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Historic Hotel Bethlehem retains USA Today’s #1 rating

Published August 21. 2023 10:57PM
by Dana Grubb Special to the BethlehemPress

It’s official. After a four-week window of voting in USA Today’s Readers’ Choice category of Ten Best Historic Hotel’s in America, the Historic Hotel Bethlehem is ranked #1 for the third year in a row. At an Aug. 18 media gathering in the hotel’s 1741 on the Terrace Restaurant, dozens of hotel staff and a few hotel guests learned of the honor as employee Gerber Vasquez-Barrios opened an envelope, Academy Award style, to reveal a gold #1, to a large round of applause.

Managing partner Bruce Haines compared the hotel’s success to a four-legged stool as he credited the group of partners who invested in the Hotel Bethlehem, the loyal and dedicated staff, the “truly loyal” customers who repeatedly return to enjoy the Hotel’s amenities, and the community for whom the property has become “the center of social life in Bethlehem.”

Haines also noted the competition, as the order of finish in 2023 was the same as in 2022, with the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tenn., as runner up and the Grand Hotel Resort and Spa in Point Clear, Ala., in third place. “This is really an honor to be in the company of these other iconic properties,” said Haines.

Haines mentioned the Hotel Bethlehem’s climb in the ratings starting with a third-place finish in 2019, a second place in 2020, and the last three first place finishes from 2021 through 2023, and explained that the success was made even more gratifying because the Hotel Bethlehem is the smallest property among the competition.

“When guests come here, they feel like they are coming home,” Haines said.

With the Peabody having placed first from 2018 to 2020 and the Hotel Bethlehem first from 2021 to 2023, he likened the competition to coming down to a seventh game of the World Series in 2024 if USA Today conducts the competition again next year.

In the meantime, the Bethlehem community and Lehigh Valley region can revel in the fact that the #1 Historic Hotel in America sits squarely on Bethlehem’s Main Street. Kelly Ronalds, director of room sales and guest experience, says a community celebration will be announced soon.

PRESS PHOTOS BY DANA GRUBB Hotel Bethlehem managing partner Bruce Haines and assistant managing partner Jo Ann Haines gave the hotel's 195 employees a lion's share of the credit for the victory.
Hotel server Gerber Vasquez-Barrios unveils the USA Today's survey place number from a sealed envelope. More photos on page A2.
This sign lists winners since the competition.
With a third win in three years, hotel employees will continue to wear a #1 lapel pin.
PRESS PHOTOS BY DANA GRUBB “Thank you, Bethlehem, thank you Lehigh Valley, thank you USA Today,” exclaim Hotel Bethlehem management, staff and guests in front of the hotel's iconic marquee.
Dan Withrow, food and beverage director, Kelly Ronalds, director of room sales and guest experience, and managing partners Jo Ann and Bruce Haines, offer a Champagne toast to the Hotel Bethlehem's employees.