Hawaii's Le Mer Receives 20th Consecutive Prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award for 2010, AAA Hawaii Announces

Le Mer restaurant, in the Halekulani Hotel, Oahu, has received its 20th AAA Five Diamond Award rating, the most respected and coveted rating in the global travel industry, AAA Hawaii has announced.

In all, three Hawaii hotels and two restaurants repeated again as the AAA Five Diamond Award winners for 2010. Chef Mavro received its second AAA Five Diamond award.

The AAA Five Diamond rating for 2010 has been awarded to the following Hawaii hotels and restaurants with the number of consecutive years noted:

--  Chef Mavro, Honolulu, 2
--  Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu, 12
--  Four Seasons Resort, Maui at Wailea, 19
--  The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, 14
--  La Mer (in the Halekulani Hotel, Oahu), Honolulu, 20
    

"Hotels and restaurants that offer extraordinary quality experiences and high caliber service and meet the highest AAA standards of excellence receive the AAA Five Diamond Award rating," said AAA Hawaii's Chris Olvera. "AAA Hawaii congratulates these establishments and their employees for their hard work and dedication during a difficult economic time for the hospitality industry.

"We are particularly pleased to recognize Le Mer, and its employees for their 20th consecutive AAA Five Diamond Award designation. Their high caliber establishment reflects their commitment and dedication long-term to their local, mainland and foreign guests," added Olvera.

More than 58,000 Diamond Rated® establishments are evaluated each year by AAA's full-time evaluators. Only 0.28 percent who complete the successful annual evaluation earn the AAA Five Diamond Award® and a listing in the 2010 AAA TourBook® guides.

To be considered for AAA approval and rating, lodgings and restaurants must undergo a thorough inspection by one of AAA's full-time professional evaluators. AAA Five Diamond establishments go through the most extensive review.

AAA first listed accommodation information in its travel publications in the early 1900s. In 1937, the first field inspectors were hired to inspect hotels, motels and restaurants. In 1963, AAA began to rate all accommodations as good, very good, excellent and outstanding. AAA introduced the current One to Five Diamond rating system in 1977.

A diamond was chosen as AAA's ratings symbol in honor of AAA's 75th Anniversary in 1977. Diamond Ratings are published in the AAA TourBook® guides, on the online TourBook® at www.AAA.com, and in part, on www.AAAmaps.com. It is the broadest coverage of any U.S. rating system, both geographically and by number of properties rated.

AAA Hawaii is an affiliate of AAA. It has served members since 1921. Today, AAA Hawaii provides services that include roadside assistance, maps, international and domestic travel planning and reservations; pedestrian and traffic safety programs and financial services. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Hawaii's website at www.AAA.com.