The 2012 class of AAA Four Diamond Award winners in Western and Central New York gathered at the NY Wine & Culinary Center in Canandaigua to be honored by AAA and their Tourism Promotion Agencies. 14 hotels and 1 restaurant were recognized.

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y., January 26, 2012 — AAA Western and Central announced its 2012 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 New York State’s travel and tourism industry.

“It is no small success to achieve this exceptional recognition,” said Wally Smith, Vice President of AAA Western and Central New York. “AAA commends these properties for continuing to exceed our members’ and travelers’ expectations each and every day with outstanding service, amenities, and overall excellent guest experiences.”

Only 3.8 percent of the 59,000 AAA Diamond Rated establishments throughout North America and the Caribbean earn the prestigious AAA Four Diamond rating. In 2012, AAA Western and Central New York honors 14 hotels and one restaurant in Upstate New York.

2012 AAA Four Diamond Award Recipients

(Parenthesis denotes first year awarded)

Accommodations

• Aurora – Aurora Inn (2005)
• Aurora – E.B. Morgan House (2010)
• Buffalo – The Mansion on Delaware Avenue (2003)
• Canandaigua – 1795 Acorn Inn (1996)
• Canandaigua – Morgan-Samuels Inn (2003)
• Geneva – Geneva-On-The-Lake (2001)
• Ithaca – The Statler Hotel at Cornell University (2010)
• Niagara Falls – Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel (2006)
• Pittsford – The Del Monte Lodge, A Renaissance Hotel & Spa (2010)
• Salamanca – Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel (2009)
• Skaneateles – Mirbeau Inn & Spa (2004)
• Verona – Lodge at Turning Stone (2005)
• Verona – The Tower Hotel at Turning Stone Resort (2006)
• Watkins Glen – Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel (2010)

Restaurants

• Verona – Wildflowers at Turning Stone (2006)

In New York State, there are 60 AAA Four Diamond accommodation winners. Only 23 are located outside of New York City. Of the 47 AAA Four Diamond restaurants, eight are in Upstate New York. Statewide, there are 107 AAA Four Diamond establishments, ranking New York fifth in North America.

Travel and tourism remains a vital and growing component of the New York State economy. According to the most recent statistics from the New York State Department of Economic Development, visitors spent nearly $50 billion in 2010. Travel and tourism accounts for 674,000 jobs throughout the state, equivalent to 7.9% of all state employment, or 1 in 13 jobs.

The AAA Four Diamond symbol will be included in each property’s listing in the 2012 AAA New York State TourBook^® guide, in print and online at AAA.com. AAA’s 53 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.

More than 65 AAA/CAA tourism editors visit over 59,000 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.

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.

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.

AAA news releases are available in the AAA Newsroom at www.AAA.com/Media.

Stay connected with AAA Western & Central New York on the web at wcny.AAA.com.

Fifteen Properties Receive AAA Four Diamond Awards