The Arizona Republic
In southern Arizona, 6 hotels and 5 restaurants are named. Sedona tops the lodging list with eight.
By PETER CORBETT
The Arizona Republic
AAA Arizona will pass out its annual Four Diamond awards today to 33 hotels and restaurants statewide, with Sedona leading the lodging category with eight properties on the exclusive list.
Southern Arizona winners include the Sheraton El Conquistador, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, the Lodge at Ventana Canyon, Omni Tucson National Golf Resort, Rio Rico Resort and the Golf Villas at Oro Valley.
The Ventana Room, Daniel’s, Westward Look’s Gold Room, the Tack Room and Janos will also be honored with the prestigious designation.
Only 120 properties nationwide earned the elite Five Diamond awards in November, including six in Arizona.
Arizona’s winners will be honored during a reception at the Boulders resort in Carefree, near Phoenix.
“They are true leaders in the Arizona tourism industry,” AAA Arizona President Jim McDowell said.
“We are fortunate to have such prestigious lodgings and dining establishments for residents and visitors.”
Sedona’s lodging winners are Enchantment Resort, Canyon Villa Bed & Breakfast Inn, Adobe Village & Graham Inn, Southwest Inn at Sedona, Casa Sedona, the Inn at Oak Creek, Apple Orchard Inn and list newcomer Alma de Sedona Inn. L’Auberge de Sedona was the area’s only Four Diamond restaurant.
Six Phoenix-area hotels and seven restaurants were deemed Four Diamond worthy. About 3 percent of 28,000 hotels and 4 percent of 13,000 restaurants earn Four Diamond status in AAA’s travel guidebook.
Valley hotel winners include the Wigwam, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale, Ritz-Carlton Phoenix, Phoenician, Royal Palms Hotel & Casitas and Southwest Inn at Eagle Mountain.
Restaurant winners include the Chaparral Room, Different Pointe of View, La Hacienda, Latilla Dining Room, Terrace Dining Room, Arizona Kitchen and Acacia.