CANANDAIGUA, N.Y., May 19, 2010 – AAA Western and Central announced its 2010 class of AAA Four Diamond Awards winners during a ceremony at the New York Wine & Culinary Center in Canandaigua on Wednesday. AAA and the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection co-sponsored the event and acknowledged the recipients’ contribution to the state’s travel and tourism industry.

“AAA Four Diamond lodgings and restaurants represent the upper echelon of the hospitality industry,” said Brian Murray, Western Regional Director of Travel for AAA Western and Central New York. “These properties consistently deliver a high level of personal comfort and attention to every guest and patron, offering wide range of amenities and services, and feature distinctive fine dining experiences.”

AAA’s 2010 Four Diamond Award recipients:
(Numbers in parenthesis denote the number of years awarded)
Lodgings:

• 1795 Acorn Inn, 4508 SR 64 South, Canandaigua, (14)
• Aurora Inn, 391 Main Street, Aurora, (5)
• Geneva on the Lake, 1001 Lochland Road, Geneva, (9)
• The Lodge at Turning Stone, 5218 Patrick Road, Verona, (5)
• The Mansion on Delaware Avenue, 414 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, (7)
• Mirbeau Inn & Spa, 851 West Genesee Street, Skaneateles, (6)
• Morgan Samuels Inn, 2920 Smith Road, Canandaigua, (7)
• Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel, 777 Seneca Allegany Boulevard, Salamanca,(1)
• Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, 310 Fourth Street, Niagara Falls, (4)
• The Tower at Turning Stone, 5218 Patrick Road, Verona, (4)

Restaurants:

• The Erie Grill, 41 North Main Street, Pittsford, (6)
• Savor Mirbeau, 851 West Genesee Street, Skaneateles, (6)
• Wildflowers at Turning Stone, 5218 Patrick Road, Verona, (4)

In New York State, there are 43 AAA Four Diamond accommodation winners. Only 18 are located outside of New York City, in Upstate New York. Of the 42 AAA Four Diamond restaurants, 9 are in Upstate New York. AAA Four Diamond Award winners represent only 3.5 percent of the 58,000 AAA/CAA Diamond Rated lodgings and restaurants throughout North America and the Caribbean.

According to the Association of Tourism and Hospitality Executives and Tourism Economics, travel and tourism is one of the state’s leading industries, sustaining 684,000 jobs (6.2 percent of all NYS employment). In 2008, visitors to New York State spent close to $53 billion on tourism related activities.

The AAA Four Diamond symbol will be included in each property’s listing in the 2010 AAA New York State TourBook® guide, in print and online at AAA.com. AAA’s 51 million members depend upon TourBook information to assist them with their travel-related decisions. An establishment’s diamond rating is often the deciding factor when members choose a lodging or restaurant.

AAA began field inspections of lodgings and restaurants in 1937. This early evaluation system evolved into the AAA Diamond Rating System for lodgings in 1976 and for restaurants in 1986. AAA’s Diamond Rating System is the only ratings system that covers all of North America and one of only two that conducts physical, on-site evaluations. It is the only system that uses professionally trained inspectors to evaluate each property using guidelines made available to all establishments. AAA evaluates more properties than any other rating entity.

More than 65 AAA/CAA tourism editors visit over 60,000 lodgings, campgrounds, restaurants, and attractions each year throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Tourism editors conduct unannounced evaluations of lodgings and restaurants, scrutinizing such areas as cleanliness, ambiance, amenities, and service.

As Upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA provides nearly 880,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.