Awards & Accolades

(Updated August 2017) - PA's Hershey & Harrisburg Region continues to receive high praise and top recognition from the travel and publishing industries. See this growing list of accolades which we have compiled for more than a decade.

2017

5 Coolest Breweries in U.S. - Troegs Independent Brewing - Hershey, PA – MR PORTER / MRPorter.com (UK) 2017

Best BBQ Joint in Pennsylvania - ShakeDown BBQ – LoveFood.com 2017 - the Food & Dining Division of MSN.com

10Best Car Shows - The Elegance at Hershey – 10Best USA TODAY's Readers' Choice Award 2017

Top 100 Restaurants in the Country - The Millworks in Harrisburg – OpenTable 2017

One of America's Ultimate Wine Regions 2017 - South Central PA – Expedia.com 2017

Best Amusement Parks for Families - Hersheypark® – Family Vacation Critic - Family Travel Site for TripAdvisor.com 2017

Top Attraction in PA 2017 - Hersheypark® – TripAdvisor.com 2017

15 Best Romantic Weekend Getaways in PA - The Hotel Hershey (#3) & The Inn at Westwynd Farm (#14) – TheCrazyTourist.com 2017

Best Cities for Millennials to Live - Harrisburg, PA – Growella.com 2017

The World's Most Unusual Amusement Parks - Hersheypark® – Travel Channel 2017

12 American Theme Parks You Need to Check Out - Hersheypark® – POPSUGAR.com 2017

Top 17 of 2017's New Amusement Park Attractions - Hershey Triple Tower – LA Times 2017

100 Best Places to Live in the USA – Harrisburg, PA (#34) – U.S. News & World Report 2017

13 Independent Bookstores Every Booklover Should Visit in the U.S. – The Midtown Scholar Bookstore – Travel + Leisure Magazine 2017

Top Hotels Around the World Catering to Chocolate Fanatics – Hotel Hershey – Oyster.com Travel 2017

2016

Best Small Hotel in PA w/ Meeting & Event Space – Warehouse Hotel at the Nook – PA Meetings + Events Magazine 2016

Best Large Hotel in PA w/ Meeting & Event Space – Hershey Lodge – PA Meetings + Events Magazine 2016

Best Casino in PA – Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course – PA Meetings + Events Magazine 2016

Best Historic Venue in PA – Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center – PA Meetings + Events Magazine 2016

Best Winery in PA w/ Event Space – Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey – PA Meetings + Events Magazine 2016

Best Restaurant in PA w/ Private Dining Space – Forklift & Palate at the Nook – PA Meetings + Events Magazine 2016

Best Transportation Provider in PA – Premiere #1 Limousine Service – PA Meetings + Events Magazine 2016

10 Best Amusement Parks in U.S. – Hersheypark® – Huffington Post 2016

Best Places to Live - Harrisburg, PA (#25 of 100) - U.S. News & World Report 2016

The Best Summer Beers for Men – Zeroday Brewing Company: Mango Hab(anero) Pale Ale – Men's Health 2016

Most Picturesque ‘Swing State’ Capitols – PA Capitol Complex – LawnStarter.com 2016

Pastry Chef of the Year 2016 – Chef Cher Harris, Hershey Resort – American Culinary Federation 2016

AAA Four Diamond Award 2016 – The Hotel Hershey (since 1980) & The Circular (since 1988) – AAA

Forbes Four Star Award 2016 – The Hotel Hershey (since 1986) & The Spa At The Hotel Hershey – Forbes 2016

Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2016 – The Circular (since 1996) & Devon (since 2010) – Wine Spectator 2016

Luxury Spas Roundup 2016 – The Spa At The Hotel Hershey – TravelChannel.com 2016

Top 12 Hotel Spas in Northeast U.S. in 2016 – The Spa At The Hotel Hershey – The Huffington Post 2016

Historic Hotels with Cutting-Edge Spas – The Spa At The Hotel Hershey – The Wall Street Journal 2016

Top Family Amusement Parks – Hersheypark® – Travel Channel 2016

Most Popular Amusement Parks – Hersheypark® – MSN.com 2016

14 Holiday Amusement Parks – Hersheypark® – Pete Trabuco, Amusement Park expert & broadcaster

10Best Theme Parks for Halloween – Hersheypark® – 10Best USA TODAY's Readers' Choice Award 2016

