Condé Nast Traveler today announced the results of its 29th annual Readers’ Choice Awards with The Queen Mary Hotel recognized in the “Top Hotels in Southern California” category with a No. 15 ranking.
“We are truly honored that The Queen Mary Hotel has been recognized by the trusted readers of Condé Nast Traveler, who are themselves experienced and adventurous travelers,” said Taylor Woods, co-founder of Los Angeles-based real estate investment and development firm Urban Commons, the leaseholder of The Queen Mary. “This prestigious award is a testament to the unmatched level of personal service from our staff and the truly authentic and historical experiences we strive to provide onboard the ship. In addition to being a popular hotel and attraction, The Queen Mary is a storied landmark that we are fortunate enough to have right here in Southern California.”
Over 300,000 dedicated readers – nearly twice as many as last year – cast votes for 7,394 hotels, 606 cities, 500 cruise ships, and 236 islands, in an average survey time of 8.4 minutes. The result? The 1,402 best travel experiences in the world.
No other hotel can boast traveling three and a half million miles since inception, but The Queen Mary – considered one of the grandest ocean liners ever built – offers guests unique hotel accommodations and a wide array of attractions that simply cannot be found anywhere else. Each of the 346 First-Class staterooms and suites offers 1930s decor featuring rich wood paneling and art deco fixtures with 21(st) century amenities. Guests can also pamper themselves at the Queen Mary Spa, shop at a variety of specialty boutiques or dine at one of the many fine dining and casual eateries.
Interestingly, though, there have been many reports of The Queen Mary being haunted. Rumour has it that a sailor was crushed to death by a door inside the engine room, whilst there are also reports of people drowning in the pool. Since it has become a hotel, there are frequent reports of ghost sightings by guests, although the paranormal activity is largely just linked to the engine room. You can read more at https://www.surbleury.com/4-haunted-venues-to-book-a-bed-for-the-night/ if the paranormal history of the hotel interests you.
In April 2016, Urban Commons assumed the 66-year master lease of The Queen Mary and the 65 total acres of land and water surrounding the ship. Recently, Urban Commons announced a $15 million renovation plan onboard the ship to enhance its original charm and capture the nostalgic excitement of travel.. The company is also working on a large-scale development plan that will bring to life a must-visit mix of retail, dining, adventure and entertainment options on the acreage surrounding the ship.
The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry and are commonly known as “the best of the best of travel.” Under Editor in Chief Pilar Guzmán, the Readers’ Choice Awards have become more selective and specific to the passions that inspire today’s travelers.
The Readers’ Choice Awards are announced in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler, on newsstands nationwide on October 25, 2016. The full list is published exclusively online, at http://www.CNTraveler.com/rca.
