Theresa Harney-Zuill, Royal Palms Hotel manager, has been presented with the award that designates the property a 2014 Fodor’s 100 Hotel Award winner at a Tuesday evening event in New York.

Fodor’s say that each year the Fodor 100 list “celebrates and recognises the most incredible hotels around the world”.

Ms Harney-Zuill said that the award came as both as a surprise but also a delight. “As a hotel without an advertising budget we rely entirely on repeat guests and the recommendation of others, so our service and attention to detail has to be second to none.

“Accordingly this award is all about our staff at every level and it is to them that I am most grateful. While it is important that we as a hotel continue to invest in maintaining our lovely property to a high standard and offer our guests the latest technology, it is still our staff that engages our guests on a day-to-day basis in order to ensure that they have the best possible experience at Royal Palms Hotel.

“It is our hope that this award also serves to highlight the fact that Bermuda has a vibrant small and medium hotel sector offering high standards and personal service which many visitors to Bermuda may prefer.”

Fodor’s review of the Royal Palms, released today on their website along with a slide show of the property, reads: “The Royal Palms is a winner for having high standards, great service, and a welcoming touch with fresh-from-the-garden flowers to celebrate your arrival. This is a hotel that stresses quality, service, and atmosphere, but also has enough humour to leave a rubber ducky on your bath mat.

“The best perch might well be the front swing, from which you can survey the lush grounds, including two tall royal palms that give the hotel its name. Also wonderful is the sunny, all-glass breakfast room where you eat at 90-year-old Bermudian cedar tables.

“If you’re looking for privacy, there are three buildings set around the gardens of the main 1903 building; many rooms here have private entrances. It’s clear that owner Susan Weare put more detailed care into her property, and manages it better than just about anyone else in Bermuda. A final touch is Ascot’s — one of the Island’s best restaurants.”

The description of the hotel also provides a list of ‘pros’ and ‘cons’.

The pros include ‘beautiful gardens,’ ‘wonderful breakfast’ and ‘top-notch service’.

The ‘cons are ‘no beach’ and ‘ten-minute walk to Hamilton’.

Royal Palms, which is located on Rosemont Avenue in Pembroke is in the Fodor’s ‘small hotels’ category, about which the publisher said: “At these intimate hotels, all with fewer than 50 guest rooms, expect personalised attention and one-of-a-kind experiences.”

In total 12 hotels are in the category and include Hotel Drisco in San Franciso, California, Le Petit Hotel in Grand Case, St Martin, and Waipoua Lodge in Waipoua, New Zealand.

Fodor’s Travel asks their contributors from around the world to nominate the best hotels in the destinations they live and write in. Of 4,000 ‘Fodor’s Choice’ picks their senior editorial team narrows the top selections into eight categories: all-inclusive vacations, beach getaways, boutique chic, country retreats, enduring classics, modern city, small hotels and trip of a lifetime.

Fodor’s stated: “This distinction designates Royal Palms Hotel as an outstanding hotel as selected by Fodor’s editors and travel experts, recognising high style, excellent service and a remarkable experience for guests. As a Fodor’s Award-winning property, Royal Palms Hotel is featured on the Fodor’s website.”

For the complete list of the 100 selected hotels go to http://www.fodors.com/hotel-awards/2014