10Best Water Park Kids’ Area – Hersheypark® – 10Best USA TODAY's Readers' Choice Award 2016

20 Most Visited Theme Parks – Hersheypark® – USA TODAY 2016

Top 10 Amusement Parks – Hersheypark® – Better Homes & Gardens 2016

15 Best Amusement Parks in the World – Hersheypark® – Fodor’s Travel 2016

Top Weekend Getaways from Washington, DC – Hersheypark® – About.com 2016

Top Attendance in American Hockey League – Hershey Bears (#1 for 10th Consecutive Year) – American Hockey League 2016

Most Unique Foodie Experience in PA – Hershey’s® Chocolate World – Food Tripping by Huffington Post & Zagat 2016

Top Beer Venues in the World – Troegs Brewery (#11) – UnTappd 2016

Top 9 Indoor Sports Facilities in U.S. for 2016 – Spooky Nook – SPG Sports Planning Guide 2016

10Best Car Shows – The Elegance at Hershey (#6) – 10Best USA TODAY's Readers' Choice Award 2016

10 Reasons to Visit PA – The Annual Pennsylvania Farm Show – UncoveringPA.com 2016

45 Must-Visit Breweries in America – Troegs – TheBuzzBin 2016

Five Best Craft Breweries in U.S. – Troegs (#2) – Culture CheatSheet® 2016

Certificate of Excellence 2016 – Antique Automobile Museum – TripAdvisor.com 2016

2015

100 Top Group Destinations in North America - Koziar's Christmas Village - American Bus Association 2015

10 Best Restaurant Towns In PA 2015 – Hershey (#5) & Harrisburg (#6) – OnlyInYourState.com 2015

Best Beer Hubs for Brewery-Bound Travelers – Hershey, PA (#12) – BeerAliens.com 2015

10Best Theme Park Halloween Events – Hersheypark® In The Dark (#7) – 10Best USA TODAY's Readers' Choice Award 2015

10Best Food Factory Tours – Hershey’s® Chocolate World (#4) – 10Best USA TODAY's Readers' Choice Award 2015

10Best New Amusement Park Attractions – Laff Trakk, Hersheypark® (#7) – 10Best USA TODAY's Readers' Choice Award 2015

Best Amusement Parks for Families – Hersheypark® (#4 of 10) – Family Vacation Critic 2015 (TripAdvisor’s Family Travel Site)

Top Underrated Amusement Parks to Visit Before You Die – Hersheypark® (#17 of 26) – BuzzFeed.com 2015

10 Best Amusement Parks for 2015 – Hersheypark® (#2) – Fodor’s Travel 2015

10 Best Theme Parks 2015 – Hersheypark® (#2) – Better Homes and Gardens 2015

2014

Top Craft Breweries in Nation – Troegs Brewing Company (#44) – Brewers Association Report 2014

Top 10 – U.S. Bed and Breakfasts 2014 – The Inn at Westwynd Farm – BedandBreakfast.com 2014

10Best Brewery Tours in U.S. – Troegs, Hershey, PA (#6) – 10Best USA TODAY's Readers' Choice Award 2014

Top 25 Amusement Parks in U.S. – Hersheypark® (#18) – TripAdvisor.com, Travelers’ Choice Award 2014

Top 5 Theme Parks in America – Hersheypark® – 10Best USA TODAY's Readers' Choice Award 2014

Best Views in PA: Millersburg Ferry Crossing on the Susquehanna River (#6) – Pennlive.com, 2014

Most LGBT-Friendly Cities in America 2014: Harrisburg, PA (#11) – Vocativ.com, 2014

Top 5 Best Places to Vacation While Pregnant: Hershey, PA – ModernMom.com, 2014

Top Family Friendly Places to Fish in U.S.: Little Buffalo State Park, Newport, PA – TakeMeFishing.org, 2014

2013

Best Cities for Young Families in PA: Hershey, PA – NerdWallet.com, November 2013

Worthiest Minor League Ballpark of a Road Trip: Metro Bank Park, Harrisburg, PA – Huffington Post, 2013

