Well they’ve done it once again- Key West FL Hotels have won the Readers and Travelers Award second year in a row for best selection of boutique accommodations on a tropical island. Beating out the competition was not easy, either. What with all the lovely and wealthy islands of the Bahamas, as well as the rest of the Caribbean including Jamaica and then even the British Virgin Islands it’s easy to see what an amazing feat this really is.
Key West hotel owners Pat and Mary McCrae have been entering their tiny guest house in the competition since 1996 and have finally won recognition for all their hard work. As part of the winning group of hoteliers in the 2012 winner’s circle they are glad to receive the award and held a huge party to celebrate.
Parties and celebrating are something Key West do really well, and Key West hotels certainly have a lot to celebrate this year with the award. It means a lot to local guest house owners who put their time and efforts into their businesses for years even before they might be turning a profit, it’s all out of love. But this year they can celebrate the award, which in true Key West fashion is shared by all guest house owners, inns, and Key West hotels even if they didn’t enter or participate. Any excuse for a party in Key West!
But those who did enter and officially participate and who actually technically were the ones to win, there will be accolades galore at Saturday night’s Hotel Celebration Winners’ Circle Gala held under the big tent at Mallory Square. Here, official winners get in free and others who own, manage or work at any type of accommodation within Key West city limits may buy a ticket for $200. It’s their way of honoring the winners and of course having a good time.