Hotel Bethlehem nominated for Best Historic Hotel for record 8th time

Bethlehem has done it again. 

On Monday, Historic Hotel Bethlehem learned that it has earned a record eighth consecutive nomination in USA Today‘s 10Best Historic Hotel/Resort competition.  

This is the eighth consecutive year USA Today has included the iconic local landmark on its 10Best nomination list. 

 USA Today made the announcement at noon.  

“The USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards highlight top-notch attractions and businesses, providing readers with trusted recommendations,” said USA Today Outreach Coordinator Terrisa Meeks. 

But those who run the hotel, know it’s no coincidence the hotel keeps topping the list and credited those who have supported the voting effort through the years. 

 “Thanks to continuous energetic community support, I’m confident we’ll be able to defend our championship title. We’re inviting the community to join us on the road to number six by voting daily,” said hotel Managing Partner Bruce Haines. “From day one, this has been a community hotel. In the 1920s, community members bought $50 shares to create this social hub. It has served as a gathering place for everything from business meetings to weddings.” 

During the 10Best announcement news conference, Haines recognized “the power of partnerships.”  

He thanked several community partners two of which rank #1 in their field: St. Luke’s University Health Network and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.  

Haines emphasized how working together makes the community stronger. “As the saying goes,” Haines noted, “you are judged by the company you keep. We are proud to be connected with these National Championship partners who continually strive to be the best.”  

He also credited Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) as Hotel Bethlehem’s  strongest community partner in its marketing efforts and called it the backbone of its  Heritage Tourism initiative.  

“HBMS helps us immerse our guests beyond the history of this iconic property further into the surrounding authentic colonial experience including the UNESCO World Heritage properties adjacent to the hotel.” Haines said, “The hotel kicked off its national marketing campaign as a “Luxury Historic Destination Hotel” last fall after Bethlehem’s Historic District attained America’s #1 Best Main Street by USA Today. That initiative has exceeded our fondest wishes by increasing our leisure tourist bookings for the balance of this year by 30% over the same time last year.” 

 He said that increase will benefit HBMS as well as local downtown merchants. 

Organizers again credited fans of the hotel with getting out the vote and have launched efforts to inspire voting for the hotel. 

For the third consecutive year, Historic Hotel Bethlehem is partnering with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to encourage voting. The IronPigs home, Coca-Cola Park, recently earned the USA Today #1 Best Minor League Ballpark in America.  

The IronPigs also have the distinction of being the Minor League Baseball attendance champions.  

On July 8, Historic Hotel Bethlehem representatives will throw out the first pitch as the IronPigs face the Columbus Clippers.  

Historic Hotel Bethlehem is the only property in the Best Historic Hotel/Resort category to ever win five consecutive times. Historic Hotel Bethlehem came in third place in 2019, moved up to second in 2020, and won first place in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. It knocked out historic destination heavyweights like the Peabody in Memphis and Hotel Du Pont in Delaware to take the lead. .

Meeks noted that across all USA Today 10Best Readers Choice categories, only 18 winners have placed number one  in an award for six or more consecutive years and only 28 have placed number one for 5 or more. In the hotel/resort-related categories, only Mohegan Sun Connecticut has won more times than Historic Hotel Bethlehem. It won the Best Casino Hotel award seven times, every year from 2018-2024. 

Community members can vote every day starting today through noon on August 3 at votehotelb.com.