Santé At The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa Captures Four Diamonds

SONOMA VALLEY, CA, March 2008 - Santé at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa has been awarded the prestigious AAA Four Diamond rating for the year 2008 -the first year the resort's signature restaurant captures the prestigious award.

AAA Four Diamond Award winners know the language of quality as they consistently deliver premier experiences, complete with superior personal service, first-class amenities, and impressive surroundings. Santé joins a select group of AAA Four Diamond winners. Only 3.25 percent of the estimated 32,000 AAA Rated® lodgings and 3.21 percent of the estimated 28,000 restaurants are awarded the prestigious AAA Four Diamond designation each year.

Santé at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa has earned a national reputation for outstanding food. Literally meaning "To your health," the restaurant is a celebration of innovative California cuisine and good taste. Guests enjoy a seasonal menu, in a warm and casual yet stylish setting. Designed to exude the California wine country experience, Chef Andrew Cain showcases the region's abundant local products and world-famous wines.

Inspired menus change seasonally utilizing the Valley's famed local produce to create pleasingly simple and flavorful dishes. "As a Chef in Northern California, it is impossible not to be influenced by the local produce, products and culture of this area," comments Cain. Al fresco dining is available Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings on the adjacent poolside deck throughout the summer season. Santé's award-winning wine list features more than 500 selections with at least 200 from the Sonoma and Napa Valleys.

FOUR DIAMOND FACTS
• The 1,915 AAA/CAA Four Diamond Award® winners include 1,159 lodgings and 756 restaurants throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

• AAA/CAA Four Diamond Award winners are a select group; for 2008, only 3.2 percent of the 60,000 AAA Diamond Rated lodgings and restaurants received the prestigious designation.

• Four Diamond restaurants account for just 2.7 percent of the 28,000 AAA Rated restaurants.

• States/provinces with the most Four Diamond restaurants: Florida (72), California (67), Ontario (54), New York (49), Texas (33), and Nevada (31).

Renowned for natural mineral waters, unparalleled charm and gracious service, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, is located 40 miles north of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge at 100 Boyes Blvd. in Sonoma Valley, the heart of Northern California's wine country. Also a recipient of both the AAA-Four Diamond and Mobil-Four Star Award, the resort consistently provides the country's finest European spa experience. For reservations please call 1-800- 441-1414 or (707) 938-9000, or visit the Inn's website at www.fairmont.com/sonoma.

A leader in the global hospitality industry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is an extraordinary collection of luxury hotels which includes iconic landmarks like The Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Monte Carlo and New York's The Plaza. Fairmont hotels are one-of-a-kind properties where sophisticated travelers can discover culturally rich experiences that are authentic to the destination. Situated in some of the most exclusive and pristine areas in the world, Fairmont is committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program. Fairmont's portfolio includes 55 distinctive hotels, with plans to develop over 20 new properties in the coming years in destinations as diverse as Beijing, Abu Dhabi and South Africa.

Fairmont Raffles Hotels International is a leading global hotel company with over 85 hotels worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. The Company also owns Fairmont and Raffles branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com.