Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver has received the coveted AAA Five Diamond Award? designation for 2012, the travel authority’s highest rating for hotels and restaurants. This is the first time the hotel has received the distinction and it marks Vancouver’s only Five Diamond hotel.
“The Five-Diamond recognition is one we accept with humility and pride,” said Vito Romeo, general manager, Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver. “It is tremendous recognition of our hotel facilities and amenities, but more importantly of our staff, who are dedicated and passionate ambassadors for the Shangri-La brand, the city of Vancouver and our hospitality profession.”
Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver joins a select group representing the upper echelon of the hospitality industry. Hotels that achieve the coveted Five AAA Diamonds are recognized for their delivery of exceptional guest service, luxurious accommodation, superior facilities and personalized amenities. For 2012, only 126 lodgings and 53 restaurants received the Five Diamond Rating. These establishments account for just 0.3 percent of the total 59,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated lodgings and restaurants across the U.S.A, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
“AAA is pleased to recognize Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver as an exemplary member of the travel industry,” said Michael Petrone, director of AAA Tourism Information Development. “The ability to provide the highest level of hospitality in luxurious surroundings is what the Five Diamond Rating is all about. To achieve and maintain superior standards including personalized services for every guest on a daily basis is a remarkable accomplishment.”
“What an incredible, and well-deserved accomplishment for Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver,” said Rick Antonson, CEO of Tourism Vancouver. “The return of the AAA Five Diamond status to Vancouver is significant not only for the hotel, but for the city. It underscores Vancouver as a luxury destination and shows that the city can command occupancy and rate at the five-star level.”
ABOUT SHANGRI-LA HOTEL VANCOUVER
Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver is the first hotel in North America for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia’s leading luxury hotel group. Since opening its doors in January 2009, the 119 room hotel, located in downtown Vancouver, has been recognized for its facilities and service, with distinctions that include: Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2012 #1 Hotel in Vancouver; TripAdvisor #1 Luxury Hotel in Canada 2012; Conde Nast Traveler Gold List 2011.
Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver is located at 1128 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada). Reservations can be made by calling the toll-free number at 1-866-344-5050 or direct through the hotel at +1 (604) 689-1120. Guests can also use Shangri-La’s newly launched free, mobile application (app) for iPhone, available through the App Store in English or Simplified Chinese, to search and book real-time reservations at all Shangri-La locations, including Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver.
ABOUT AAA DIAMOND RATINGS
Continuing a 75-year tradition, AAA’s professionally trained inspectors use published guidelines to conduct unannounced lodging and restaurant evaluations, assigning Approved establishments a rating of One to Five AAA Diamonds. Properties identified by AAA as potential candidates for the Five Diamond Rating undergo multiple evaluations and a final decision by a panel of experts. Properties that receive the Five Diamond Rating are subject to unannounced annual evaluations by AAA inspectors. AAA rates more properties than any other rating entity and is the only rating system that covers the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. It is one of only two that conduct physical, on-site evaluations.
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the world’s premier hotel companies, currently owns and/or manages 73 hotels under the Shangri-La, Kerry and Traders brands, with a room inventory of over 30,000. Over four decades the group has established its brand hallmark of ‘hospitality from the heart’. The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in Canada, mainland China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Turkey and United Kingdom. For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.