Historic Hotels Of America Announces 2022 Excellence Award Winners

The Historic Hotels Awards of Excellence recognize and honor the greatest historic hotels and hoteliers in the United States and throughout the globe. On Thursday, November 17, 2022, recipients were invited to a special evening Ceremony and Gala at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection in Point Clear, Alabama.

The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa (1847) is situated on 550 acres next to Mobile Bay and has been recognized as The Queen of Southern Resorts for 175 years. In front of more than 200 industry executives, owners, senior management, and representatives of the world’s greatest historic hotels, awards were awarded.

In multiple categories, including Historic Hotels of America Historic Hotelier of the Year, Historic Hotels of America Hotel Historian of the Year, Historic Hotels of America Best Historic Resort, and Historic Hotels of America Lifetime Achievement Award, 18 Historic Hotels of America Annual Awards of Excellence were presented.

Winners were chosen from submissions submitted by historic hotels, preservation advocates, previous award winners, community leaders, and Historic Hotels of America’s leadership. As an official initiative of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Historic Hotels of America offers passengers, municipal leaders, and the worldwide cultural, historical, and historic tourism sector with the acknowledgment that its member hotels are among the greatest historic hotels in the United States.

In a variety of categories, the Historic Hotels Annual Awards of Excellence program honors the best candidates in this category. From more than 350 nominations, the awards committee examined the candidate finalists and, after careful deliberation, chose the winners of the 2022 Historic Hotels of America Annual Awards of Excellence.

Historic Hotels of America New Member of the Year:

This award is presented to a new member hotel that best demonstrates immediate engagement, activation, and passionate support of Historic Hotels of America. The Andrus Hotel (1917), Dillon, Montana.

Historic Hotels of America’s Best Social Media of a Historic Hotel:

This award is presented to a hotel that actively engages consumers by sharing the best of its history through social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with interesting facts, photos, and contests. La Fonda on the Plaza™ (1922) Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Historic Hotels of America Sustainability Champion:

This award is presented to a hotel that best implements and practices innovative green initiatives and programs, demonstrating historic preservation is the ultimate green. Presidio Lodging: The Lodge at the Presidio (1894) and Inn at the Presidio (1903).San Francisco, California.

Historic Hotels of America Best Small Historic Inn/Hotel (Under 75 Guestrooms):

This award is presented to a hotel with 75 guestrooms that best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service. Antrim 1844 (1844). Taneytown, Maryland.

Historic Hotels of America Best Historic Hotel (76-200 Guestrooms):

This award is presented to a hotel with 76-200 guestrooms that best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service. Historic Inns of Annapolis (1772). Annapolis, Maryland.

Historic Hotels of America Best Historic Hotel (201-400 Guestrooms):

This award is presented to a hotel with 201-400 guestrooms that best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service. Chatham Bars Inn (1914). Chatham, Massachusetts.

Historic Hotels of America Best Historic Hotel (Over 400 Guestrooms):

This award is presented to a hotel with over 400 guestrooms that best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service. The Omni Homestead Resort (1766). Hot Springs, Virginia.

Historic Hotels of America Best City Center Historic Hotel:

This award is given to the city-center hotel that best honors its heritage via the guest experience and delivers great customer service. The Virginian Lynchburg, Hilton’s Curio Collection (1913). Lynchburg, Virginia.

Historic Hotels of America Best Historic Resort:

This award is given to the historic resort that best incorporates its heritage into the visitor experience and delivers great customer service. It’s Wigwam (1929). Litchfield Park is located in Arizona.

Historic Hotels of America Hotel Historian of the Year:

This award is granted to the hotel historian who best exemplifies a commitment to preserving, showing, and explaining the history of his or her hotel, a real ambassador of the past. Susan Stein at Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa (1847). Point Clear, Alabama.

Historic Hotels of America Best Historic Restaurant in Conjunction with a Historic Hotel:

This award is presented to a restaurant that is part of a historic hotel that offers the finest cuisine, a historic atmosphere, and exceptional customer service. The Asbury at The Dunhill Hotel (1929). Charlotte, North Carolina.

 

Historic Hotels of America Ambassador of the Year (Celebrating 20+ Years of Service):

This award is granted to a person who has devoted at least twenty years of his or her career to a historic hotel and has shown exceptional hospitality and devotion to the hotel and its visitors. Sam Sealy was located at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa (1847). The city of Point Clear, Alabama.

Historic Hotels of America Legendary Family Historic Hoteliers of the Year:

This award is presented to a multi-generational family ownership entity or management company that has served as an exemplary role model in the operation of the historic hotels entrusted to its care, as well as a legacy of commitment to preservation and active participation in Historic Hotels of America. The Hraba Family at The Lodge and Inn at the Presidio (1894) (1903). San Francisco, California.

Historic Hotels of America Historic Hotelier of the Year:

This award is given to the winner who has made the greatest contribution to advancing the celebration of history in historic hotels, as well as shown leadership and creativity. Patty Henning is located at the Jekyll Island Club Resort (1886). Jekyll Island is located in Georgia.

Historic Hotels of America Lifetime Achievement Award:

This award is given to those whose lifetime dedication has resulted in the preservation and appreciation of the history and tales of a renowned historic hotel. Elise Roenigk at 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa (1886). Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Award for Legacy of Innovation and Inspiration:

This award recognizes Peter Strebel’s extensive achievements in pioneering innovative concepts for achieving exceptional success, for being a thought leader on exceptional service, a legend and inspiring leader in the hotel industry, and for his teachings and vision that have reshaped the concepts of service and hospitality across industries.

Historian of the Year:

This award is presented to an individual for making a unique contribution to the research and presentation of history, and whose work has encouraged a wide, if not provocative, discussion and greater understanding of the history of our nation.

 “It is an honor to congratulate all of the 2022 Historic Hotels of America Annual Awards of Excellence winners,” said Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Vice President, of Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide.

“The winners are the finest historic hotels and hoteliers from across the United States. The historic hotels nominated include small historic inns, boutique hotels, lifestyle hotels, and resorts. They represent small towns and large cities to UNESCO World Heritage destinations. We applaud the dedication and passion of the thousands of individuals working at these iconic and legendary hotels that keep the stories alive from the past and make staying or celebrating special occasions at these historic hotels memorable experiences.”

To be nominated for the Historic Hotels of America Annual Awards of Excellence, a hotel must be a member of Historic Hotels of America and demonstrate how it increased recognition and celebration of the hotel’s history, heritage, historic preservation, and membership, as well as how the hotel (through its ownership, leadership, and employees) significantly contributes as an industry leader in the designated award category.