Question:  Pat submitted the following to AAATravelViews on 2/24/09: I made a reservation, through AAA.com, at the Quality Inn & Suites in Aiken, SC.  I have since read reviews that state this hotel is rodent infested with droppings in the rooms.  Please comment on your guarantee that this hotel, with a Two Diamond rating, is up to AAA standards and is habitable.

 Answer: Michael Petrone, AAA director of Tourism Information Development, answers: Our Inspector was at the property yesterday (2/25/09) and inspected a large number of the rooms on different floors and areas of the building. He did not find the issues you mention and does not feel a change of the property’s AAA Approved and Diamond rating status is warranted.
     The owner admitted to having some rodent issues back in 2007 but have since been corrected.  The problem started when two adjacent fields were cleared to build fast food restaurants.  The rodents had nowhere to go…so apparently they looked for the AAA Approval…and checked in!  The owner fitted all doors and openings with new moldings and this is no longer an issue.
     Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Feedback from our members is a valuable source of information and we appreciate your taking time to share your thoughts. AAA's highest priority is to provide accurate Diamond Rating information in our TourBook® guides and on AAA.com. AAA Diamond Ratings represent a combination of the overall quality, the range of facilities, and the level of service offered by a property. All AAA Diamond Rated properties undergo an onsite inspection yearly−part of which is a stringent assessment of housekeeping and maintenance conditions evident at that time. This is a process that is unique to AAA.  As an additional quality measure, we monitor and respond to AAA member comments.  In serious situations, we will immediately re-inspect the property in question as we know that conditions may change over time due to the dynamic nature of the travel industry.
     We appreciate you providing feedback on this property and encourage you to document your travel experiences at AAA.com/TravelersReviews.  Members may also provide input at www.aaa.com/tourbookcomments.