The Hotel Hershey

The Hotel Hershey is a resort hotel in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Established in 1933, it is a historical landmark and five-star hotel located on a hilltop overlooking Hershey, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding area. It was inducted into Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, since 1991.[1] It has 276 guest rooms and 23,500 square feet (2,180 m2) of event space.

The Hotel Hershey
The Original Fountain Lobby
General information
Architectural styleSpanish Colonial Revival
Address100 Hotel Rd
Town or cityHershey, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40.2998°N 76.6596°W / 40.2998; -76.6596
Opened1933
OwnerHershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
Other information
Number of rooms276
Number of restaurants3
Number of bars1
Website
https://www.thehotelhershey.com/

The hotel's architectural style is Spanish Colonial revival, including mosaic tiles and archways, and a villa-style balcony overlooking Hershey and Hershey Gardens. Historic photographs and original artwork line the halls and decorate guest room walls, as well as the Iberian Lounge, which is designed to resemble dim, fireplace-lit cigar lounges of the past.

History
Milton S. Hershey

During the Great Depression, Milton S. Hershey, founder of The Hershey Chocolate Company, planned for the hotel to be a recreation of the famous Heliopolis Palace Hotel, construction plans changed and were delayed due to costs and the death of Hershey's wife, Catherine.[2] When construction began, the new plans drew on Mediterranean and Spanish influences.

Construction began in 1931 and the hotel was completed on May 23, 1932. The effort employed as many as 800 workers. The bill for the hotel was around $2 million. The Hotel officially opened on May 26, 1933. Generating income by then was not the main goal of the project. Being the height of the Great Depression, Hershey was attempting to help the people of the city by creating jobs.[3]

In 1934, a nine-hole golf course was added to the grounds and in 1961, an outdoor swimming pool was added.[4] In 1977, a new 100 room wing was added to the hotel along with a new indoor pool and fitness center.[5] In 2001, a full service spa called "The Spa At The Hotel Hershey" was added. The spa offered treatments featuring chocolate, including: chocolate wraps, chocolate baths, chocolate lotion and scrubs.[6] In 2009, The Hotel Hershey completed work on a $67 million expansion and renovation project which included a redesigned exterior and lobby. [7]

References
  1. "Hotel History - The Hotel Hershey®". Historic Hotels of America. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  2. "Hershey Community Thrives With Building Boom and Higher Company Dividend". The Evening News. Harrisburg, PA. December 22, 1931. p. 11.
  3. "New Hershey Hotel Will Be Formally Opened Tonight With Dinner for 400". The Evening News. Harrisburg, PA. May 26, 1933. p. 13.{
  4. "History | the Hotel Hershey".
  5. "Hershey Community Archives | Search Results". www.hersheyarchives.org. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  6. JAFFE, JODY (2001-03-04). "A Spa Lover's Sweet Dream". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  7. "Hotel Hershey Reveals $67M Expansion | Hotel Business". Hotel Business. 2009-05-18. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
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