The 2019 Stella Award Winners and Finalists

The results of the 2019 Stella Awards are here! Congratulations to the 278 winners and finalists of the meetings industry's highest honor. The organizations showcased within these pages have demonstrated their commitment to helping meeting professionals pull off a flawless event, as determined by the people who know best: experienced meeting planners.

The Stella Awards, established by Northstar Meetings Group in 2017, recognize hotels, convention centers, conference centers, airlines, cruise lines, DMO/CVBs and DMCs that consistently deliver quality service and innovation to meeting and events professionals. Honors are awarded in 18 categories celebrating overall excellence, superb food and beverage, professionalism of staff, technology innovations, and other critical aspects of the meetings and event experience.

Finalists in each category are determined by industry professionals during an open voting period, while winners are selected by an expert panel of judges overseen by the editors of Northstar's leading brands, Meetings & Conventions, Successful Meetings, Meeting News and Incentive.

To be a Stella winner indicates that a provider's product is the best of the best, a shining star in a highly competitive marketplace. You can refer with confidence to the Stella Awards list when choosing services and locations for your upcoming meetings. Our honorees are standouts all, and you will be, too, when you partner with a Stella Award winner.

Don't forget to nominate your favorite suppliers for a 2020 Stella Award now. You’ll be helping your peers — and pleasing your supplier partners — by recognizing truly stellar service.

Thanks in advance!

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Loren G. Edelstein, Vice President, Content Director
Northstar Meetings Group

This Year's Judges

Betsy Bondurant, CMM, CTE, President - Bondurant Consulting · Terri Breining, CMP, CMM, President - Breining Group Inc. · Liz Caruso (King), CEO - Liz King Events & IGNITE · Carmelina Manzella Deigna, Business Development Director - McVeigh Global Meetings and Events · Erin Dunstan, Vice President, Strategic Account Management - Experient · Roberta A. Kravitz, Executive Director - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) · Mike May, CMP, CITP, IP, President and Owner - Brightspot Incentives & Events · Monique Rochard-Marine, CMM, CMP, CTSM, MBA Senior Manager, Strategic Meetings Management & Event Operations - Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. · Anne Marie Rogers, CIS, CITP, Director of Meetings, Incentives, Events - Direct Travel · Gary Schirmacher, CMP, Senior Vice President, Industry Presence & Strategic Development - Experient · Linda Spelling, President – Buzz, Inc. · Brett Sterenson, President - Hotel Lobbyists · Shawna Suckow, CMP, Speaker and Author · Desi Whitney, Senior VP, Sourcing & Industry Relations - HPN Global

Winners & Finalists

Best Overall Boutique / Lifestyle Hotel Brand · Best Overall Hotel Chain · Best Hotel / Resort · Best Boutique Property · Best Décor/Design · Best Food & Beverage · Best Golf Resort · Best Gaming Property · Best Green Initiative · Best On-Site Support Staff · Best Renovation · Best On-Site Tech / WiFi · Best Airline · Best Cruise Line · Best CVB / DMO · Best DMC · Best Convention Center · Best Conference Center

Best Overall Boutique / Lifestyle Hotel Brand

GOLD
Benchmark Resorts & Hotels (pictured)
Spacious accommodations, creative environments, inventive teambuilding, delectable cuisine and elevated service work together to create transformational meeting experiences.

SILVER
Disney Meetings & Events

BRONZE
Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI)

Best Overall Hotel Chain

GOLD
Caesars Entertainment (pictured)

SILVER
Trump Hotels

BRONZE
All-Inclusive Hard Rock Hotels

FINALISTS
Disney Meetings & Events
Great Hotels of the World
Hyatt Ziva and Zilara All-Inclusive Resorts
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation

Best Hotel / Resort

Southwest

GOLD
The Wigwam (pictured)
The Wigwam, a term that literally translates to "a place of gathering," will celebrate 90 years of welcoming guests in 2019. the resort's rich history runs deep at this 440-acre Arizona retreat, which boasts 85,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.

SILVER
The Broadmoor

BRONZE
Stein Eriksen Lodge

Finalists
AT&T Hotel And Conference Center
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain

Far West

GOLD
'Alohilani Resort (pictured)

SILVER
Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa

BRONZE
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Finalists
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa
Hard Rock Hotel San Diego
Hyatt Regency Lake Washington at Seattle's Southport
Resort at Squaw Creek

International and U.S. Territories

GOLD
Conrad Cartagena (pictured)

SILVER
Hyatt Ziva Cancun

BRONZE
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf & Beach Resort

Finalists
Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort
Rosewood Mayakoba
Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa

Best Boutique Property

Northeast

GOLD
Kimpton Carlyle Hotel Dupont Circle (pictured)
An Art Deco gem located in the heart of Washington, D.C., Kimpton Carlyle Hotel Dupont Circle is heralded for its personalized service, boasting 198 guest rooms and more than 3,000 square feet of versatile function space.

SILVER
Hotel Henry Urban Resort Conference Center

BRONZE
Foxfire

FINALIST
The Inn at Fox Hollow

Southeast

GOLD
The Brazilian Court Hotel, Palm Beach (pictured)
A remodeled historic hotel, The Brazilian Court is situated in the heart of Palm Beach, Florida, tucked between multimillion-dollar residences and only two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean. it specializes in hosting executive retreats, board meetings, and more.

SILVER
Kimpton Epic Hotel

BRONZE
The Edwin Hotel

FINALIST
Albemarle Estate at Trump Winery

Midwest

GOLD
The Pfister Hotel (pictured)
Built in 1893, The Pfister Hotel has been a Downtown Milwaukee icon for 125 years. recognized for impeccable service and luxurious environs, the pfister is internationally known for its art — housing the largest collection of victorian art of any hotel in the world.

SILVER
Hotel Zachary at Gallagher Way

BRONZE
MotorCity Casino Hotel

FINALIST
Ambassador Chicago