It’s no surprise that some of our favorite meetings properties are on top of the U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Hotels in the USA” list that came out Jan. 28.

Grabbing the No. 1 spot for best hotels is The Lodge at Sea Island, off the coast of Georgia on St. Simons Island. There are 40 luxurious guest rooms, with expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean, St. Simons Sound and the resort’s golf courses. Offering 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, The Lodge can host both intimate executive retreats and galas. When meetings are done, attendees can play a round of golf, go kayaking or fishing, or just relax on the private oceanfront beach.

Closing in on its 100th birthday The Jefferson, Washington, DC, is ranked No. 2 in the Best Hotels report. Dignitaries have been meeting at this grand dame since it opened in 1923. There are 95 guest rooms and two specialty suites. There are historic meetings spaces with character, including a cozy library that can hold 30 and a banquet room that can host 80 for receptions and 46 for a seated affair.

Aria Sky Suites in Las Vegas ranked No. 3 among Best Hotels. The AAA Five Diamond Sky Suites are located on top of Aria Resort & Casino, which is one of the top meeting properties on The Strip. Aria has 4,004 guest rooms, including the Sky Suites. Aria’s meeting space is incredible and it’s about to get even better. In December, Aria announced a $154 million convention center project that would add 200,000 sq. ft. of event space and bolster its total to more than 500,000 sq. ft. Construction will begin in May and is expected to be completed by 2018.

“Convention business at Aria is booming, and demand is currently exceeding the space we have available,” said Bobby Baldwin, Aria’s president and COO. “Hosting large meetings and conventions is a core part of our business; as our clients’ needs grow, we are committed to grow with them.”

Best Hotels

Here are the Top 10 from the Best Hotels report:

The Lodge at Sea Island, St. Simons Island, Georgia
The Jefferson, Washington, DC
Aria Sky Suites, Las Vegas
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Kailua Kona, Hawaii
The Peninsula Beverly Hills, California
Montage Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, South Carolina
The Langham, Chicago
Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas
Waldorf Astoria Chicago
Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford, California

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