Mandarin Oriental is awarded AAA's five diamonds

(Photo provided by the Mandarin Oriental, Boston)

It's official. The Mandarin Oriental, Boston may be as chi-chi and as elegant as you think it is.

The American Automobile Association said it has conferred its highest rating - five diamonds - on the luxury hotel in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood.

Of the 58,000 hotels, lodgings, restaurants, and other properties that AAA surveyed this year for the latest edition of its AAA TourBook travel guides, only 165 earned five diamonds, AAA public relations manager Heather Hunter said.

"It's for service that exceeds expectations," Hunter said of the five diamonds rating.

The only other Boston hotel to earn five diamonds in the AAA's latest ratings is the Four Seasons; this is the Boston Four Seasons hotel's 22nd straight year of earning five diamonds, Hunter said.

Before awarding five diamonds, AAA dispatches a professional inspector to check into a hotel anonymously and submit a report that is factored into the rating process, Hunter said.

"The five diamond award is a direct reflection of the dedication and outstanding service provided by all our employees at Mandarin Oriental, Boston," Mandarin Oriental, Boston general manager Susanne Hatje said in a statement. " This coveted status is a prestigious accolade and speaks volume about the exceptional commitment our hotel has towards ensuring each and every guest receives an exemplary experience. We look forward to celebrating this highly regarded achievement with our guests, colleagues and the city of Boston in the coming year." (Globe Staff)