Smart Meetings Announces Winners of 2017 Smart Stars Awards

Smart Meetings, the foremost media brand and No. 1 choice for meeting professionals, is proud to announce the winners of the 2017 Smart Stars Awards. Now in its sixth year, the prestigious awards platform honors meeting planners’ premier choices for hotels, resorts, properties, cruise lines and conference and convention centers across North America.

Evaluated against thousands of their exquisite peers, these exceptional properties were hand selected by Smart Meetings‘ audience of meeting professionals, in 25 distinguished categories. The Smart Stars Awards have gained notoriety as a vital tool for today’s meeting planner community and a valuable resource for those who need recommendations of leading venues and destinations. These remarkable hospitality brands continue to reflect the highest standards of service and exhibit an unmatched caliber of quality, luxury and distinction.

“My team and I are honored, once again, to celebrate all of the phenomenal hotels and resorts that serve our industry,” said Marin Bright, Smart Meetings founder and CEO. “We are thrilled to give special acknowledgment to this year’s winners for their outstanding contribution and commitment to excellence.”

The 2017 Smart Stars winners will be featured in the June edition of Smart Meetings print and digital magazines, reaching more than 80,000 meeting professionals. Winners will also be showcased on the Smart Meetings website for one year.

2017 Smart Stars Winners

Best Airport Hotel
Grand Hyatt DFW
Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel
Westin Denver International Airport

Best Attraction/Theme Park

Monterey Bay Aquarium
Universal Orlando Resort
Walt Disney World Resort

Best Ballroom

Fairmont Dallas
The Mirage
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort

Best Beach Hotel

Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla & La Esmeralda
The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort
The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa

Best Boutique/Lifestyle Hotel

The Brazilian Court
Hard Rock Hotel San Diego
Hutton Hotel

Best City Hotel

Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf
The Peninsula Hotel Chicago
The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square

Best Coastal Hotel

Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort
NIZUC Resort & Spa
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
Terranea Resort

Best Conference Center

Lied Lodge & Conference Center
Monterey Conference Center
The National Conference Center

Best Convention Center

Austin Convention Center
Oregon Convention Center
Pasadena Convention Center

Best Convention Center Hotel

The Broadmoor
Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino

Best Cruise Line

Celebrity Cruises
Hornblower Cruises & Events – New York
Royal Caribbean International

Best Desert Hotel

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
The Phoenician
La Quinta Resort& Club

Best Eco/Green Hotel

Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa
Omni Dallas Hotel
Portola Hotel & Spa

Best Executive Retreat

Boulders Resort & Spa
One&Only Palmilla Resort
Salamander Resort & Spa

Best Family-Friendly Hotel/Resort

Atlantis Paradise Island
Great Wolf Lodge, Williamsburg
Hershey Lodge

Best Gaming/Casino Hotel

Aria Resort & Casino
Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
Tropicana Las Vegas–a DoubleTree by Hilton

Best Golf Resort

Kiawah Island Golf Resort
La Cantera Resort & Spa
Streamsong Resort

Best Historic Hotel

The Breakers Palm Beach
Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac
Hotel Jerome

Best Hotel Pool

Marriott Marquis Houston
Nobu Eden Roc Miami Beach
W Fort Lauderdale

Best Hotel Spa

Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun
Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa

Best Incentive Hotel

Grand Velas Riviera Maya
The Resort at Pedregal
Sea Island
Wynn/Encore

Best Island Hotel

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
Four Seasons Resort Nevis
Frenchman’s Reef & Morningstar Marriott Beach Resort

Best Mountain/Ski Hotel

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa

Best Outdoor Event Space

Chelsea Piers New York
The Diplomat Resort & Spa
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort

Best Special-Event Venue

Bowlmor Chelsea Piers
MEET Las Vegas
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

About Smart Meetings:

Smart Meetings is the leading media company and the most trusted resource for meeting professionals. Providing best-in-class service, Smart Meetings publishes cutting-edge meetings content in print and digital magazines, hosts world-class hosted-buyer networking events, provides CEU-accredited webinars, offers a complimentary site-selection service and offers myriad digital resources.

Media Contact:
Jennifer Harrington
jennifer@smartmeetings.com
415-339-9355