LOS ANGELES---Oct. 29, 1997--Seventy-two Southern California hotels and 31 restaurants have earned the 1998 Four Diamond Award from AAA, announced the Automobile Club of Southern California.

The award-winning properties were among the top 4 percent of more than 2,000 Southern California hotels, motels and restaurants inspected by the Auto Club, the Southland's AAA affiliate. ``Following a rigorous surprise inspection that notes every facet of service and surroundings, the Auto Club has identified these properties as among the finest in Southern California and the nation,'' said Clarence Garlough, manager of the Auto Club's Approved Accommodations.

``Travelers rely on Diamond ratings in the AAA TourBooks to guide them in choosing an establishment. Four Diamond properties offer luxurious accommodations as well as above-average staff and housekeeping, and other quality amenities. The restaurants offer an appealing, formal dining experience with a highly skilled professional service staff.''

AAA's Diamond rating program is the only hotel and restaurant review system in the nation that uses specially trained, full-time field representatives. The Auto Club uses its own staff as part of AAA's national network to review establishments in Southern California without prior notification using detailed rating procedures.

Inspections of Four- and Five-Diamond hotels include at least two unannounced overnight visits each year.
Inspectors review and rate exterior grounds, public areas, guest-room decor and ambience, bathrooms,
housekeeping and maintenance. Once the inspection process is complete, the properties that meet all
requirements are awarded a rating of one to five Diamonds.

Approximately 60 percent of all lodging facilities in the nation qualify for a Diamond rating. Nationwide, AAA  inspects more than 30,000 properties each year. Properties are rated within their own classifications, such as motel, hotel, bed and breakfast, etc. There are nine classifications, ranging from facilities that offer limited to full services.

The hotels and restaurants honored with a Four Diamond Award (and the number of consecutive years each
property has earned the award) follow:

Inyo/Mono Counties Hotel

• Death Valley Furnace Creek Inn 11th year

Mammoth Lakes

• The Restaurant at Convict Lake  2nd year

      Beverly Hills

• Beverly Hilton   18th year
• The Beverly Hills Hotel         3rd year
• Regent Beverly Wilshire         5th year

• Long Beach Hilton               6th year
• Renaissance Long Beach Hotel    1st year
•  Sheraton Long Beach Hotel       8th year

• Hotel Inter-Continental         5th year
• Hyatt Regency Los Angeles       8th year
• Omni Los Angeles Hotel  Centre 22nd year
• The Regal Biltmore Hotel        21st year
• Sheraton Grande Hotel           15th year
• Wyndham Checkers Hotel          9th year
• Century Plaza Hotel  Tower     15th year
• Four Seasons Hotel              1st year
• Hotel Bel-Air                   17th year
• Hotel Nikko at Beverly Hills    6th year
• Hotel Sofitel                   9th year
• Park Hyatt Los Angeles at
• Century City                  10th year
• Westwood Marquis Hotel and
• Gardens                       22nd year

• Doubletree Hotel-Pasadena       8th year
• The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel                         7th year

• Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel  9th year
• Shutters on the Beach           5th year

• Sunset Marquis Hotel  Villas   12th year
• Wyndham Bel Age Hotel           13th year

Beverly Hills

• The Dining Room                 3rd year (Regent Beverly Wilshire)

• Saddle Peak Lodge               1st year

• Bernard's                       8th year (The Regal Biltmore Hotel)
• Dynasty Room                    6th year  (Westwood Marquis Hotel and Gardens)
• Gardens                         3rd year  (Four Seasons Hotel, Los Angeles)
• Le Chardonnay                   7th year
• Patina                          7th year

•  The Dining Room                 7th year (The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey)

•  Valentino Restaurant            3rd year

•  Diaghilev                       6th year

      Costa Mesa

•         The Westin South Coast Plaza    8th year

•          Blue Lantern Inn                7th year

•    Waterfront Hilton Beach Resort  7th year

•              Hyatt Regency Irvine            5th year

•        Surf  Sand Hotel               7th year

•       The Sutton Place Hotel          12th year

      Dana Point

• The Club Grill  Bar            2nd year (The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel)
• The Dining Room                 7th year (The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel)

• The Cellar                      8th year

•  Chanteclair                     8th year

•     Five Crowns                     8th year
•     The Pavilion                    4th year (Four Seasons Hotel)
•     The Ritz                        5th year

• Antonello Ristorante            7th year

      Indian Wells

• Hyatt Grand Champions Resort    11th year
• Renaissance Esmeralda Resort    8th year

• Marriott's Desert Springs       11th year

• Four Seasons Apartment Hotel    22nd year
• The Willows Historic Palm
• Springs Inn                   1st year

•  Marriott's Rancho Las Palmas Resort          19th year
•  The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage 10th year
•  The Westin Mission Hills Resort   6th year

      La Quinta

• Cunard's                        4th year

• Le Vallauris                    5th year

• The Dining Room                 6th year (The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage)
• Wally's Desert Turtle           5th year

• Duane's Prime Steaks  Seafood  3rd year

      Ontario

• Country Side Suites             6th year

      Borrego Springs

• La Casa Del Zorro Resort Hotel  5th year

• Four Seasons Resort Aviara      1st year
• La Costa Resort and Spa         22nd year

• Hotel Del Coronado              3rd year
• Le Meridien San Diego at
• Coronado                      10th year
• Loews Coronado Bay Resort       6th year

• Orchard Hill Country Inn        2nd year

• Hyatt Regency La Jolla          8th year
• La Valencia Hotel               9th year
• Sheraton Grande Torrey Pines    8th year

• Rancho Bernardo Inn             20th year

• Rancho Valencia Resort          8th year

• Hyatt Regency San Diego         5th year
• Marriott San Diego Marina       14th year
• Pacific Terrace Inn             12th year
• San Diego Hilton Beach Tennis Resort     20th year
• Sheraton San Diego Hotel Marina         8th year
• The Westgate Hotel              13th year
• Wyndham Emerald Plaza           6th year

      Coronado

• Marius        1st year  (Le Meridien San Diego at Coronado)

• Sky Room        7th year (La Valencia Hotel)

• El Bizcocho Restaurant          8th year  (Rancho Bernardo Inn)

• Mille Fleurs                    7th year

• Baci's                          6th year
• Mister A's                  4th year

      Cambria

• Blue Dolphin Inn                8th year
• Blue Whale Inn Bed  Breakfast  7th year
• Sand Pebbles Inn                8th year

• Arbor Inn Bed  Breakfast       3rd year

• Apple Farm Inn                  10th year

• Petersen Village Inn            14th year

      Ballard

• The Ballard Inn                 5th year

• Los Olivos Grand Hotel          9th year

• Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort 2nd year
• Four Seasons Biltmore           12th year
• Harbor View Inn                 1st year
• Inn on Summer Hill              8th year

Santa Barbara

• La Marina              1st year  (Four Seasons Biltmore)

The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900.  Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's emergency road service, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs and legislative advocacy.