Meet Inspector 63. Her job: evaluating hotels for AAA. Her expertise: extensive. Her gift to you: what she looks for in a hotel that can enhance your stay _ or give you the willies.
Those diamonds you see in AAA reviews are the result of what she and many other inspectors do.
In an interview and in a follow-up email, 63 _ who does not announce her visit beforehand and is identified only by number to ensure her anonymity _ shared her 16 years of inspection experience and a decade of working for hotels.
Here's how 63 operates: She arrives at the hotel with a ratings format in hand and presents a business card. She is escorted to different areas _ guest rooms, of course, but also common areas such as the hotel lobby and lounge. The exterior of the hotel also comes in for scrutiny.
Sometimes, the initial reception is one of alarm. The receptionist "is thinking we are the health inspector (and that) something is in violation," she said. "The last thing we want to do is (have them) be fearful of us."
But wouldn't you be nervous if someone were eyeballing your property by shining a light into dark corners? Maybe. We also spoke with a hotel manager to find out how _ or whether _ what an inspector finds makes a difference.
