The newest ‘five diamond’ hotels and restaurants for 2016 are … | CNN

Only seven hotels and restaurants were added to AAA"s list of "Five Diamond" properties, representing the best of the best in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The St. Regis New York was one of two New York City properties to win a spot. Click through the gallery to see the other six.

Courtesy The St. Regis New York

<a href="http://www.themodernnyc.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank"><strong>The Modern, New York City</strong></a><strong>: </strong>"An exquisite museum sculpture garden provides this AAA Five Diamond restaurant a sublime, cosmopolitan and relaxed setting for a most splendid meal," according to the AAA inspector's notes.

The Modern, New York City: "An exquisite museum sculpture garden provides this AAA Five Diamond restaurant a sublime, cosmopolitan and relaxed setting for a most splendid meal," according to the AAA inspector's notes.

Courtesy Nathan Rawlinson/The Modern

<a href="http://www.fourseasons.com/lanai/" target="_blank" target="_blank"><strong>Four Seasons Resort Lana'i, Hawaii</strong></a><strong>: </strong>"The newly renovated AAA Five Diamond resort provides panoramic ocean views atop rugged lava cliffs and white sand beaches," says the inspector's notes. "Accommodations are culturally contextual, giving a nod to Hawaiian aesthetics."

Four Seasons Resort Lana'i, Hawaii: "The newly renovated AAA Five Diamond resort provides panoramic ocean views atop rugged lava cliffs and white sand beaches," says the inspector's notes. "Accommodations are culturally contextual, giving a nod to Hawaiian aesthetics."

Courtesy Four Seasons Resorts Lana'i

<a href="http://www.jeffersonhotel.com" target="_blank" target="_blank"><strong>The Jefferson Hotel</strong></a><strong>, Richmond, Virginia: </strong>"This ornate 1895 Beaux-Arts hotel is a historic landmark with striking architectural details, including a Tiffany stained-glass rotunda, a marble statue of Thomas Jefferson and a grand staircase," reads the inspector's notes.

The Jefferson Hotel, Richmond, Virginia: "This ornate 1895 Beaux-Arts hotel is a historic landmark with striking architectural details, including a Tiffany stained-glass rotunda, a marble statue of Thomas Jefferson and a grand staircase," reads the inspector's notes.

Courtesy The Jefferson Hotel

<a href="http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/puerto-rico/dorado-beach" target="_blank" target="_blank"><strong>Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve</strong></a><strong>, Dorado, Puerto Rico: </strong>This hotel's luxury "is wrapped in an envelope of naturally preserved sanctuary-style surroundings. The guest suites are spacious and have luxurious amenities and ocean views, with some also featuring private pools," writes the inspector, noting there's also a five-acre spa.

Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Dorado, Puerto Rico: This hotel's luxury "is wrapped in an envelope of naturally preserved sanctuary-style surroundings. The guest suites are spacious and have luxurious amenities and ocean views, with some also featuring private pools," writes the inspector, noting there's also a five-acre spa.

Courtesy Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve

<a href="http://www.fourseasons.com/mexico" target="_blank" target="_blank"><strong>Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Recently renovated, this hotel "is stylish and sophisticated throughout. The elegantly appointed guest rooms are chic and many overlook a beautifully landscaped courtyard. Spanish colonial-inspired rooms feature LCD flat-screen televisions, iPod docking stations and mini-bars," writes the inspector.

Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City: Recently renovated, this hotel "is stylish and sophisticated throughout. The elegantly appointed guest rooms are chic and many overlook a beautifully landscaped courtyard. Spanish colonial-inspired rooms feature LCD flat-screen televisions, iPod docking stations and mini-bars," writes the inspector.

Courtesy Four Seasons Mexico City

<a href="http://www.spiceislandbeachresort.com" target="_blank" target="_blank"><strong>Spice Island Beach Resort</strong></a><strong>, St. George's, Grenada: </strong>Situated on a gorgeous white-sand beach, this resort "has richly decorated, luxurious suites with furnished balconies or terraces," writes the inspection team. "The suites, tucked among private gardens dotted by lemon, almond and sea grape trees, are spread out in several buildings and afford very nice privacy."

Spice Island Beach Resort, St. George's, Grenada: Situated on a gorgeous white-sand beach, this resort "has richly decorated, luxurious suites with furnished balconies or terraces," writes the inspection team. "The suites, tucked among private gardens dotted by lemon, almond and sea grape trees, are spread out in several buildings and afford very nice privacy."

Courtesy Spice Island Beach Resort

AAA's finest hotels and restaurants

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Two NYC spots reached five diamond status, AAA says

The Ritz Carlton and the Four Seasons both have resorts that made the list

CNN —

In 2016, two New York City establishments became some of the newest members of one of the world’s most elite travel clubs.

The St. Regis New York (2 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022; +1 212-753-4500) and the Modern restaurant (W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019; +1 212-333-1220) both garnered AAA’s highest “Five Diamond” rating for hotels and restaurants, AAA said.

Just 120 hotels and 63 restaurants earned AAA’s highest rating over the past year, which the company says represents 0.3% of the nearly 59,000 AAA-approved and diamond-ranked restaurants and hotels.

The travel company’s rating system covers the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Hotels and restaurants in contention for five diamond ratings are examined multiple times for their “guest services and physical attributes,” says the company.

St. Regis New York's King Cole Bar.

Courtesy St. Regis New York

“Five Diamond establishments represent the upper echelon of hospitality, redefining personalized service, using creativity to enhance guest comfort and providing memorable experiences,” says Michael Petrone, director of AAA Inspections and Diamond Ratings, in a press release.

In addition to the Modern and the St. Regis, the newest members of this elite list are:

– Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, Hawaii
– The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia
– Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico
– Spice Island Beach Resort in St. George’s, Grenada
– Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City

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Among existing members of the Five Diamond club, The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs is the only hotel that’s kept its Five Diamond Rating since 1976, when the ratings were first announced for hotels.

The Inn at Little Washington’s restaurant in Washington, Virginia, is the longest tenured Five Diamond restaurant. It’s kept its Five Diamond rating since 1988.

Click through the gallery to see what impressed AAA inspectors about the newest additions to the Five Diamond list.

This article was originally published in January 2017.