×

Mirror Lake Inn receives AAA Four Diamond Award

Ed and Lisa Weibrecht (seated), owners of the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa, display the AAA Four Diamond Awards of Excellence for the hotel and The View Restaurant. The Mirror Lake Inn now has held the Four Diamonds for 34 consecutive years, while The View Restaurant has been Four Diamond rated the past 11 years. (Photo provided)

LAKE PLACID — Ed Weibrecht could not have been happier as he addressed the staff of the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa last Thursday, June 14 at the annual staff meeting.

First, James Phelps, President and CEO of AAA Northway, had arrived to present Ed and his staff with the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award of Excellence for the 34th consecutive year. In addition, the Inn’s The View Restaurant was acclaimed with the same achievement for the 11th straight year.

To add some perspective to the hotel’s status among AAA members, there are only 90 AAA Four Diamond lodges in all of New York State. The Mirror Lake Inn’s streak of 34 is the second longest in the state, topped only by The Carlyle in Manhattan.

Also, just 158 properties in the entire country have held the Four Diamonds for over 25 years.

Weibrecht, and his wife Lisa, have more reasons to be elated with these latest achievements:

In Lake Placid, the Inn, The View and the Spa all hold the number 1 spot for lodging, fine dining and spa, respectively, according to the latest rankings on TripAdvisor.com.

Taste Bistro and Bar, adjacent to The View, and the Cottage Café on Mirror Lake, are both ranked in the top 10 among 76 establishments.

Over the years, the Weibrechts have been asked how this has been sustained for more than three decades.

“We’re only number one because you made us number one,” he told some 150 staff members at the recent meeting. “What brings it together are you and your efforts. This place doesn’t become special until you put your love and energy into it. Our guests expect a lot more and that comes from you. The staff is like family to us and it’s the heart of our success.”

Later in the gathering, as Phelps brought the AAA awards to the podium, he also delivered “the view” from his organization.

“I see a lot of familiar faces and I see your passion for helping others,” he remarked. “Ed and Lisa are fortunate to have you. AAA is also a beneficiary of that.

“I hear it all the time from the members I talk to. They love coming here.”

For the better part of 40 years, the Mirror Lake Inn has asked every guest their honest opinion through the use of comment cards. Yes, there are specific questions about the guest experience that are included, but there is also room for the Inn’s visitors to wax as honestly as they’d like.

A recent sampling includes:

“This is the cleanest hotel I’ve ever been in.”

“The spa staff is remarkable.”

“The staff is genuinely happy to see us and immeasurably courteous.”

“Your service and hospitality set you apart from other hotels.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.75/week.

Subscribe Today