World’s Top Convention Centers: PA Farm Show Complex. Harrisburg, PA – Trade Show Executive Magazine, 2013

Places & Planners to Watch in the New Year – SportsEvents Magazine, Readers’ Choice Award, 2013

Top 10 States for Student Travel in U.S. – Pennsylvania – Teach & Travel magazine, 2013

2012

High Standards of Professionalism and Quality Service – SportsEvents Magazine, Readers’ Choice Award, 2012

Top 10 Destination Marketing Organizations in Eastern U.S. – Groups Today magazine, Readers’ Choice Award, 2012

2011

#1 Minor League Sports Market in the Nation 2009 & 2011 – Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal*

Top 10 Destinations for Family Fun – Hershey, PA (#7) – TripAdvisor.com, Traveler’s Choice Family List, 2011

Top 10 Best Golf Courses to Play in PA – Hershey Links & Hershey Country Club – Golfweek magazine, 2011

2010

America’s Most Livable Cities 2009 (#12) & 2010 (#5) – Harrisburg, PA – Forbes.com

100 Top Places to Live in America – Harrisburg, PA – Relocate America, 2007, 2009, 2010

Sweetest Attraction In America – Hershey’s Chocolate World Attraction – Travel Advisor, 2010

Renovation of the Year – Metro Bank Park, Harrisburg, PA – Ballpark Digest (BallparkDigest.com), 2010

Top 10 Cities in America for Business – Harrisburg, PA – Marketwatch.com, 2010

2009

Top 50 Family Hotels in US/Canada – The Hotel Hershey – Travel + Leisure, 2009

Top 25 Hotel Spas in Continental US/Canada – The Spa At The Hotel Hershey – Travel + Leisure, 2009

The 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America – Hershey Resorts – Golf Digest, 2009

Best Local Festival – PA Farm Show – Central Penn Parent Magazine, Readers’ Choice Award, 2009

PA Preservation Award – Harrisburg’s Historic District Design & Preservation Guide – Preservation PA, 2009

Best of Hershey Award in Entertainment Service – Hershey Theatre – US Commerce Association (USCA), 2009

40 Strongest U.S. Metro Economies – Harrisburg, PA – BusinessWeek, 2009

Prior to 2009

Top 5 Best Cities to Retire – Harrisburg, PA – Kiplinger’s Magazine, 2007

Top 25 of the Best Green Places – Harrisburg, PA – Country Home Magazine, 2007

Top 10 Ultimate Hockey Experiences in North America – Hershey, PA – ESPN.com, 2006

Top Ten Most Affordable U.S. Meeting Locations - GetThere magazine, 2006

South Central PA is Keystone to Major Markets in Mid-Atlantic and Canada

The Hershey Harrisburg Region in south central PA is strategically located close to major domestic and international markets. Forty percent (40%) of the U.S. population and more than sixty percent (60%) of Canada’s population live within a 500-mile radius of the HH Region. An extensive inter-modal transportation system of highways, railroads, ports and airports easily moves people and goods to these vital markets. Consider the opportunities when you are within several hours to a one-day drive from some of the richest consumer and industrial markets within the United States and Canada. Not only are these vast markets, but doing business in the region has never been easier. – Source: SmartMarket.org.

*Consecutive biennial awards from Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal

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MEDIA INTERVIEWS

Mary Smith, President & CEO of Visit Hershey & Harrisburg is available for media interviews regarding the contents of this news release. Please try to make interview requests at least 12-hours in advance. The bureau will make every effort to accommodate all interview requests. Contact Rick@HersheyHarrisburg.org or cell 717.884.3328.

ABOUT VISIT HERSHEY & HARRISBURG

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Visit Hershey & Harrisburg is the official non-profit partnership-based Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) leading economic growth for Pennsylvania’s Hershey & Harrisburg Region through destination marketing and tourism development. The organization, accredited by Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) since 2010, is committed to actively marketing the tourism assets in Dauphin & Perry County to business and leisure travelers both domestic & international. The bureau also leads regional sales efforts to attract meeting & event organizers, sporting event producers, and group tour leaders. For more information go to VisitHersheyHarrisburg.org or call 877-727-8573. Media can use #HHRVB and #HHRVB4Media when tagging stories and social media posts related to the region.