New Hampshire hotel is the place to stay

The editors of National Geographic Traveler magazine have named Wentworth By the Sea Hotel & Spa in the magazine’s first-ever, annual "Stay List." The list, which debuts in the April 2008 issue of the magazine, includes 150 properties in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Wentworth By the Sea is the sole New Hampshire hotel on the list.

According to the story, the editors sought hotels with “a sense of place… hotels that incorporate and share the soul of their locations.” They conducted a national search for nominations “from local travel experts to seasoned travelers” and sent more than 600 in-depth questionnaires to the nominated properties. Just one-quarter of the nominees made the final cut.

Wentworth’s ten-page response to the questionnaire ranged from answering basic questions (Does each room have a bathroom? What are the rates?) to descriptions of its historic preservation, guests’ experience of the destination and the use of local foods in the restaurants.

"It's thrilling to see how many folks in the accommodations business truly care about offering guests a sense-of-place experience," said National Geographic Traveler Senior Editor Sheila Feldman Buckmaster in announcing the inaugural Stay List. "The hotels and inns that made it onto the list give back to the community, work to conserve and sustain, and - day in and day out - celebrate the very best that their destinations have to offer."

The announcement of the recognition from National Geographic Traveler came the same week as the selection of Wentworth By the Sea as a 2007 Top Operations Award recipient for Marriott Hotels & Resorts. In congratulating the hotel on this award, Steve Lamps, Marriott Senior VP, Rooms Operations and Lodging Quality Assurance said the hotel was selected because Wentworth is “a well-prepared hotel with an energized team of associates and leaders who willingly share and receive great ideas and successful practices.”

The award also recognized Wentworth’s high standards of excellence, impeccable cleanliness, organization, maintenance and commitment to system standards and its high guest satisfaction scores. The 2007 Top Operations Award follows last year’s selection of Wentworth as Marriott Hotel of the Year

Tom Varley, Vice President of Operations for Ocean Properties, with OpRock New Castle TRS, LLC the owner and operator of Wentworth By the Sea said;

“Just five years ago we re-opened a completely reconstructed Wentworth By the Sea, preserving the history, hospitality and community loyalty this grande dame represents. The honors from National Geographic Traveler and Marriott represent standards of excellence that remind us of that responsibility and keep us on track Congratulations to the entire Wentworth team.“

In making the announcements, Frank Wetenkamp, Wentworth General Manager said, “The Wentworth team is dedicated to providing the best possible guest experience we can, day in and day out. It is extraordinary and gratifying to be recognized in the same week by our industry peers for our operating excellence and by a prestigious national travel magazine and its advisors for the impression we make on the outside, through the unique sense of place we bring to our guests. I congratulate the entire team for their accomplishment.”