The Jefferson Hotel again wins AAA’s Five Diamond Award

The Jefferson Hotel again has won AAA's prestigious top rating for its guest service and accommodations.

The Jefferson joins two other Virginia travel venues in receiving Five Diamond Awards: The Inn at Little Washington and the inn's Dining Room, in the Rappahannock County town of Washington.

The travel authority's top rating for hotels and restaurants was released yesterday.

"AAA is pleased to present The Jefferson Hotel for the 17th consecutive year with the Five Diamond Award designation," said AAA Mid-Atlantic's Martha M. Meade.

Meade said The Jefferson, at 101 W. Franklin St. in downtown Richmond, received the recognition for its "top-quality service and facilities that consistently exceed guest expectations."

"We accept this honor not only for our team and our ownership," said Joseph Longo, The Jefferson's managing director, "but for the city of Richmond and for the commonwealth."

Built in 1895, the 262-room Jefferson is owned by Richmond-based CCA Industries Inc.

"The past year has presented many challenges for the travel industry," noted Meade, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. For The Jefferson "to achieve and maintain the highest level of hospitality during these difficult economic times is a significant accomplishment."

The Inn at Little Washington Dining Room is the only restaurant to win Five Diamonds for 22 consecutive years, and the inn itself has won the designation for 21 years.

AAA's inspectors rate more than 58,000 lodgings and restaurants in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Only 165 establishments merited Five Diamond status, the travel group said.

AAA has more than 1.1 million members in Virginia.

Contact Peter Bacqué at (804) 649-6813 or .