Once again, the City of Bethlehem’s Historic Hotel Bethlehem is in the spotlight as voting has begun for USA Today’s 10 Best Historic Hotels in 2023. As the reigning first place winner in both 2021 and 2022, the hotel is in the unique position to make it a three-peat and is the only hotel nominated in Pennsylvania by hotel industry experts. “We’re in great company,” says Hotel Bethlehem director of room sales and guest experience Kelly Ronalds, who noted the intense competition from other historic destination hotels like the Peabody in Memphis.

The Hotel Bethlehem’s climb to the top began with a third-place finish in 2019 and a second place win in 2021. This year marks the fifth year that the Hotel Bethlehem has been nominated. “I’m grateful that we make the criteria,” says Ronalds. “I think to bring it home for a three-peat for the city, Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania would be huge, and the economic benefit to the city goes nationwide,” she added. Historic Hotel Bethlehem managing partner Bruce Haines says, “These victories aren’t just a win for the Hotel, they’re a win for the entire community.”

This year the hotel has added a Facebook page, ‘Historic Hotel Bethlehem-A Century of Memories’, where residents, guests and supporters can post about their lifetime experiences at the venerable establishment. Guests who have patronized the hotel are also being contacted about the nomination and it is hoped that they will vote for the Main Street landmark, which also celebrated its 100 year anniversary in 2022 and has provided employment opportunities for generations of city residents.

Community members are encouraged to vote daily through Monday, Aug. 7 at 11:59 a.m. To vote, visitvotehotelb.com.

Ronalds attributes the Hotel Bethlehem’s continuing recognition among historic hotels nationally to “the way that we revere our history and share our history.” Located in the Bethlehem Historic District, the hotel is affiliated with Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.