Homestead Resort named one of world's best hotels

A southwest Virginia resort is getting some big accolades, being called one of the best in the world by a major magazine.

The staff at the Homestead Resort will tell you they’ve always known the hotel is a real gem.

“I think we have so many wonderful things for people to enjoy as a family that you don’t get to do in a lot of different places,” said Peter Faraone, VP and General Manager of the Homestead.

But not even they could believe it when a big time magazine and TV show agreed with them.

“You can’t describe how fabulous we feel here at the Homestead to be put in that category,” said Faraone.

During a recent visit to the Today Show to discuss its annual “500 Best Hotels in the World” list, an editor from Travel and Leisure Magazine highlighted the Homestead, particularly its appeal to families.

“I think we’ve had a really good couple of years of people really having great experience,” said Faraone.

While making the list is one of the bigger recognitions it’s received, this isn’t the first time the Homestead has been in the spotlight – and resort management says all the attention is literally paying off.

“We’ve been more of an East Coast, regional hotel,” said Faraone.  “Now we’re seeing people from the Midwest, California and other places that have heard about the Homestead.  It’s on their bucket list now to experience.”

Faraone says the resort has also seen a recent spike in the number of first-time visitors. It's momentum they’d like to see continue.

“We don’t want to sit back and get complacent here,” said Faraone.  “We’ve got many new initiatives, kind of the next chapter of the Homestead coming in 2012.”

Later this year, a new pool area, mini-golf course, restaurant, and spa will open. 

The Alleghany-Highlands Chamber of Commerce says any national attention the Homestead receives is a good thing for the entire region.

“A lot of people who travel to the Homestead are passing through the Alleghany Highlands to get to it or from it,” said Teresa Hammond, Executive Director of the Chamber.  “So a lot of our restaurants see traffic from those visitors and our retail shops as well.”

As the Chamber leads the charge to make the region a tourist destination, they say having things like this to use makes their job that much easier.

“It allows people to know more about what’s actually available in the Western part of Virginia,” said Hammond.