Vegas area adds three resorts to elite AAA list

New additions bring number of Nevada properties on list to 13

Courtesy of Wynn Las Vegas

The Salon Suite at Encore Las Vegas. Encore is one of three Las Vegas hotels to be named to AAA’s 2010 Five Diamond list.

By Amanda Finnegan (contact)

Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 | 10:51 a.m.

Headlines from the Vegas gaming industry

Las Vegas is home to three more AAA Five Diamond winners, AAA Travel announced today. Nevada and Florida tied by adding three properties to the list -- more than any other state.

The latest additions include The Ritz-Carlton at Lake Las Vegas, Encore Las Vegas and the Palazzo in the hotel category. Nevada now has eight Five Diamond properties, trailing only California and Florida.

Other resorts earning the coveted award are repeat winners. The list includes the Venetian, Bellagio, Skylofts at MGM Grand, Wynn Las Vegas and Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, an 11-time winner of the Five Diamond award.

The Bellagio has received the award for nine consecutive years while the Skylofts and Wynn Las Vegas both have won for the last four. The Venetian has made the list the last three years.

All of Nevada’s restaurants are repeat recipients of the Five Diamond award. The winners include Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace, Picasso and Le Cirque at Bellagio, Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand and Alex at Wynn Las Vegas.

“The economy this past year presented numerous challenges for the hospitality industry,” AAA Nevada spokesperson Michael Geeser said. “To make the list for the first time or maintain the highest level of hospitality during these difficult economic times is remarkable.”

Nationally, no restaurants were added to AAA’s Five Diamond list and seven were removed, six of which have closed. AAA’s Five Diamond restaurant list includes 52 restaurants.

AAA awarded 113 hotels the Five Diamond award nationwide, up from 103 last year. AAA inspectors evaluate 58,000 hotels and restaurants each year, the company said.

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By atdleft

11/6/09 at 12:48 p.m.

Suggest removal

Yay! I can now say I've stayed at a 5 Diamond resort. ;-)
By lightfoot

11/7/09 at 10:33 a.m.

Suggest removal

Nice job, Palazzo, Encore and Ritz! I stay in hotels all around the world and Vegas truly has some of the nicest anywhere. I've stayed at both the Encore and Palazzo. While I prefer the Palazzo by a slim margin they are both among the best anywhere.
By VegasGM85

11/7/09 at 7:26 p.m.

Suggest removal

Lightfoot - just curious... why Palazzo over Encore?
By Seriously

11/8/09 at 6:09 a.m.

Suggest removal

Same goes for me. I much prefer Palazzo over Encore/Wynn. First off I dont like all the red and browns colors all over the place at Encore. Its too much. Overbearing.. Secondly, Encore is just too stuffy for me. I dont know what it is.. maybe just the staff with their noses in the air? Palazzo is just much more comfortable I guess.
By vegasfun01

11/8/09 at 4:21 p.m.

Suggest removal

I think Plazzo is last on the list. it's like a ghost town staying over there and the casino is not that inviting. Four Seasons is the best, followed by Encore.

« Previous Ten Next Ten »

Live chat: Tuesday, noon PST; Chat with Krista Creelman; Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question