AAA Five Diamond Award

The AAA Five Diamond Award marks the apex of the Diamond rating, granted by the American Automobile Association to roughly 0.4 % of the 27,000 properties inspected each year across North America (AAA Hospitality official, 2026). Established in 1976, the grid covers architecture, furnishings, cuisine and the level of personalised service. Inspectors run incognito then announced visits, blending structural and experiential criteria. A lesser-known fact : only AAA members can vote for the Inspectors' Best Of, a sub-award singling out three hundred properties each year from the Five Diamond pool. The 2026 list features 113 Five Diamond hotels in the United States, led by California, Nevada and Florida.