by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 3:25 PM ET, Tue May 27, 2025
The latest group of hotels and restaurants to receive the coveted AAA Four Diamond award have just been revealed and Jamaica dominates the list of entrants.
While the properties receiving the diamond distinction (which is based on the four Cs of AAA diamonds: cleanliness, comfort, cuisine, and consistency) are located throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, only the island of Jamaica came away with three new properties on the list.
The Jamaica properties to receive a Four Diamond award were Princess Grand Jamaica; Princess Senses The Mangrove and Royalton Negril Resorts & Spa.
"Jamaica
continues to offer many upscale resorts for couples or families with
tons of amenities and activities," John Lubanski, AAA Diamond program regional manager, told TravelPulse.
"The two Princess resorts in Jamaica
are new and opened in late 2024. These are beautiful, sprawling resorts
that offer two different experiences," Lubanski added. "The Princess Grand is a
family-friendly complex, with all the entertainment, activity programs,
slides and water park options."
The Princess Senses The Mangrove, meanwhile, offers an adults-only experience and includes beachfront suites along with 14 over-water bungalows.
"Guests at both resorts have access to literally dozens of restaurants and bars," added Lubanksi.
Another notable entrant on this year's list is the Gardiner House in Newport, Rhode Island, which Lubanski called "a gorgeous, small and intimate 21-room boutique hotel on the
waterfront."
The property features "stylish and comfortable furnishings and upscale art" which Lubanski said "make
for a very distinct experience."
"It feels very 'Newport," he said.
Orlando, Florida's Universal Grand Helios hotel, which also earned a Four Diamond award, is a brand that Lubanski called "very exciting."
"It's a new property that is actually located within
the new Universal Epic Universe Theme park. The rooms are great, but
the most exciting feature is the entrance from the lower lobby directly
into the theme park," Lubanski explained.
"Guests also have a huge pool complex to enjoy as
well as a rooftop bar and restaurant with great views of all the park
activity below," he added.
Also making the list was Canopy by Hilton in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It is the only current Four Diamond hotel in that city.
The full list of the newest batch of AAA Four Diamond hotels includes:
- Canopy by Hilton Sioux Falls Downtown | Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Gardiner House | Newport, Rhode Island
- Intercontinental Seattle Bellevue| Bellevue, Washington
- Princess Grand Jamaica | Green Island, Jamaica
- Princess Senses The Mangrove | Green Island, Jamaica
- Royalton Negril Resorts & Spa | Negril, Jamaica
- StoneHaven Le Manoir | Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Québec, Canada
- Universal Helios Grand Hotel | Orlando, Florida
The latest Four Diamond restaurants are Atelier Tony Dieppe, located in New Brunswick, Canada; Fiamma in Ketchum, Idaho; The Wild Sage in Jackson, Wyoming and Tre Dita in Chicago, Illinois.
Throughout the year, AAA inspectors visit hotels and restaurants across North America, the Caribbean, and Costa Rica unannounced to verify the 4 Cs of AAA Diamonds. Four Diamond lists are updated monthly, as AAA Inspectors visit properties throughout the year.
Currently, there are roughly 145 Five Diamond hotels and 65 Five Diamond restaurants and roughly 1,750 Four Diamond hotels and 500 Four Diamond restaurants, according to a press release from AAA.
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