AAA

The AAA Diamond Program has evolved significantly over its 88+-year history while maintaining its core mission of providing professional, reliable hotel quality evaluations. In its early decades, ratings were published exclusively in printed TourBook guides, which travelers carried on the road. As technology advanced, the program shifted to digital platforms, including AAA’s website, mobile app, and TripTik tools, making ratings accessible in real time. In 2020, AAA streamlined the system by consolidating the One Diamond and Two Diamond categories into the single Approved designation, simplifying the tier structure and aligning it more closely with traveler expectations. The most notable recent enhancement came in 2020–2021 with the introduction of ATP cleanliness testing, adding scientific verification to complement traditional visual inspections. Over the years, inspection criteria have been continuously updated to reflect changing traveler preferences and evolving hospitality standards. Despite these improvements, the program’s foundation remains unchanged: unannounced inspections conducted by trained professionals using consistent, objective criteria. This long‑standing approach ensures the Diamond designations remain credible, trustworthy markers of hotel quality.