Two new Maryland hotels, including The Ivy Hotel in Baltimore, earn AAA's four diamonds

The Ivy Hotel in Baltimore and MGM National Harbor Hotel earned AAA’s Four Diamond Rating, joining seven other Maryland hotels to earn AAA’s second highest rating.

Others in Baltimore include the Four Seasons Hotel in Harbor East, Kimpton Hotel Monaco downtown and the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court. Elsewhere, there are the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa & Marina in Cambridge, Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Cumberland, Gaylord National Resort & Conference Center at National Harbor, and the Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront Suites.

“To earn a Four Diamond designation,” AAA said in a release, “properties must be refined and stylish with upscale physical attributes, extensive amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail.”

The Ivy Hotel opened in 2015 after an $18 million renovation of a former Gilded Age mansion at North Calvert and East Biddle streets in Baltimore.

For 2018, a total of 1,676 hotels throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean received the Four Diamond Rating. Maryland has no Five Diamond hotels. The nearest are three hotels in Washington — the Four Seasons and the two Ritz Carlton properties there.