Grupo Vidanta Grand Luxxe Nuevo Vallarta Resort Earns Prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award Designated for Top 0.25% of Global Hotel Properties

Vidanta is only membership-based resort in the world to receive top honor

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Aug 05, 2014, 11:00 ET

NUEVO VALLARTA, Mexico, Aug. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Vidanta, a leading developer of world-class resorts and tourism infrastructure in Mexico and Latin America, has been awarded the AAA Five Diamond Award for its Grand Luxxe resort property in Nuevo Vallarta. The award will be formally installed and announced by AAA in November. The Grand Luxxe is the pinnacle of luxury offered by Grupo Vidanta's membership club-based resort group.

"We are incredibly honored to receive the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award," said Eric DuBaele, director of hotel operations for Grupo Vidanta. "Grupo Vidanta's properties – including the Grand Luxxe – are unmatched in their attention to detail and luxury. We help make vacation dreams come to life and are proud of our dedicated staff and the high quality of service we provide to all our guests as recognized by this ranking among the top AAA-evaluated hotels in the world."

The Grand Luxxe Nuevo Vallarta offers guests access to exclusive private beaches and pool areas, a Nicklaus-designed golf course with a Greg Norman championship course under construction, the luxury Spatium & Brio Fitness Center, nighttime entertainment at the Santuario, an array of fine-dining or casual restaurant options and a boutique shopping experience at the newly opened La Plaza market, restaurant and shops.

"The Five Diamond Award is the most coveted designation bestowed by AAA to a hotel, resort or restaurant," said Tony Perrone, Latin America manager for AAA. "Our team of experts continues to be impressed by Grupo Vidanta's dedication to providing extraordinary vacation experiences for its guests."

AAA reviewed 32,000 properties in its most recent update to the Diamond Ratings. Only 0.25 percent received an AAA Five Diamond designation. The Grand Luxxe Nuevo Vallarta resort is the only membership-based vacation club property and the largest property in Mexico to receive the Five Diamond Award.

Recipients of the distinguished AAA Five Diamond award undergo a rigorous evaluation from trained inspectors, unannounced hotel evaluations and a final review by a panel of industry experts. Criteria assessed include management and staff; housekeeping and maintenance; exterior, grounds and public areas; room décor; ambience and amenities; bathrooms; and guest services.

Also announced was AAA's recognition of the Grupo Vidanta Grand Mayan Riviera Maya resort with the AAA Four Diamond Award. Grupo Vidanta has partnered with Cirque du Soleil to bring a Cirque du Soleil theatrical and culinary experience, JOYÀ, to Riviera Maya in November 2014. For the second consecutive year, The Grand Bliss Nuevo Vallarta and The Grand Mayan Nuevo Vallarta also received Four Diamond recognition. Less than five percent of 32,000 hotel or resort properties approved by AAA receive the Four Diamond Award.

For more information on the Grand Luxxe Nuevo Vallarta or any of the Grupo Vidanta luxury resort properties, visit grupovidanta.com.

About Grupo Vidanta

Grupo Vidanta is a leading developer and operator of world-class luxury resorts, properties and tourism infrastructure in Mexico and Latin America. Founded in 1974 by Daniel Chávez Morán, Grupo Vidanta was conceived with a vision of creating extraordinary experiences and inspiring generations of happiness. Today, Grupo Vidanta employs more than 12,000 people and operates resort properties in the sought after luxury beach destinations of Riviera Maya, Nuevo Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Acapulco, Mazatlán and Puerto Peñasco. Grupo Vidanta's resort and hotel brands include Grand Luxxe, The Grand Bliss, The Grand Mayan, The Bliss, Mayan Palace, Ocean Breeze and Sea Garden, with more in development. Vidanta Golf is the largest golf course operator in Mexico and Grupo Vidanta's real estate division has built and sold more than 2,000 vacation homes. The company developed Mexico's first privately built and owned airport, Mar de Cortés International Airport in Puerto Peñasco, and runs two foundations to improve the lives of Latin Americans. The Great Place to Work Institute has selected Grupo Vidanta to the "Best Companies to Work for in Mexico" list for the past six years. For more information about Grupo Vidanta, visit grupovidanta.com. For more information about the Vidanta Foundation, visit fundacionvidanta.org.

About AAA Diamond Ratings

AAA rates more properties than any other rating entity. It is the only rating system that covers the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, and the only rating system that conducts professional on-site evaluations using published guidelines weighted by member priorities. Diamond-rated hotels and restaurants are listed in AAA trip planning products: the eTourBook^® guides and AAA Mobile^® app for tablets and smartphones, the TripTik^® Travel Planner and Travel Guides on AAA.com and AAA TourBook^® guides available at AAA/CAA offices. For complete lists of AAA/CAA Five Diamond hotels and restaurants and rating definitions, visit AAA.com/Diamonds. For Diamond Rating news and information, visit the Diamond Ratings section of NewsRoom.AAA.com.