Dollywood’s Heartsong Lodge was Named One Of National Geographic’s “Hotels We Love For 2024”
National Geographic, a globally esteemed publication, has bestowed the honor of naming Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort among the top 22 hotels worldwide for 2024. Additionally, in a notable recognition, Dolly Parton has been acclaimed as one of National Geographic’s nine “Travelers of the Year,” earning the title of the “Hospitality Queen.”
HeartSong Lodge & Resort secured its place on the prestigious “Best Hotels” list, falling under the new “Worth a Trip” category in National Geographic’s Best of the World. This category highlights top establishments recommended for the upcoming year. The comprehensive Best of the World 2024 guide was collaboratively created, researched, reported, and written by National Geographic’s international editorial teams, which serve a vast readership through their magazines and websites globally. The full list can be explored at NatGeo.com/BestOfTheWorld.
Among the chosen properties in the United States and Canada, only four made the esteemed list: HeartSong Lodge & Resort (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee); Kona Village (Island of Hawai’i); Under Canvas North Yellowstone (Livingston, Montana); and Hacienda at Armendaris (Truth or Consequences, New Mexico). Notable international resorts include Pink Palm Hotel (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands); Wilmina (Berlin, Germany); Raffles London at the OWO (London, England); Singita Mara River Tented Camp (Tanzania); Kurulu Bay (Ahangama, Sri Lanka); and Southern Ocean Lodge (Kangaroo Island, Australia).
This year’s travel guide not only spotlights must-visit destinations but expands its scope to provide a comprehensive and authoritative guide featuring must-do, must-stay, and must-consume recommendations. National Geographic’s experts invite travelers to engage more deeply and meaningfully with these destinations. For the first time, Best of the World recommendations encompass a selection of top wellness retreats, hotels, cultural gems, and restaurants that are deemed “worth building a trip around.”
“We just opened HeartSong Lodge in October, so I’m honored to know that it is already receiving such outstanding recognition as this one,” Dolly said. “Like I always say, though, we don’t do what we do to win awards. As we’ve continued to grow and expand our parks and resorts, we’ve taken a lot of great care in making sure our guests feel like a members of our family and that they are making precious memories they’re always going to remember. But that’s just one part of it. We’re also blessed to be right here in the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. After all my traveling around the world, I still feel like the Smokies are one of the most beautiful places God created.”
Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton said the new designation further showcases the company’s commitment to growth, part of a plan that was first announced in 2021.
“In June 2021, Dolly and I announced HeartSong Lodge & Resort as part of a half-billion dollar investment strategy that will sustain our growth for a 10-year period. To continue the momentum from the success of DreamMore Resort and Spa—as well as the rave reviews we’ve already received from guests staying at HeartSong Lodge & Resort—our plan calls for a total of five resorts and an outdoor resort to be constructed here in the heart of the Smokies. The various properties will provide different lodging options for families to select an experience that truly caters to their specific needs.”
According to the article, “The best hotels offer more than somewhere to lay your head. They connect you to local communities and provide the kind of memory-making activities that tempt you to extend your stay…National Geographic’s editors, writers, photographers and explorers scoured the globe in search of new hotels and lodges that embrace this sense of place.”
“At National Geographic, we know that travel has the power to move you. That the experiences you have can make you see the world—and yourself—in a new light. Our expanded Best of the World franchise is the ultimate guide to the exceptional experiences that we and our global community of experts are most excited about right now, whether that’s hiking to the El Vallede Antón volcano in Panama or listening to live music in Kyoto or bear-watching in Alaska,” said Nathan Lump, National Geographic’s editor-in-chief.
“This year, we wanted to give travelers more ideas than ever before to jump start their travel planning for 2024 and beyond, so we grew our lists to include hotels, restaurants, cultural spots we believe are worth getting on a plane for, and gear that makes your travels smoother. And because we know that people can also be a great source of inspiration, we’re sharing our picks for Travelers of the Year—those individuals who, through their example, make us all want to get out there and experience something new.”
Dolly, called the “Hospitality Queen” in the Travelers of the Year category, was recognized as one of “nine game changers making a difference.” The article says, “our nine Travelers of the Year inspire us to experience the best of the world and, once we’re out the door, help make our journeys more meaningful. They are explorers, boundary breakers, and changemakers who know a thing or two about where and how to travel right now.”
Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, and its sister property Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, have truly made Dollywood a leading vacation destination for families seeking a memory-making experience in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Dollywood Parks & Resorts boasts world-class roller coasters, award-winning entertainment, delectable Southern-inspired culinary options, and one of the world’s “most beautiful water parks” all in a place where everyone feels like part of the family.
Dollywood’s 2024 season opens on March 9. This season features the much-anticipated opening of The Dolly Parton Experience, which includes multiple experiences in a newly designed area of the park. Opening in the area surrounding and including the former Chasing Rainbows museum, The Dolly Parton Experience will allow guests a behind-the-scenes look at Dolly’s iconic status and immerse themselves in her incredible story. The area is scheduled to open in May.
For more information about Dollywood Parks & Resorts, please visit dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.
Get started below for your FREE No Obligation Quote.
Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel
For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Don't forget to check out the Chip and Company Radio Network too!
