Independent rating systems are common in many industries but possibly not as important as they are in the hospitality industry, covering both restaurants (with their world renowned Michelin stars) and hotels. In the US, the leading rating organization is the AAA (American Automobile Association) with their Diamond rating scheme. Many studies have looked at the impact of the Diamond rating on the performance of a particular hotel, but this study by Rosen College of Hospitality Management researchers Dr. Michael Nalley, Dr. Jeong-Yeol Park and Dr. Diego Bufquin, takes a different perspective, looking at how a change in the Diamond rating affects hotel performance