A brilliant honour

CAA/AAA Four and Five Diamond Awards

THORNHILL, ON, Feb. 8, 2012 /CNW/ - Over 70 hotels, inns and restaurants have earned the Four or Five Diamond Award rating in South Central Ontario. Among these, two lodgings and two restaurants are new additions to the list for 2012. The CAA/AAA Four and Five Diamond ratings are the travel authority's highest designations for hotels and restaurants.

Today, these properties will be honoured at the 16^th annual Four and Five Diamond Awards presentation at the Westin Prince Hotel.

Four and Five Diamond lodgings are refined and stylish with upscale physical attributes. They offer guests extensive amenities and a wide range of services.

Four and Five Diamond restaurants provide a distinctive fine dining experience. They feature highly creative chefs, complex menus, fresh top-quality ingredients and knowledgeable staff.

"Four and Five Diamond hotels and restaurants are committed to providing every guest with a high level of personalized service in comfortable, luxurious surroundings," said Nick Parks, President and CEO, CAA South Central Ontario. "To achieve and maintain this level of hospitality is a significant accomplishment. We are proud to recognize these dedicated local establishments with the Four or Five Diamond Rating."

Continuing a 75-year tradition, CAA/AAA's professionally trained inspectors use published guidelines to conduct unannounced property evaluations. CAA/AAA rates more properties than any other rating entity and is the only rating system that covers the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. It is one of only two that conducts physical, on-site evaluations, assigning CAA/AAA Approved lodgings and restaurants One to Five Diamonds.

A complete list of the 2012 CAA SCO's Diamond Award winners can be found at http://www.caasco.com/community-media-release.form.

CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club offering insurance, travel, automotive care and roadside services. There are more than 1.8 million CAA members in South Central Ontario and 5 million members in Canada. We're more than Roadside Assistance. We're Life-side Assistance. Visit www.caasco.com.

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Media contact: Silvana Aceto, Media and PR Specialist, CAA SCO, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone] or Jeff LeMoine, Internal/External PR Specialist, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone].