Difference for Reliable Travel Information

Travel information is everywhere -- travel guides and magazines, online sites and blogs, expert opinion and consumer reviews. Information overload? Lack of time? What do you trust? When making travel plans, AAA Diamond Ratings can provide a reliable comparison of lodgings and restaurants. They're the result of a unique combination of quantifiable guidelines, inspector expertise, travel industry familiarity, and experience. Some Diamond Rating Differences:

  • We've actually been there. AAA's lodging and restaurant inspectors conduct onsite evaluations using published criteria.
  • We're upfront and specific about what we're looking for. Information on the AAA Approval Process and Diamond Rating Guidelines is available in print and online, and inspectors identify themselves at appropriate times. The rating is based on a set of comprehensive guidelines, not a subjective point of view.
  • Our ratings do not come from a "staged" experience. The authenticity of the experience is protected by the inspectors' unannounced assessments and by their anonymity during overnight lodging stays at Four and Five Diamond properties.
  • The process is consistent. All establishments go through a set process which has been reviewed and refined over time to be professional, fair, complete, and in step with AAA member expectations and industry trends. Evaluation of the inevitable subjective and unique elements is enhanced by the inspectors' broad-based experience in the hospitality industry. They are full-time AAA employees, not freelancers.
  • Our standards. Not every establishment visited receives a rating — they must first meet a set of requirements to become AAA Approved. AAA's yearly inspections necessitate that they maintain the appropriate level of facilities and service to keep their approval status and rating. Ratings do not reflect better or poorer levels of attention to housekeeping or maintenance. First and foremost, AAA's quality initiative is to list properties that are clean and well-maintained. Inspectors are obliged to delete listings that fall below a relatively aggressive standard. We do not believe that a dirty or poorly maintained Three Diamond property would be a good Two Diamond listing.
  • History. AAA began field inspections of hotels in 1937 and adopted a formal rating system in 1963 using Outstanding, Excellent, Very Good, and Good. The proprietary AAA Diamond Rating system has been recognized and trusted by travelers since its inception for lodgings in 1977 and for restaurants in 1988.
  • Ease of use. A Diamond Rating gives a consumer an at-a-glance basis for making a lodging or restaurant choice, versus reading long or inconsistent reviews. The symbol has not been diluted by use in multiple contexts and industries.
  • Scope. AAA evaluates more than 35,000 lodgings and 28,000 restaurants each year. It is the only rating system that covers all of North America, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
  • Availability. AAA Diamond Ratings are available online at AAA.com and as a part of TourBook® guides available to AAA members. Ratings are often prominently displayed in hotels and restaurants, reinforcing the widespread recognition factor.
  • Service-based. The AAA Diamond Rating system is first and foremost a service to our 50 million members, and we respond to all comments received from our members.

AAA Diamond Ratings are presented in tandem with a full spectrum of travel information and services, including facilities/amenities, descriptions, rates, maps, member savings, and, on AAA.com, traveler reviews and the TripTik® Travel Planner. The result is a resource unmatched by any other travel information system or site.

A Guide To Diamond Ratings

Lodgings

  • 1 Diamond: Clean, comfortable, budget-oriented
  • 2 Diamonds: Modest enhancements to décor and amenities
  • 3 Diamonds: Upgraded facilities, amenities, level of comfort
  • 4 Diamonds: High degree of service, hospitality, and attention to detail
  • 5 Diamonds: First-class, ultimate in luxury and sophistication, impeccable service

Restaurants

  • 1 Diamond: Affordable, good, casual dining
  • 2 Diamonds: Informal, family-oriented dining
  • 3 Diamonds: Creative, upscale, adult-oriented dining
  • 4 Diamonds: Luxurious fine dining, excellent service
  • 5 Diamonds: World-class dining experience, impeccable service

AAA Diamond Ratings are not scores, but rather specific market niches that should assist a user in selecting the right product for the right purpose. To use an automotive analogy, some people are perfectly satisfied with a compact economy car, and the extra price for a luxury car would not be in keeping with those people's needs or sense of value. The same could be said about One Diamond lodgings. If you're on a trip across America and just need a place to sleep and shower on your way, a One Diamond property offers a lot of value.

The need for more room or features would steer some car buyers to the choice of a mid-sized sedan or small SUV, just as some travelers would prefer the moderately enhanced décor and amenities of a Two Diamond property. More comfort and amenities would be found in a full-size sedan or SUV, as would be found at Three Diamond properties.

Four Diamond properties are the equivalent of luxury cars, with a high degree of style (amenities) and performance (service). This may be some fortunate buyers' standard choice, or it may be something to wait and plan for. The upscale accommodations and amenities of a Four Diamond property would be suitable for a special vacation or business trip that involves entertaining clients.

The exclusive (only 100 lodgings for 2008) Five Diamond properties could be compared to the ultra-luxury vehicles most of us rarely see. Their level of service equals having a driver with the car. If you want to be pampered (for a price), and you want to stay where perhaps the rich and famous do, look to the Five Diamond properties.

One misconception is that, because AAA's rating goes from One to Five Diamonds, the Three Diamond rating must be average because it falls right in the middle of the rating scale. In actuality, with fewer than 4 percent of all listings falling into the Four or Five Diamond category, Three Diamond is actually the highest rating most properties achieve and most would be thought of as above average.

For a quick on-the-road refresher, locate Diamond Rating information in the "Using Your Guide " section in the front of every TourBook guide. On AAA.com, look for the descriptions that appear as you scroll over a property's Diamond Rating in the online TourBook and TripTik Travel Planner. For assistance, call or stop by your local AAA Hoosier Motor Club office.

Visit AAA.com for more travel information.

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