El Monte Sagrado Receives Prestigious AAA Four-Diamond Rating

TAOS, NM (May 18, 2007) – The American Automobile Association (AAA), one of the country’s most respected authorities on travel and hospitality, has awarded El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa, a Kessler Collection property, with its prestigious Four-Diamond title. De la Tierra Restaurant™ at El Monte Sagrado was named a Four-Diamond restaurant earlier this year. With this award, all luxury Kessler Collection hotel properties - encompassing Florida, Georgia, Colorado, and New Mexico - are now honored with this distinction.

According to AAA, in order for a property to be considered Four-Diamond, establishments must be upscale in all areas. Accommodations are progressively more refined and stylish and the physical attributes reflect an obvious enhanced level of quality throughout. The fundamental hallmarks at this level include an extensive array of amenities combined with a high degree of hospitality, service, and attention to detail.
Jeff Mahan, general manager says, “El Monte Sagrado has always exuded the utmost in luxury. We are very pleased that both our hotel and restaurant are now officially recognized with AAA's prestigious Four-Diamond title."
The award comes as the property is preparing to unveil its major expansion of 30,000 square feet of guest suites, meeting and event space and spa facilities.

De la Tierra, a 2007-named AAA Four-Diamond restaurant, serves cutting-edge regional and seasonal American dishes from a diverse menu and some of the finest wines the world has to offer. AAA defines Four-Diamond restaurants as establishments geared towards individuals in search of a distinctive fine-dining experience that are often orchestrated by an executive chef and an accomplished staff. It is also deemed that menus reflect a high degree of creativity and complexity, using imaginative presentations to enhance high quality, market-fresh ingredients. The equally proficient service staff demonstrates a strong desire to meet or exceed guest expectations is another key area. A highly-refined, comfortable and well-coordinated ambiance, incorporating quality materials and a variety of upscale design enhancements to give a first-class impression is important with this distinction as well.

About El Monte Sagrado
El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa is located in Taos, NM at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The property offers 36 suites and casitas positioned around a pristine Sacred Circle and is undergoing a major expansion calling for more than 35,000 square feet of new guest rooms, banquet and meeting space and spa facilities. The Living Spa expansion will add six additional treatment rooms where guests can experience traditional spa treatments as well as special offerings such as Sound & Vibrational Therapy, Intuitive Touch and Egyptian Anointing designed to help find balance within and with the environment. At the core of El Monte Sagrado is the “Living Machine,” an effective system for collecting, treating and recycling water used by the resort with minimal impact on the land.

About The Kessler Collection
Richard C. Kessler's luxury hotel collection includes the AAA Four-Diamond Beaver Creek Lodge in Beaver Creek, CO; the AAA Four-Diamond Celebration Hotel in Celebration, FL; the AAA Four-Diamond Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando, FL; El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa in Taos, NM; the AAA Four-Diamond Mansion on Forsyth Park; Savannah, GA; historic Kehoe House in Savannah, GA; Columbia Place luxury condominiums, Savannah, GA; and Grand Bohemian Hotel & Residences, St. Petersburg, FL – scheduled to open 2009.  Kessler’s Grand Theme Hotel collection includes the Doubletree Castle Hotel in Orlando, FL; Sheraton Studio City Hotel in Orlando, FL; and Sundy House, a Kessler-managed property in Delray Beach, FL.