Contributed

AAA Carolinas honored the Carolina Hotel, Holly Inn and 1895 Grille at the AAA Four Diamond Awards for central and eastern North Carolina during a ceremony at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel Jan. 3.

This is the 31st year the Carolina Hotel has achieved Four Diamond status, the 11th year for Holly Inn, and the 12th year for 1895 Grille, a news release from AAA Carolinas said.

The AAA Four Diamond Awards are given out in three separate ceremonies around the state. A total of 35 hotels and 14 restaurants throughout North Carolina have achieved this rating.

"AAA's requirements for a Four Diamond rating are rigorous, and those that achieve this designation are among the finest hotels and restaurants in the world," said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas. "Only 3.4 percent of the more than 59,000 annual inspections conducted nationally result in a Four Diamond rating."

Other central and eastern North Carolina Four Diamond accommodation winners include the Cameron Park Inn in Raleigh (first year), Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel (two years), the Sanderling Resort and Spa (two years), the King's Daughters Inn in Durham (two years), Proximity Hotel in Greensboro (5 years), Arrowhead Inn Bed & Breakfast in Durham (10 years), the Verandas in Wilmington (11 years), Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club in Durham (13 years), Graystone Inn in Wilmington (14 years), O. Henry Hotel in Greensboro (14 years), Grandover Resort (14 years), the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill (16 years), and the Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill (17 years).

Other central and eastern North Carolina Four Diamond restaurant winners include Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern in Raleigh (nine years), the Left Bank in Duck (nine years), Carolina Crossroads Restaurant in Chapel Hill (11 years), Four Square Restaurant in Durham (12 years), the Fairview Dining Room in Durham (21 years) and Il Palio Ristorante in Chapel Hill (23 years).

AAA gives the Four Diamond Awards annually to qualified hotels and restaurants in North America.

More than 2,000 properties nationally earn the Four Diamond ratings after specially trained evaluators conduct anonymous overnight stays or dine incognito. Lodgings include eight different classifications, such as bed and breakfast, hotel, cottage and country inn with four sub-classifications such as historic, classic, resort and casino.

Each restaurant and lodging that receives any level of diamond rating from AAA is listed in AAA's TourBooks, which are distributed free to any of the organization's 53 million members nationwide.

AAA Carolinas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, is a not-for-profit organization that serves more than 1.8 million members and the public with travel, automobile and insurance services while being an advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.