The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., led the 2009 American Automobile Association (AAA) Five Diamond awards with 27 properties earning the top rating. This includes first time winners at Lake Las Vegas, Nevada; Dallas, Texas and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Hotels in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean were rated by the AAA inspectors who anonymously visit thousands of properties each year, carefully reviewing everything from guest room cleanliness to quality of service, “To achieve and maintain the highest level of hospitality during these difficult economic times is a significant accomplishment”, said Michael Petrone, AAA tourism development director.

Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas today said it launched a program called Total Experiences to boost sales in the small group travel segment, a market of increasing importance to the hotel industry.

Saying people are more interested than ever in reconnecting with family and friends, and seeing growing guest demand for help with group trip planning, Harrah’s said the complimentary program “eases the stress of planning group getaways by offering high-touch service every step of the way.”

Each group will be connected with a Total Experiences specialist who will handle all details of the group’s itinerary both before and during the stay.

Services include a custom itinerary based on the group’s interests and budget, upgrades and perks based on group spending, booking all reservations, offering insider recommendations and arranging VIP privileges that Harrah’s said were never before available to leisure guests.

Total Experiences is available to groups of six or more that book at any U.S. Harrah’s resort in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and elsewhere.

Benefits and upgrades include VIP check-in, access to private lounges, VIP club entry, celebrity meet-and-greets, private gaming lessons and behind the scenes tours, Harrah’s said.

Hospitality giant Marriott International is launching a new brand called the Autograph Collection, aimed at tapping customers who prefer independent, high-end hotels over brands such as Marriott, Hilton and Four Seasons.

Hotel giant InterContinental Hotels Group is cutting costs after seeing revenues and profits fall 19% and 33%, respectively, in the third quarter of trading.

Chief executive Andrew Cosslett said current trading is difficult but added that there are signs of hotel occupancy stabilising.

However, the group warned today that there is still scarcity of finance for hotel developments.

And while the relaunch of the core Holiday Inn brand continues, with 1,378 hotels now operating under the new standards, the group says cost controls are still vital.

San Clemente-based hotel investment company Sunstone may surrender 11 distressed properties to its lender, according to a third-quarter financial report. If it does, it could bring its total number of forfeited hotels to 14.

Sunstone recently dumped San Diego’s W Hotel and the Marriott Ontario Airport Hotel because its lenders wouldn’t renegotiate loans.

Sunstone, which has about 40 hotel holdings nationwide, including the Fairmont Newport Beach, recently defaulted on its mortgage for the Renaissance Westchester in White Plains, N.Y., and is trying to modify that loan, according to the earnings report. It is currently finishing loan amendments to its Renaissance Baltimore property.