Three local hotels, 2 restaurants awarded 4 Diamonds from AAA

RICHMOND, Va. -- Still in its first year of operation, The Westin hotel in Henrico County has won one of AAA's prestigious Four Diamond Awards for superior service and amenities.

The 250-room, full-service Westin, owned by Musselman Hotels of Louisville, Ky., only opened its doors Dec. 18.

"We came out of the gate strong on our service component, said Feliks Schwartz, general manager of the hotel at 6631 W. Broad St. "We have not taken any shortcuts."

The Berkeley Hotel, at 1200 E. Cary St. in Richmond, was honored with Four Diamonds for the 21st year, and the Wyndham Virginia Crossing Hotel and Conference Center, at 1000 Virginia Center Parkway in Henrico, received the award for the sixth year.

Two area restaurants also received Four Diamond Awards: 1 North Belmont Restaurant, at 1 N. Belmont Ave. in Richmond, for the fifth year; and The Dining Room at the Berkeley Hotel for the 15th year.

"Four Diamond hotels and restaurants represent some of the best that the hospitality industry has to offer," said Martha Mitchell Meade, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

"These properties are extraordinary in every manner," Meade said.

Four Diamond Award winners represent 3.5 percent of the 58,000 Diamond-rated lodgings and restaurants in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

AAA's professional inspectors visit and evaluate each of the establishments using guidelines available to the hotels and restaurants.

"Having been presented with AAA's Four Diamond Award in the first year of operation is truly an honor and a testament to the teamwork of the entire hotel staff," Schwartz said.

"I am happy to have achieved this level of distinction," Schwartz said.

The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, and The Inn at Little Washington and the inn's Dining Room in the Rappahannock County town of Washington, hold AAA's Five Diamond top rating.

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