Since its founding in 1902 when there were just a handful of members, AAA has proudly enjoyed a reputation as the traveler’s advocate and as the “motorist’s guardian angel.” Now with AAA expecting to reach 50 million members early in 2007, AAA is still providing valuable automotive services and ever-expanding benefits.

Indeed, AAA was the first to introduce roadside assistance for stranded motorists in 1915, and this feature has become one of the most valued components of a AAA membership. AAA responds to an average of 29 million calls per year.

In addition to its signature road service, AAA also has introduced Battery Service in many areas to bring batteries to the scene of disablement. Members can also request road service online and take advantage of other Web-based services, including fuel price information, CARFAX vehicle history reports and much more.

AAA’s membership has kept climbing not only because of its automotive services but because of its array of other products and benefits, such as travel planning, maps, financial services and exclusive savings.

It took 38 years for AAA to reach 1 million members, but now AAA is growing at about 1 million members per year. To thank members for making AAA the largest paid membership organization in North America, we’re holding a fantastic sweepstakes.

In the “It’s Great to Belong! Sweepstakes,” the top prize is a Ford Fusion car. Second prize is a five-day adventure for two to New York City, including airfare for two and hotel accommodations. The third prize is a Ford 400 racing weekend getaway for two at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, including racing tickets, airfare and more.

To enter, visit the Web site www.AAA.com/50millionsweeps. Or print your name, address, city, state, zip code, home phone and e-mail address (optional) on a 3-by-5 card and mail it in an envelope to: It’s Great to Belong! Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 6650, Scottsdale, AZ, 85261-6650. All entries must be postmarked by March 31 and received by April 15. You must be at least 18 to enter.

Just as a diamond is one of the most sought-after jewels valued for its luster and brilliance, AAA’s four-diamond-rated hotels and restaurants sparkle because of their outstanding service and quality.

Each year, more than 65 AAA tourism editors conduct unannounced evaluations of restaurants and lodgings throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, scrutinizing such areas as cleanliness, amenities and service. The facilities that qualify are assigned an overall rating of one to five diamonds.

To earn four diamonds, lodgings must offer upscale facilities with a high degree of hospitality. Likewise, four diamond restaurants must feature luxurious fine dining with excellent service and ambiance.

Only an estimated 3 percent of the more than 55,000 AAA-rated lodgings and restaurants were awarded the AAA Four Diamond designation for 2007. AAA is proud to salute the following Four Diamond recipients in our area. The number in parenthesis represents the number of consecutive years the facility has received the Four Diamond award.

Arkansas

• Eureka Springs hotel: Angel at Rose Hall (8).
• Little Rock hotel: The Peabody Little Rock (5).
• Johnson restaurant: James at the Mill (9).

Louisiana
• French Quarter hotels: Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel New Orleans (4); Hotel Monteleone (4); Omni Royal Orleans Hotel (12); Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans (3); The Iberville Suites (5); The Maison Orleans-Ritz Carlton (5); The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans (2); and Wyndham New Orleans at Canal Place (22).
• New Orleans hotels: Elysian Fields Inn (3); InterContinental New Orleans (4); JW Marriott New Orleans (22); Le Pavillon (11); Loews New Orleans Hotel (3); Renaissance Arts Hotel New Orleans (3); Renaissance Pere Marquette Hotel (5); The Fairmont New Orleans (4); The Sheraton New Orleans Hotel (4); W New Orleans (6); and Windsor Court Hotel (8).
• French Quarter restaurant: Begue’s (12).
• New Orleans restaurants: Commander’s Palace (4); Emeril’s Delmonico Restaurant & Bar (6); New Orleans Grill (6); and Restaurant August (3).

Mississippi

• Biloxi hotels: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino (5); Palace Casino Resort Hotel (4).
• Greenwood hotel: The Alluvian Hotel (1).
• Jackson hotel: Fairview Inn (12).
• Natchez hotel: Monmouth Plantation (26).
• Cleveland restaurant: K.C.’s (6).
• Philadelphia restaurant: Phillip M’s Restaurant (2).

To find other AAA Four Diamond properties across the country, visit the Web site www.AAA.com and click on the TourBook section.