The Grand Central Hotel in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas was announced yesterday as this year’s only Kansas winner of the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award.

James R. Hanni, Executive Vice President, Kansas Region, presented the award to Suzan Barnes, Owner/operator of The Grand Central, in a ceremony at the hotel.

Representing the highest echelon of the hospitality industry, AAA Four Diamond establishments make up just 3.5 percent of the 58,000 AAA/CAA Diamond Rated lodgings and restaurants throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.  AAA Four Diamond lodgings offer guests a wide range of amenities and services. The Grand Central has now won the award thirteen consecutive years.

“Four Diamond lodgings and restaurants represent the best the hospitality industry has to offer.  This property has consistently delivered a high level of personal comfort and attention to every guest. To achieve and maintain these ratings for 13 consecutive years is a remarkable accomplishment, and we are honored to present this establishment with the Four Diamond Award designation for 2010,” Hanni said.

The assignment of an AAA rating of One to Five Diamonds marks the completion of a successful annual evaluation by one of AAA’s professional inspectors. Individually, AAA inspectors conduct an average of more than 1,100 property evaluations per year and, collectively, have some 700 years of industry experience. The average inspector tenure is 12 years, with the longest being 28 years. AAA inspectors work remotely and bring significant prior industry experience to the association.