USA TODAY names Historic Hotel Bethlehem the nation’s #1 Best Historic Hotel

Local landmark earns national honor for 2nd time as it celebrates 100th anniversary

Bethlehem, PA (August 26 , 2022) – Thanks to strong community support, Historic Hotel Bethlehem won the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award for the second consecutive year. “We couldn’t ask for a better way to celebrate our 100th anniversary,” said hotel Managing Partner Bruce Haines. “We thank each and every person who voted throughout the four week contest period. We particularly thank our associates for their hard work to provide memorable experiences. The everyday support we receive energizes our team and is a story very few hotels can tell. Retaining our ‘National Championship’ is a testament to our entire community.”

Historic Hotel Bethlehem bested more than a dozen well-known historic hotels including the famed Peabody in Memphis, The Wentworth Mansion in Charleston, and the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. USA TODAY noted, “Since this nomination was carefully made by an expert panel, and the public voted for this honor, you have earned some serious bragging rights!”

This is the fourth consecutive year USA TODAY travel experts have nominated the iconic landmark which maintained the #1 spot in the leaderboard throughout the voting period. “It’s a testament to the hard work our incredible hospitality teams put into every detail,” said Director of Room Sales and Guest Experience Kelly Ronalds. “I’m incredibly proud of how hard they’ve worked throughout the pandemic. This award belongs to all of them.”

The community will be invited to celebrate the win at a special event next month. Details will be announced within the next few weeks.

Hotel History
Historic Hotel Bethlehem opened in May of 1922 as a 200 room community hotel. The nine story hotel was built to serve both automotive tourism and to provide a center for social life in Bethlehem. Prior to Historic Hotel Bethlehem, multiple structures occupied the property. In 1741, Moravians constructed the “First House of Bethlehem” on the land. In 1823, The Golden Eagle Hotel opened and remained until 1919. In its last days, The Golden Eagle Hotel served as a convalescent home for soldiers returning from World War I.

The Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce sold $50 shares of the hotel to local residents. This was key in bringing to light the vision of Bethlehem Steel President Charles Schwab for a grand hotel to Main Street. Since the roaring ‘20s, Historic Hotel Bethlehem has been hosting presidents, celebrities and thousands of local weddings, anniversaries, proms, galas, and special events as a vital community hub for Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley.

About Historic Hotel Bethlehem
Historic Hotel Bethlehem, located in the heart of Historic Moravian Bethlehem, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Guests enjoy the hotel’s original 1922 elegance in its 125 guest rooms and suites along with the grandeur of the lobby, restaurants and multiple ballrooms. In addition, it offers an Executive Conference Center, Ladies Boutique Shoppe, and Hotel B Ice Cream Parlor. The hotel is affiliated with Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In 2019, Historic Hotels of America named Historic Hotel Bethlehem the Best Historic Hotel in its class of 76-200 rooms.  For more information visit hotelbethlehem.com.

About USA TODAY
USA TODAY is a multi-platform news and information media company. USA TODAY, the nation’s number one newspaper in print circulation with an average of more than 1.6 million daily, and USATODAY.com, an award-winning newspaper website launched in 1995, reach a combined 6.6 million readers daily.

The Top 5 Hotels are as follows

1. Historic Hotel Bethlehem – Bethlehem, PA
2. The Peabody Memphis – Memphis, TN
3. Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa – Point Clear, AL
4. Hotel Dupont – Wilmington, DE
5. Wentworth Mansion – Charleston, SC