This is the hotel’s second consecutive Torchbearer Award, which is awarded to hotels that maintain the highest standards of excellence in hotel operations, guest services and profitability. The $8 million, 106-room, six-suite Colonial-style hotel opened in October 1999 to rave reviews after scoring 1000 out of a possible 1000 points on its rigorous pre-opening inspection by Holiday Inn and was the one and only hotel to ever receive a second consecutive perfect score. The property received a three-diamond rating from  AAA, and was recognized as Holiday Inn’s “Newcomer of the Year” when it opened in 1999.

According to General Manager Michael Szczesny, “the torchbearer award is the top award that Six Continents gives based on hotel ranking, customer scores and a myriad of all the evaluations throughout the year. It’s pretty exciting, especially to receive it two years in a row.”

Szczesny, who also received the brand’s “Best of the Best” GM of the Year award credits his staff for the recognition. “The people, professionalism, attention to detail and the personalities do it here,” he said. “My hat goes off to my department heads who earn these awards every day.”

The Torchbearer award, the company’s symbol of excellence, will be placed on display permanently in hotel. The hotel serves business, corporate and conference travelers as well as visitors to Penn State University and central Pennsylvania

The Holiday-Inn Express is a flagship property located in Shaner Hotel Group’s 15-acre Williamsburg Square development, off I-99 in State College. It was part of the first phase of development for Williamsburg Square, which also includes Shaner corporate headquarters, a Hampton Inn and Suites, Spring Hill Suites by Marriott and The Olive Garden and Outback Steakhouse restaurants. 

Shaner Hotel Group is a lodging company that owns and operates 22 hotels in 15 states. Holiday Inn Express is one of nine brands which make-up the Shaner portfolio. Shaner is currently developing a new Courtyard by Marriott at the University of Delaware, Newark, Del., and a new Fairfield Inn and Suites in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. It also manages hotels and provides management services to other hotel companies. Shaner Hotel Group has recently negotiated an agreement to provide accounting services for Essex Hotels.

The privately owned hotel company moved its headquarters to State College from Bolivar, New York in 1993.