Gem Show: Local Restaurants, Hotels Win AAA Four Diamond Awards

Eleven outstanding restaurants and hotels in Greater Hartford and eastern Connecticut have earned the coveted AAA Four Diamond Award for 2013. Fresh Salt in Old Saybrook is new to the restaurant list this year. The Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa in Groton continues to be the area’s longest honored AAA Four Diamond recipient, receiving the award for the 12th consecutive year.

For 2013, the 2,289 Four Diamond winners (1,535 hotels and 754 restaurants) include the following local establishments:

Restaurants:

• Octagon, Groton
• Craftsteak, Mashantucket
• Paragon, Mashantucket
• Fresh Salt, Old Saybrook

Lodgings:

• Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa, Groton
• Hartford Marriott Downtown, Hartford
• Grand Pequot Tower at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket
• MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Mashantucket
• The Villas at Foxwoods, Mashantucket
• Saybrook Point Inn & Spa, Old Saybrook
• Mohegan Sun, Uncasville

It’s a testament to Connecticut that we have so many Four Diamond winners. These establishments consistently exceed the expectations of the most discriminating traveler – the AAA inspector. We are proud to have these dedicated businesses in our region.

Collectively visiting some 1,200 hotels and restaurants every week, AAA inspectors are in a unique position to identify emerging trends in the hospitality industry. Inspectors have observed hotels and restaurants using increasingly personalized approaches to enhance guest comfort and satisfaction.

AAA’s Diamond Rating System is the only system that covers all of North America and one of only two that conducts physical, on-site evaluations.  AAA uses full-time, professionally trained evaluators to inspect each property on an annual basis using a set of rigorous guidelines that are made available to all establishments. For more information on local Diamond Award winners, visit AAA.com/Diamonds.