The Tennessean Hotel, The Swag and Blackberry Farm make 'best of the South' lists

The Condé Nast Traveler Reader's Choice awards have once again recognized several Knoxville-area resorts and hotels.

The Swag in Waynesville, North Carolina, was ranked No. 7 on the Top Resorts in the South list with a total score of 97.49.

The Tennessean Hotel was ranked No. 25 on the separate Top Hotels in the South list with a total score of 88.61.

Blackberry Farm was ranked No. 26 on the top hotels list, with a score of 88.56.

Condé Nast Traveler received 429,000 survey responses for the 31st year of the awards. It includes categories like best islands in the U.S. and top hotels in New England.

The Tennessean Hotel was also named No. 1 on Southern Living’s The South’s Best Hotels 2018 list this year. Since the hotel opened in April 2017, this is the first year it was eligible for both lists.

The luxury hotel has 82 rooms and suites and 12 upper-bracket residences.

 “We strive to combine Southern hospitality with personal luxury, and this reader recognition affirms our ability to bring those qualities to life,” innkeeper Nicholas G. Cazana said in a press release.

To celebrate, the hotel is hosting a “Night of Luxury” contest. One winner will enjoy a free one-night stay in the hotel’s Governor’s Suite. The 1,600-square-foot suite features a baby grand piano, scenic views of Knoxville and extravagant amenities including butler service.

The Swag, owned by David Colquitt and Annie Haslam Colquitt, daughter of Gov. Bill Haslam, was also ranked No. 11 on Travel & Leisure's Top 15 U.S. Resort Hotels list for the first time in 2018.

The Colquitts purchased the 14-room, 250-acre resort earlier this year from longtime owners Dan and Deener Matthews.

In 2017, The Swag was ranked No. 2 on the Top Resorts in the South according to Condé Nast readers. It also made Travel & Leisure’s 2018 Top 10 Resort Hotels in the American South at No. 3.

Blackberry Farm, located in Walland, appeared on the 2017 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List and was named Southern Living's The South's Best Resort in 2018.

The facility offers an array of rooms, suites and cottages. The proprietor is Mary Celeste Beall.

Cassidee Dabney was named a finalist for a James Beard Award for Best Chef Southeast in March. The executive chef of The Barn at Blackberry Farm began her career at the premiere resort in 2010.

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel, by Brenna McDermott

The East Tennessee Economic Development Agency markets and recruits business for the 15 counties in the greater Knoxville-Oak Ridge region of East Tennessee. Visit www.eteda.org

Published October 12, 2018