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Auto Club: And The Winners are ... Top Southern California Hotels and Restaurants Earn AAA Four Diamond Award for Excellence

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(LOS ANGELES, Oct. 17, 2005) — Fifty-six Southern California hotels and 38 restaurants have earned the 2006 AAA Four Diamond Award, the Automobile Club of Southern California announced today.

The coveted gold-rimmed bone china plate emblazoned with four gold diamonds and AAA Four Diamond Award logo written was presented to hotel and restaurant general managers and executive chefs during an awards program at the Westin Mission Hills Resort, Rancho Mirage over the weekend. The award-winning properties are among the top 4 percent of more than 2,500 Southern California hotels, motels, and restaurants inspected by the Auto Club, the nation's largest AAA affiliate.

The Auto Club's Approved Accommodations Manager Charles Smith said, "This year's crop of AAA Four Diamond properties upheld the AAA tradition of exemplary service, attention to detail and beautiful accommodations. The award is bestowed on the men and women in the hospitality industry who strive to make memorable dining and lodging experiences for guests."

The list of 2006 AAA Four Diamond hotels and restaurants throughout Southern California follows, along with the consecutive years each property has earned the award:

2006 AAA Four Diamond hotels and restaurants in Southern California

 Years listed
Inyo/Mono Counties Hotel 
Death ValleyFurnace Creek Inn19
Inyo/Mono Counties Restaurant
BridgeportRestaurant 1881 5
Los Angeles County Hotels
Beverly HillsRegent Beverly Wilshire13
GlendaleHilton Los Angeles North/Glendale & Executive Meeting Center 6
Los Angeles Hilton Checkers3
Hotel Bel-Air25
Omni Los Angeles3
Park Hyatt Los Angeles at Century City18
Hyatt Regency Century Plaza 23
PasadenaThe Westin — Pasadena 1
Santa MonicaThe Fairmont Miramar Hotel Santa Monica4
Le Merigot, A JW Marriott Hotel and Spa4
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel17
Los Angeles County Restaurants
Beverly HillsJaan (Raffles L'Ermitage Beverly Hills) 2
 Spago Beverly Hills 2
CalabasasSaddle Peak Lodge9
GlendaleGennaro’s Ristorante6
Porter's Prime Steak House (Hilton Los Angeles North/Glendale) 2
Long Beach The Sky Room 2
Los AngelesGardens (Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills)11
L’Orangerie5
Patina15
The Restaurant (Hotel Bel-Air) 8
Marina del Reyjer-ne restaurant (The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey) 5
PasadenaThe Dining Room (The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel and Spa)3
The Raymond Restaurant 1
Santa MonicaValentino Restaurant11
West HollywoodDiaghilev (Wyndham Bel Age Hotel)12

Orange County Hotels
AnaheimDisney’s Grand Californian5
Dana PointBlue Lantern Inn15
Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa 2
The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa 1
Huntington BeachHilton Waterfront Beach Resort15
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa3
IrvineHyatt Regency Irvine 3
Laguna BeachSurf & Sand Hotel15
Newport Beach The Balboa Bay Club Resort & Spa 2
Orange County Restaurants
Dana PointThe Club Grill & Bar10
FullertonThe Cellar16
Huntington BeachThe Californian (Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa)3
Newport BeachPavilion (Four Seasons Hotel Newport Beach)12
The First Cabin (The Balboa Bay Club Resort & Spa) 2
The Ritz Restaurant & Garden13
Riverside County Hotels
CabazonMorongo Casino Resort & Spa 1
Indian WellsHyatt Grand Champions Resort 19
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa3
Palm DesertDesert Springs, JW, Marriott Resort & Spa19
Palm SpringsThe Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn9
Rancho MirageThe Westin Mission Hills Resort14
TemeculaPechanga Resort & Casino4
Riverside County Restaurants
Palm SpringsEuropa Restaurant 1
Le Vallauris13
Rancho MirageThe Cafe (The Lodge at Rancho Mirage) 3
Wally's Desert Turtle 13
RiversideDuane's Prime Steaks & Seafood (Mission Inn) 11
San Bernardino County Hotels
Big Bear LakeAlpenhorn Bed & Breakfast6
San Diego County Hotels
Borrego SpringsLa Casa Del Zorro Resort13
CoronadoHotel del Coronado 1
Loews Coronado Bay Resort14
Del MarL’Auberge Del Mar Resort & Spa4
FallbrookOak Creek Manor — Luxury Bed & Breakfast4
JulianOrchard Hill Country Inn10
La JollaEstancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa 1
Hilton La Jolla/ Torrey Pines16
Hyatt Regency La Jolla16
La Valencia Hotel17
PalaPala Casino Resort & Spa 2
Rancho BernardoRancho Bernardo Inn29
Rancho Santa FeRancho Valencia Resort16
San Diego Hilton San Diego Resort 28
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
13
Omni San Diego Resort 1
San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina22
San Diego County Restaurants
CarlsbadVivace
(Four Seasons Resort Aviara)
7
La JollaA.R. Valentien (The Lodge at Torrey Pines) 2
George’s at the Cove6
Sky Room (La Valencia Hotel)15
Rancho BernardoEl Bizcocho Restaurant
(Rancho Bernardo Inn)
16
Rancho Santa FeMille Fleurs15
San DiegoBaci's 2
Bertrand's at Mister A’s12
Molly's (San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina)

2

San Luis Obispo County Hotels
CambriaBlue Whale Inn Bed & Breakfast15
CayucosCayucos Sunset Inn4
Santa Barbara County Hotels
BallardThe Ballard Inn13
Los OlivosFess Parker’s Wine Country Inn & Spa17
Santa BarbaraHarbor View Inn9
Inn On Summer Hill16
Santa YnezChumash Casino Resort 2
Santa Ynez Inn4
SolvangPetersen Village Inn22
Santa Barbara County Restaurants
BallardBallard Inn Restaurant 1
Santa BarbaraLa Marina (Four Seasons Biltmore)9
Santa Ynez The Willows

1

Ventura County
OjaiOjai Valley Inn & Spa 4

AAA's Diamond rating program is the only hotel and restaurant review system in the nation that uses specially trained full-time field representatives. As part of AAA's national network, the Auto Club's own staff reviews establishments in Southern California without prior notification using objective and detailed rating procedures.

Lodging inspections include at least one unannounced inspection each year. Inspectors review and rate exterior, grounds and public areas, room dcor, ambiance and amenities, guest room, bathrooms, housekeeping and maintenance, management and staff and guest services. Once the inspection process is complete, properties that meet all requirements receive a rating of one to five Diamonds.

Nationwide, AAA inspects more than 47,000 properties each year. Properties are rated within their own classification, such as motel, hotel, bed and breakfast, etc. There are 13 classifications, ranging from facilities that offer limited services to those offering full services. Fewer than 3 percent of the estimated 25,000 AAA-rated lodgings and less than 4 percent of the estimated 11,000 restaurants attain AAA Four Diamond status. Approximately 60 percent of all lodging facilities in the nation qualify for a one to five Diamond rating. AAA Five Diamond hotels and restaurants will be announced in November.

The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance, insurance services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, and highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's web site at www.aaa.com.

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CST 1016202-80 Copyright © Automobile Club of Southern California. All Rights Reserved.
The Automobile Club of Southern California is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the following California counties: Inyo, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.