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USA
Southeast
Tennessee: American
Automobile Association Honors the Hermitage Hotel
With its Coveted Five Diamond Award
Historic hotel becomes only
property in Tennessee, as well as five contiguous
states, to hold distinguished rating
NASHVILLE, Tenn.: Only nine
months after reopening its historic doors following
an $18 million restoration project, The Hermitage
Hotel has today received the coveted American
Automobile Association's Five Diamond Award for
2004, making it the only hotel in Tennessee to hold
the distinction. It's the first time a Tennessee
hotel has achieved AAA's Five Diamond Award since
1985, when the Spence Manor Executive Hotel in
Nashville held the rating. There are no AAA Five
Diamond-rated hotels in five of Tennessee's
contiguous states - Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama,
Missouri and Arkansas - or he nearby states of
Indiana, Iowa and Kansas. Previously, the closest
city to Nashville with a AAA Five Diamond-rated
hotel was Atlanta. "We are very proud to receive
this rating in such a short space of time,"says
Prem Devadas, the hotel's managing partner. "It's a
tremendous credit to our staff and to Greg Sligh,
the general manager, who are working hard to
make
The Hermitage one of the
finest hotels in the world." The Hermitage Hotel
opened in 1910 after being commissioned by 250
Nashville residents. It is on the National Register
of Historic Places. It reopened on Valentine's Day
this year after a 10-month renovation, which saw
its grand public spaces completely restored, the
creation of 123 guest rooms and suites, and the
implementation of many guest services and amenities
new to Nashville. Since announcing The Hermitage's
renovation plans in 2002, the hotel's owner -
Historic Hotels Nashville, LLC - has expressed a
desire to achieve the lodging industry's highest
ratings, especially the AAA Five Diamond Award.
According to AAA, only 73 hotels will hold the Five
Diamond distinction for 2004. While the award is
extremely rare, it is even more unusual for hotels
to attain the rating within the first year of
operation - whether a new property or a renovated
one. Prior to closing for renovations in April
2002, The Hermitage Hotel held only a AAA Three
Diamond rating. "As all who have been there
expected, our historic Hermitage Hotel has
delivered on its promise to become
 recognized
as a truly world-class property," says Nashville
Mayor Bill Purcell. "This award is great news for
the hotel and great news for Nashville, further
adding to the luster of our hospitality community
and our reputation as a leading destination city.
"The Hermitage's sister property, The Jefferson
Hotel in Richmond, VA, has retained its AAA Five
Diamond rating for the 10th consecutive year. The
Jefferson is one of only 25 hotels in North America
to simultaneously hold both AAA's Five Diamond
rating and the much-coveted Mobil Five Star
rating.
The Hermitage
Hotel
231 Sixth Avenue North,
Nashville, TN 37219
(888) 888-9414
www.thehermitagehotel.com
Snowbirds
Flock to Sunny Florida and Caribbean Shores
Our
last visit to Florida was overnight from Seattle
aboard USAir, for the America Travel Market in
Orlando. Our editors plan to return for the Annual
Golf Travel Market this year in St. Petersburg to
show off our Golf Supermap - fourth in a series.
It's easy to see why so many Eastern Canadians,
Quebecers in particular, are turned on to this area
as a Winter Escape; so now thanks to the Open Skies
agreement, and a variety of travel options
available, its Western Canada's turn. We'll be
talking about Florida hotel, resort and
transportation packages, plus many other delightful
perks. More on this pleasant topic to
come.
http://www.miami-ftlauderdale.com
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