Hotel Bethlehem is once again vying to be named USA Today’s best historic hotel or resort in the United States for the sixth consecutive time, following its eighth nomination.
The hotel, located at 437 Main St. in Bethlehem, earned its eighth consecutive nomination for USA Today’s “10Best Historic Hotel/Resort” list during a Monday news conference it hosted, as announced by the hotel’s general manager Kelly Ronalds.
People can cast votes daily on the USA Today website until polls close at noon on Aug. 3. The top 10 winners will be announced noon on Aug. 12.
The hotel also announced Monday a partnership with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) for a new display.
In the lobby and above the main entrance, visitors can see miniature buildings modeled after the city’s Colonial Industrial Quarter. Jim Whildin, an emeritus board member for HBMS, said he created them in 2022 and that they were originally located at the Single Sisters’ House on Church Street.
“The Moravians were known for some of their firsts, and we tell the story of the influence of Moravians — education, medicine and industry — and we’re very proud to have a sampling of the Moravian Bethlehem in miniatures in the mezzanine of historic Hotel Bethlehem,” HBMS President and CEO LoriAnn Wukitsch said.
IronPigs mascot Ferrous casts the first vote for Hotel Bethlehem in USA Today’s America’s Best Historic Hotel/Resort contest Monday, July 6, 2026, in Bethlehem. The hotel is trying to win the award for the sixth straight year after it was nominated for the eighth consecutive year Monday. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Attendees and staff applaud following the announcement of USA Today’s nomination of Hotel Bethlehem for America’s Best Historic Hotel/Resort for the eighth consecutive year Monday, July 6, 2026, in Bethlehem. The nomination puts the hotel on course to potentially win the award for the sixth consecutive year. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Hotel Bethlehem General Manager Kelly Ronalds announces USA Today’s decision to nominate the hotel for America’s Best Historic Hotel/Resort for the eighth consecutive year Monday, July 6, 2026, in Bethlehem. The nomination puts the hotel on course to potentially win the award for the sixth consecutive year. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
St. Luke’s University Health Network Senior Vice President & Chief Quality Officer Donna Sabol speaks to attendees while waiting to see if USA Today nominates Hotel Bethlehem for America’s Best Historic Hotel/Resort for the eighth consecutive year Monday, July 6, 2026, in Bethlehem. Hotel Bethlehem also announced during the event a new partnership with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites to place exhibits on display in the hotel. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs President and General Manager Kurt Landes speaks to attendees while waiting to see if USA Today nominates Hotel Bethlehem for America’s Best Historic Hotel/Resort for the eighth consecutive year Monday, July 6, 2026, in Bethlehem. Hotel Bethlehem also announced during the event a new partnership with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites to place exhibits on display in the hotel. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Luke Stanich, a member of the Lehigh University wrestling team who represented the United States at the 2025 U20 World Championships, speaks to attendees while waiting to see if USA Today nominates Hotel Bethlehem for America’s Best Historic Hotel/Resort for the eighth consecutive year Monday, July 6, 2026, in Bethlehem. Hotel Bethlehem also announced during the event a new partnership with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites to place exhibits on display in the hotel. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites President and CEO LoriAnn Wukitsch speaks to attendees while waiting to see if USA Today nominates Hotel Bethlehem for America’s Best Historic Hotel/Resort for the eighth consecutive year Monday, July 6, 2026, in Bethlehem. Hotel Bethlehem also announced during the event a new partnership with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites to place exhibits on display in the hotel. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Hotel Bethlehem Managing Partner Bruce Haines speaks to attendees while waiting to see if USA Today nominates the hotel for America’s Best Historic Hotel/Resort for the eighth consecutive year Monday, July 6, 2026, in Bethlehem. Hotel Bethlehem also announced during the event a new partnership with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites to place exhibits on display in the hotel. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Jim Whildin, an emeritus member of the Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites board of directors, waves Monday, July 6, 2026, in Bethlehem. Whildin is the creator of a diorama of Colonial-era Bethlehem that is on display in Hotel Bethlehem through a new partnership between the organization and the hotel. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Attendees and staff listen to speakers while waiting to see if USA Today nominates Hotel Bethlehem for America’s Best Historic Hotel/Resort for the eighth consecutive year Monday, July 6, 2026, in Bethlehem. Hotel Bethlehem also announced during the event a new partnership with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites to place exhibits on display in the hotel. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
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IronPigs mascot Ferrous casts the first vote for Hotel Bethlehem in USA Today’s America’s Best Historic Hotel/Resort contest Monday, July 6, 2026, in Bethlehem. The hotel is trying to win the award for the sixth straight year after it was nominated for the eighth consecutive year Monday. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
The news conference also highlighted the marketing partnerships with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and St. Luke’s University Health Network.
The IronPigs’ Coca-Cola Park won best minor league ballpark from a USA Today poll earlier this year, while the United States Department of Health and Human Services ranked St. Luke’s as the country’s top health system for quality, safety and patient experience.
“Partnering with another No. 1 — it just creates a lot of momentum and makes it even more meaningful for us,” said Donna Sabol, St. Luke’s senior vice president and chief quality officer.
“I hope that the IronPigs have that same endearment … that Hotel Bethlehem has,” said Kurt Landes, the IronPigs president and general manager.