Bethlehem, PA (July 8, 2024) – Batter up! The bases are loaded and the community is on deck to knock out a grand slam for Historic Hotel Bethlehem. USA Today nominated the iconic hotel as the Best Historic Hotel in America for the sixth time. If the hotel wins, it will be the fourth consecutive year it brings home victory. “Winning this again would be like having the bases loaded and hitting the homerun for our community. So, I’ve been saying we’re going for the grand slam this year,” said Bruce Haines, Historic Hotel Bethlehem’s Managing Partner. He added, “And it’s not just about us. These awards are so much more than recognition for the hotel. They recognize the community and the spirit that built this landmark and brought it back to life when it nearly shut down for good in the ‘90s.”

To celebrate the “grand slam” theme, the hotel partnered with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Historic Hotel Bethlehem Community Ambassador Ryan Crookham will join Haines on the field to throw out the first pitch at the IronPigs game on July 10, 2024. Team leadership, along with mascots FeRROUS and FeFe will join Haines for a special pregame ceremony encouraging baseball fans and the entire Lehigh Valley community to vote. IronPigs President and General Manager Kurt Landes said, “It’s kind of like the 7th game of the World Series. Our beloved local landmark is up against some of the best hotels in America. “The bases are loaded, and we need everyone to come together to bring home the bacon to the Lehigh Valley & Bethlehem.”

In addition to the ceremony, the IronPigs announced a “bases loaded” partnership. Throughout the voting campaign, whenever the Iron Pigs load the bases, they’ll display a QR code on the big board with a link that takes fans to the voting website. They’ll also announce voting details during defensive lineups.

To vote, visit www.votehotelb.com. You can vote daily until 11:59 am on Monday August 5, 2024. “Let’s play ball and make this happen by voting every day throughout the contest,” said Haines. “Each day think about taking a step up to bat in honor of a great memory you, your family and friends have made at the hotel – from special dinners to proms and weddings, everyone in the valley has some kind of connection to Historic Hotel Bethlehem.”

This is the sixth consecutive year USA Today has included the iconic local landmark on its 10Best nomination list. Historic Hotel Bethlehem came in third place in 2019, moved up to second in 2020, and won first place three consecutive times in 2021, 2022, and 2023. It knocked out historic destination heavyweights like the Peabody in Memphis and Hotel Du Pont in Delaware to take the lead. According to the USA Today website, a prestigious panel of travel industry experts and editors at USA Today agree each nominee has “held true to its historic roots and unique sense of place.”

Historic Hotel Bethlehem opened in May of 1922 as a 200 room community hotel. Prior to Historic Hotel Bethlehem, multiple structures occupied the property. In 1741, Moravians constructed the “First House of Bethlehem” on the land. In 1823, The Golden Eagle Hotel opened and remained until 1919. In its last days, The Golden Eagle Hotel served as a convalescent home for soldiers returning from World War I.

The Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce sold shares of the hotel to local residents for $50 per share. This was key in bringing the vision of Bethlehem Steel President Charles Schwab to light for a grand hotel on Main Street in Bethlehem to capture the automotive tourism that began in that era. Since the roaring ‘20s, Historic Hotel Bethlehem has been a vital community hub. It has hosted presidents, celebrities and thousands of local weddings, anniversaries, proms, galas, and special events as the social center of Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley.

Historic Hotel Bethlehem, located in the heart of Historic Moravian Bethlehem, is celebrating over 100 years as a community hotel. Guests enjoy the hotel’s original 1922 elegance in its 125 guest rooms and extended stay suites along with the grandeur of the lobby, 2 distinct restaurants, 2 elegant ballrooms and 7 meeting rooms. The hotel also offers an Executive Conference Center, Ladies Boutique Shoppe, Steel Magnolia Spa & Salon, Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop and the Hotel B Ice Cream Parlor serving Penn State Creamery ice Cream. The hotel is affiliated with Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information visit hotelbethlehem.com.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs have been the Triple-A Affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies since 2008. Playing their home games at beautiful Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the IronPigs have become a cultural institution in the Lehigh Valley and in Minor League Baseball, leading the nation in per game and total attendance multiple seasons and most recently in 2023.

The IronPigs have redefined the game in Minor League baseball with their world-class promotions and fantastic venue at Coca-Cola Park. The IronPigs have been consistently honored by Minor League Baseball for their creativity in marketing, charitable efforts in the community, and the game-changing entertainment experience of Coca-Cola Park. The IronPigs strive to provide a positive and memorable experience for every guest, every time.