Featured Press Releases

Use this library of press releases written by the Charleston Area CVB media relations department to mine for story ideas, stay abreast of what is new in the destination and learn about the special events that take place throughout the year.

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For Immediate Release, October 2014
Charleston, South Carolina, Named No. 1 Top City in the U.S. and No. 2 Top City in the World by Condé Nast Traveler 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards

Charleston, South Carolina, Named No. 1 City in the U.S. and No. 2 City in the World by Condé Nast Traveler 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards



CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA (October 20, 2014) —For the fourth year, the readers of Condé Nast Traveler have voted Charleston the No.1 Top U.S. City. Known for rich history, well-preserved architecture, a celebrated restaurant community and mannerly people, Charleston also ranked No. 2 Top City in the World by Condé Nast Traveler 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards.

“The people of Charleston are honored to once again be named Condé Nast Traveler’s, Readers Choice No. 1 Top U.S. City,” says Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. “To be recognized for the fourth consecutive year is truly a testament to Charleston’s vibrant culture, genuine hospitality and wonderful people, who make it such a special place to both live and visit.”

Charleston first appeared on the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Top U.S. Cities in 1993 with a sixth place ranking. It achieved the No. 1 ranking in 2011 and has hung onto the top slot for four years running.

The Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau recently released, “A Love Letter to Charleston,” an original video set to the soundtrack of the Gershwin classic “Summertime.” The video celebrates the No. 1 Top City ranking and showcases the qualities that make Charleston a top ranked destination for visitors around the globe. The video is available for viewing at www.charlestonly.com.

“The timing of this award is wonderful. As readers discover Charleston is voted the No. 1 Top U.S. City, they can view the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau’s stunning new three-minute video, which highlights the authenticity and exquisite beauty of our city,” says Dan Blumenstock, Director of Hotel Operations for Fennell Holdings and Chairman of the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

In addition to the No. 1 Top City ranking, Kiawah Island ranked No.1 Top U.S. Island and the No. 2 Top Island in the World according to readers. The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort ranked No. 17 on the list of the Top 25 Resorts in the U.S.

“In addition to the world-class amenities that Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers, this ranking reflects the superior quality of our guest’s experience. Many islands have nice amenities. What sets Kiawah Island apart is the authentic southern hospitality that our staff extends to visitors. They truly feel welcome,” said Roger Warren, the president of Kiawah Island Golf Resort.

“Being named the No. 1 Top U.S. Island and No. 2 Top Island in the world speaks to Kiawah’s pristine natural beauty, sensitive development, best-in-class amenities, and the overall quality of life for both residents and guests,” said Chris Randolph of Kiawah Partners.

Wentworth Mansion ranked No. 25 on the list of the Top 25 Hotels in the U.S.

The Charleston area’s 2014 Readers’ Choice Award-winning properties in the Hotels/South category include:

#5 Wentworth Mansion
#9 French Quarter Inn
#16 Planters Inn
#17 Belmond Charleston Place
#19 John Rutledge House Inn
#22 Market Pavilion Hotel
#24 Restoration on King
#26 HarbourView Inn
#38 The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel

The 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards are announced in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler, on newsstands October 28, 2014.

For the complete list of 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards, visit www.cntraveler.com/rca.

To experience Charleston’s unparalleled beauty year round visit:
explorecharleston.com
instagram.com/explorecharleston
facebook.com/explorechs
twitter.com/explorechs
pinterest.com/explorechs

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The mission of the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is to unify and lead the local travel industry in marketing the Charleston area as an individual, meeting, incentive and group destination to both the domestic and international markets. For more information, visit explorecharleston.com.

Methodology: The Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Survey, begun in 1988, is available through a secure web site atcntraveler.com/vote. This year’s tabulations of the responses were done by Equation Research. Organization: The questionnaire contains lists of candidates in various categories (Cities, Hotels, etc.) Candidates must receive a required minimum number of responses to be eligible for a Readers’ Choice Award. Evaluation: Individual candidates are judged on a set of criteria relevant to their category, based on a standard five-point scale: excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor. The mean average of these ratings determines the final score published – a departure from 26 years of calculating only the percentage of excellent and very good ratings. For example, in South Africa, Londolozi’s score of 98.958 represents the mean average of rating it received from all respondents for all criteria relevant to resorts: Rooms, Service, Location, Food/Dining, design, Activities/Facilities, and Value (new in 2014).


EDITOR’S NOTE: High-resolution photography of the Charleston area may be requested via explorecharleston.com/media.

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