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Thursday, March 28, 2024
The Observer

Morris Inn earns AAA Four Diamond rating

The Morris Inn recently earned the AAA Four Diamond rating for the second year in a row since its 2013 renovation. The award applies for the 2015 calendar year.

“We were thrilled to get this award during our first year [since the renovation]. It was really a testament to our design and the passion of our opening team,” Morris Inn director of sales and marketing Megan Akatu, Notre Dame class of 2004, said. “We are even more excited to receive the award a second time.”

ND MORRIS INN Community  Welcome 05Sep2013
Photo courtesy of Megan Akatu
The Morris Inn is currently one of only 10 hotels in Indiana to hold a Four Diamond Status, and it is the only one north of Indianapolis. “Four Diamond properties contain the top five percent of hotels in the U.S.,” Morris Inn general manager Joe Kurth said. “You just can’t have anything at Notre Dame that’s not in the top 95th percentile.”

In order to become AAA approved, “properties must pass an unannounced, on-site evaluation,” according to the AAA website. Hotels must provide acceptable comfort and hospitality, and restaurants must meet requirements for cleanliness, food preparation and service. Hotels that earn a Four Diamond status are defined as “upscale in all areas and progressively more refined and stylish, with physical attributes that reflect enhanced quality throughout,” according to the AAA website.

Kurth said the evaluation consists of a three-hour inspection of the property, assessing everything from room decor and dining options to towel size and thread count of the sheets.

“I agree completely with the status,” junior Rachael Biscocho said. “I stayed at the Morris Inn with some of the cheerleading team during the polar vortex in January. … After the renovations, the staff is still fantastic and now the rooms are brand new and gorgeous. And Rohr’s, one of the restaurants inside, has delicious food.”

Junior Dominic Bush said he also had an enjoyable experience at the Morris Inn.

“I was really impressed," he said. "The room was big, the shower and bed were great, the room service was fast and the food was good.”

Kurth said one of the hotel’s most appealing aspects that many students might not know about is the concourse linking the Morris Inn to McKenna Hall. The underground tunnel allows campus visitors, especially those present for academic conferences, to travel quickly and easily to the University’s conference center.

“The concourse has just been redesigned to include seasonal portraits of campus and highlights from various academic departments,” Kurth said. “It’s great for professional visitors who may not have a chance to see the whole campus during their visit. Having that, along with the new award, is a tremendous asset.”

Kurth said all of the Morris Inn’s renovations were, to a certain extent, geared towards helping it achieve the higher ranking and prestige.

“We’re just trying to stay competitive and support everything else on campus, and the new ranking has been a big draw,” he said.