BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Historic Hotel Bethlehem's new general manager said she sees the prominent business as a catalyst to the success of the city's downtown, and will keep that at the forefront of her vision.
“We realize that the success of the hotel is part of the success of the downtown businesses and vice versa," Kelly Ronalds said in her first media interview since being publicly named to the position Friday.
"Having those strategic partners going forward, to ensure that when our guests come that they go out and engage in the activities and stuff, and the restaurants and the museums, is vitally important to the success of everyone has had in our district — and the city.”Kelly Ronalds, new general manager of Historic Hotel Bethlehem
"And so having those strategic partners going forward, to ensure that when our guests come that they go out and engage in the activities and stuff, and the restaurants and the museums, is vitally important to the success of everyone has had in our district — and the city.”
Ronalds will take the reins of the hotel today, Feb. 1, making her just the second woman to lead the 104-year-old cherished tourism spot and first in 40 years.
Ronalds' accomplishments with the hotel already have helped elevate downtown Bethlehem.
Hotel Managing Partner Bruce Haines credited her as instrumental in Bethlehem’s being chosen USA Today newspaper's No. 1 Best Main Street.
"We led the charge," Ronalds said.
"And, obviously, having the relationship with travel writers in building those relationships over the years is very helpful in getting nominated for awards.
"Because they can kind of see how the city is, how the community is, how the shops and restaurants are."
'Still more to learn about the hotel'
Ronalds also was instrumental in helping Historic Hotel Bethlehem's in the hotel’s five consecutive wins as USA Today No. 1 Best Hotel/Resort.
She attributed that success to "working on the marketing strategies."
'We have an amazing staff, and everyone’s aware that we are shepherding a legacy for the hotel and the city."Kelly Ronalds, new general manager for Historic Hotel Bethlehem
"First of all, how do you get people to vote for you year after year, right?" Ronalds said.
"And then it’s also making sure our staff is always the right people in the right places providing outstanding service, world-class service, so that people continue to love downtown.
“A lot of people have great emotional ties — you know, their weddings, bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs and baptisms, everything. It’s been a community-center hotel for over 100 years.
“And so ensuring that we continue to do that."
That, Ronalds said, is part of her biggest goal beyond helping downtown Bethlehem continue to thrive: Being a steward of the hotel's storied legacy.
“Obviously we have an amazing staff, and everyone’s aware that we are shepherding a legacy for the hotel and the city," she said.
“I’ve been in the industry for a long time, and you have a story to tell. And I don’t believe everything’s been told yet. I think there’s still more to learn about the hotel."
'Never be bored working here'
Ronalds describes herself as being from a large family — she has four siblings — and “proud mother of two adult children."
Her daughter is in marketing — "which is very cool," she said — and her son is a welder who lives in the Lehigh Valley but works in Alaska.
And Ronalds has two grandsons, 4 and 7, and another grandchild on the way.
"It’s ‘How do we better engage our guests, better provide service for our guests?' And so that’s what we’re going to be continuing to look at and maybe do a little change to be even better.”Kelly Ronalds, new general manager for Historic Hotel Bethlehem
“And so that’s the joy outside of my work," she said. "When I say that I love working at the hotel and I love living in Bethlehem — I live in the historic district, so I’m right here.
"It’s my passion, and then the other joy in my life is my family. Family is everything.”
Ronalds started working at hotels while in college, and held positions at Allentown Hilton before joining Historic Hotel Bethlehem in 2010 as director of sales.
She was promoted to director of room sales and guest experience in 2021, and in 2022, marketing and public relations came under her purview.
Haines told her about 10 years ago, "You’ll never be bored working here," she said, laughing.
"And then we opened the conference center. And we, during COVID, converted the [Extended Stay] suites across the street.
"And I think there’s more to come, and I think that continuing that story is gonna be key."
“So I think it’s from not just a marketing and PR standpoint, but it’s ensuring that we have the right staff doing the right things all the time.”
Looking to the future, Ronalds said there are "some strategies that I’ve kind of been working on in my current role, but really haven’t taken it to the degree that we’d like to take it to.
"And so look for that down the road. No major changes; we love the community.
"But it’s ‘How do we better engage our guests, better provide service for our guests?' And so that’s what we’re going to be continuing to look at and maybe do a little change to be even better.”
