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Kelly Ronalds, ‘heavy lifter’

Published February 10. 2026 01:29PM

Historic Hotel Bethlehem’s Managing Partner Bruce Haines has announced that Kelly Ronalds has been promoted to serve as the iconic property’s general manager. Ronalds has served in various capacities at the hotel since 2010, most recently as director of room sales and guest experience.

“Kelly has earned this promotion through years of hard work and creative vision,” Haines said. “I’m confident she will lead our hotel reputation to even greater success than she already has.”

Haines led day-to-day operations for the past five years while rebuilding the business and management team post COVID. He personally oversaw the conversion of the Extended Stay Suites and Spa at 462 Main St. while rebranding the expanded property as a nationally recognized “Luxury Historic Destination Hotel.” He remains the managing partner with his continuing financial and human resources oversight along with crafting the next strategic initiatives.

Before the pandemic, Dennis Costello served as the general manager for 15 years. Costello retired in 2021. Ronalds will be the first woman to take the helm at the hotel in 40 years. The only other female general manager was Elizabeth Emslander who Bethlehem Steel Corp. (which owned the hotel at the time) appointed in 1981.

As the new general manager at Historic Hotel Bethlehem, Ronalds plans to focus on promoting the hotel and Historic Bethlehem as a national and international tourism destination.

“Her destination marketing savvy is unmatched,” Haines said. “Kelly’s leadership has been instrumental in the hotel’s five consecutive USA Today #1 Best Hotel/Resort wins and in Bethlehem’s #1 Best Main Street victory.”

Ronalds’ promotion builds upon her extensive experience in hospitality, including at Historic Hotel Bethlehem. She first started working at hotels while a sophomore in college. Early in her career, she served as director of sales and marketing for the Allentown Hilton, and later as director of sales for Discover Lehigh Valley.

In 2010, Ronalds joined the Historic Hotel Bethlehem team as director of sales. She was promoted to director of room sales and guest experience in 2021. That role included overseeing the front desk, bellstaff and housekeeping. In 2022, marketing and public relations came under her purview.

“I am humbled to accept this promotion,” Ronalds said. “I look forward to leading the team at this iconic hotel that I love so much in this city that I adore. You won’t find a better team in hospitality than the one we have here at Hotel B. It’s truly a privilege to be a part of it.”

Ronalds has lived in Bethlehem for 12 years. She is a mother of two adult children and a grandmother to two boys.

Contributed article

PRESS PHOTOS BY DANA GRUBBServer Daniel Medina delivers a cup of coffee to newly named Historic Hotel Bethlehem General Manager Kelly Ronalds at a recent morning meeting with Managing Partner Bruce Haines.
As evidenced by this ad in “Preservation,” Kelly Ronalds says her challenge is to “find ways to take the hotel to another level” while ensuring everything done “continues the legacy of community involvement.”
Managing Partner Bruce Haines says “Kelly Ronalds was an integral part of transitioning the Historic Hotel Bethlehem’s brand,” which made going back to the traditional general manager model the right move. Adding the conference center, extended stay suites and spa was the “heavy lifting accomplished over the past five years,” Haines says.