The Broadmoor shines with a Five Diamond Award

AAA announced today the four Colorado establishments that achieved the travel authority's highest and most exclusive rating for 2012, the AAA Five Diamond Award.

Three Colorado hotels and one restaurant are in this select group. Only 0.3 percent of the 59,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated lodgings and restaurants in North America achieve the rating, marking them as premier establishments that provide the ultimate in quality and service.

The AAA Five Diamond designation is held by three lodging properties in Colorado: The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, The Little Nell in Aspen and The Ritz-Carlton, Denver.

The Broadmoor is celebrating its 37th consecutive year as a Five Diamond property, the only hotel nationwide that has maintained the Five Diamond rating since 1976 when AAA first introduced the Diamond Ratings for accommodations. The Little Nell is marking its 21th year with this status and The Ritz-Carlton, Denver, is celebrating its second year as a Five Diamond property.

The only Colorado restaurant to have achieved a Five Diamond rating is The Penrose Room in the Broadmoor. The restaurant has now held this designation for five years.

The path to a Five Diamond Rating is rigorous. Properties identified by AAA as potential candidates for the Five Diamond Rating undergo multiple unannounced evaluations by a AAA inspector and final decision by a panel of experts. In addition to the evaluation of physical attributes, potential Five Diamond establishments are subject to thorough onsite assessments of all guest services from the initial reservation through checkout for hotels and from seating to presentation for restaurants. Each area is evaluated based on level of competence, refinement and hospitality.

"AAA is pleased to recognize these establishments with the Five Diamond Award. Their personalized attention, quality service and luxurious setting consistently exceed guest expectations," said Tony DeNovellis, president of AAA Colorado. "It is truly a significant accomplishment to achieve this highest level of hospitality and to maintain it on a continual basis, over a number of years."

Colorado is also home to 39 lodgings and 22 restaurants that have reached AAA Four Diamond status.

AAA is the only rating system that conducts on-site professional evaluations guided by member priorities. With more properties than any other rating entity, AAA is the only rating system that covers the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. For 77 years AAA has used professional inspectors to conduct in-person property inspections and publish the results, on a system of One to Five Diamonds, to guide member travel decisions.

AAA Colorado has more than 560,000 members and is an advocate for safety and security for all travelers. As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive related services, as well as member exclusive savings.

Reported by:  KOAA.com