WASHINGTON, D. C. (Thursday, June 8, 2017) –– Like radiant tiaras on the skyline, three hotels in the Washington metro area, the MGM National Harbor, the Trump International Hotel, and the Watergate Hotel, are the newest members of the fraternity of premier establishments in the Western Hemisphere attaining the coveted AAA Four Diamond Rating. Above all, they bedazzle and beguile. AAA Approved and Diamond Rated designations are among the most well-known and respected distinctions in the global travel industry. 

“We are proud to acknowledge the MGM National Harbor, the Trump International Hotel and Watergate Hotel as North America’s select accommodations,” said Michael Petrone, Director of AAA Inspections & Diamond Ratings. “The Four Diamond Rating accorded these properties resulted from our most recent evaluation and will soon be displayed in the AAA travel information products members use to make trip planning decisions and reservations.”

AAA’s Diamond Rating is one of the few hotel appraisal systems that rely on physical on-site evaluations. AAA’s team of inspectors assesses each of the nearly 28,000 eligible properties based on comfort, cleanliness, security and available services and amenities. With a far greater inventory than any other rating entity, AAA’s rating system covers the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Two of the world-class properties are nestled on the Potomac River, and one adorns Pennsylvania Avenue, the promenade of presidents. Following rigorous evaluations and white glove inspections by secret, professional inspectors, the MGM National Harbor, the Trump International Hotel, and the Watergate Hotel officially join the ranks of prestigious hotels in the whole of North America. Like a precious and rarified crown jewel, the descriptive diamond ratings are assigned exclusively to properties that meet and uphold AAA’s rigorous Approval standards. A Four Diamond hotel is refined and stylish, providing upscale physical attributes, extensive amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to every detail.

The MGM National Harbor

Overlooking the majestic waterfront of the Potomac River, the MGM National Harbor joins an impressive list of top-drawer properties. It emerged as a first-time Four Diamond honoree within six months of opening. Visitors can sleep by night in 234 guest rooms and 74 suites including a Presidential Suite and a Chairman Suite. Visitors can shop to their hearts’ content in 18,000 square feet of high-end branded retail space.

Guests can dream big in the MGM National Harbor’s major attraction, which encompasses more than 125,000 square feet of gaming featuring 124 table games, 39 poker tables, 10 craps, 12 roulette, 25 variations of carnival games, 58 blackjack tables, 25 baccarat tables and 3,300 slot machines. Splurging on every detail, the state of the art theater at MGM National Harbor boasts 3,000 seats. Foodies can gratify their palates and penchants with 15 dining options from fast-casual to fine cuisine, and snag reservations at three acclaimed chef-driven restaurants. The $1.4 billion MGM National Harbor joins its neighbor, the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center as a AAA Four Diamond resort. The Gaylord was first awarded the honor in 2008.  Designed to take your breath away, the MGM National Harbor officially opened December 8, 2016.

The Trump International Hotel

Formerly, it housed the Old Post Office Pavilion, and before that, the Old Post Office and Clock Tower. Towering 315 feet, it has the distinction of being the “second-tallest structure in the nation’s capital, after the Washington Monument.” The intricate and cutting-edge restoration project reportedly cost $200 million. Following its metamorphosis it is universally known as the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.  Occupying an entire city block, the luxury lodging features 263 luxurious guest rooms and world-class suites. Noted for its ambience and amenities, the Trump International Hotel also features “BLT Prime by David Burke, Benjamin Bar & Lounge and The Spa by Ivanka Trump™.” The resplendent building, equidistant from the U.S. Capitol and the White House, retains the historic Romanesque Revival Structure and preserves the lofty clock tower, which is still operated by the National Park Service. 

Although the Trump International Hotel officially opened in September 2016, the grand opening was held a month later on October 26, 2016. Talk about first impressions:  “Guests arrive at the Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C from the main entrance on 11th Street,” hotel officials note. “The entry features backlit marble and limited mullion glass with a steel and glass porte cochere cantilevering in both directions, creating a stunning arrival experience.” The Trump International Hotel achieved the Four Diamond status nine months after its grand opening. The Old Post Office and Clock Tower was initially constructed from 1892 to 1899.

The Watergate Hotel

Situated along the Georgetown Waterfront, and a few steps away from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, its very name rings with history and elegance. The Watergate Hotel officially opened its doors to the public a half century ago, on March 30, 1967. Following a $200 million transfiguration it reopened in 2016. It is safe to say, like the Watergate Complex itself, the Watergate Hotel has a storied and star-studded history. Here, “the Washington elite and Hollywood royalty” come to “mix and mingle” in bespoke luxury.

Reimagined and remodeled, the Watergate Hotel features 336 guest rooms and suites, including the Presidential Suite and the Diplomat Suite for discerning clientele. Perched on the Potomac River and located in Foggy Bottom, it boasts a new rooftop bar with panoramic views of the vistas below. In addition to its wondrous array of luxurious hospitality suites, the Watergate Hotel boasts 27,000 square feet of “modern meeting and event space.” Its newly constructed Moretti Grand Ballroom spans 7,000 square feet of pleasantness. Its spa, the Argentaa, is a lavish and lush oasis for the weary traveler and the worldly wise. The Watergate Hotel beckons business travelers and those on pleasure trips to the nation’s capital alike.  Its iconic name has a curious history.

The AAA Diamond Awards

In January of this year, AAA released its annual lists of Four and Five Diamonds hotels epitomizing elegance and grace. AAA’s team of highly-trained professional tourism editors visits some 60,000 lodgings and restaurants each year — covering the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Tourism editors conduct unannounced evaluations, scrutinizing such areas as cleanliness, comfort, ambiance, and service.

On May 24, AAA Mid-Atlantic hosted its annual Five and Four Awards program at the Hay-Adams in Washington, D.C, feting 34 Five and Four Diamond hotels and restaurants located in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern and Central Virginia. AAA has conducted field inspections since 1937, introducing the current Diamond rating system for lodgings in 1977 and for restaurants in 1986.

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