For the 8th year in a row the Historic Hotel Bethlehem has been nominated in USA Today’s ‘Best Historic Hotel/Resort’ contest. At a July 6 announcement at the hotel Managing Partner Bruce Haines said he expects the Road to #6 in ’26 campaign to continue to garner the kind of community support that has made the iconic Main Street facility the #1 Historic Hotel for the last five years. “How do we keep winning, because we’re a community hotel,” says Haines.

Haines noted that partnerships with the Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites, St. Luke’s University Health Network and Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the first a driving force behind the World Heritage designation of two years ago, and the later two #1 winners in a both a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ranking and the other a USA Today contest.

Donna Sabol, senior vice-president and chief quality officer at St. Luke’s said, “The community partnerships do help with the #1 campaign and the Historic Hotel Bethlehem offers high quality service and food.”

Lehigh Valley IronPigs President and General Manager Kurt Landes noted his own organization’s success with the Coca-Cola Park named the ‘Best Minor League Baseball Park in America’ by USA Today. “We’re also community facility,” says Landis. The IronPigshad partnered with the hotel during the grand slam campaign that brought the 4th #1 ranking to the Historic Hotel Bethlehem

Historic Bethlehem President and CEO LoriAnn Wukitsch, said, “You’re known by the company you keep.” The Colonial Industrial Quarter located along the Monocacy Creek abuts the hotel’s property at the rear making them neighbors as well. “We’re excited for this partnership which will continue for many years,” she added. Hand crafted scale models of buildings in the Historic Industrial Quarter, created by Jim Wilden, are on exhibit in the hotel’s lobby during summer and fall.

Looking out at a large number of Hotel Bethlehem associates also in attendance, Hotel Bethlehem general manager Kelly Reynolds called them “the best people to work with.” And then she announced the Historic Hotel Bethlehem’s 8th consecutive nomination to a round of applause.

IronPigs mascot Ferrous was given the honor of casting the first vote.

Also in attendance was Lehigh University world champion wrestler Luke Stanich, who is a regional community ambassador for the hotel. National ambassador Audrey Jimenez, is a Lehigh University women’s wrestler.

Haines encouraged Historic Hotel Bethlehem’s supporters to vote once a day every day. Voting continues through Aug. 3 at votehotelb.com.