Resort Information - Press Room - Awards & Highlights

Thank you for your interest in Ballantyne Resort, a Starwood Luxury Collection hotel.
For media inquiries, please contact:

Christina Argeris
Tel: 704-248-4042
Fax: 704-248-4005

AWARDS & HIGHLIGHTS 1997 – 2008

X 1997 The Dana Rader School opens in conjunction with the Golf Club at Ballantyne.

XX 1998 The Golf Club at Ballantyne is named the “Best New Golf Course in North Carolina for 1998” by North Carolina magazine.

XX The Bissells commission Tom Vieth to paint a collection of Charlotte’s landmarks.

XX 2001 Golf Magazine names the Pro Shop one of the 10 best Pro Shops in US.

September 2001 Ballantyne Resort opens to the public.

XX XX World-class tennis professional Peter Marmureanu joins Ballantyne Resort to head the Tennis Center.

XX 2002 Resorts & Great Hotels selects Ballantyne Resort as the Connoisseur’s Choice.

April 2002 The award-winning Spa at Ballantyne Resort opens.

May 2002 The Lodge, a 40,000-square-feet group retreat, opens at Ballantyne Resort.

September 2002 The Golf Club at Ballantyne Resort wins the Gold Award for “Best Golf
Course” by Charlotte Trip Magazine.

February 2003 Dana Rader is named Charlotte Business Woman of the Year 2004, highlighting her achievements in planning and developing the Dana Rader Golf School into one of the Top 25 in the country.

XX 2003 Joe Hallow is named President of Bissell Hotels.

XX 2003 Meetings & Conventions honors Ballantyne Resort with the Gold Tee Award for excellence in golf and meeting facilities.

June 2003 Hood Hargett presents Ballantyne Resort the Hospitality & Leisure Award at the Breakfast Club America Sterling Cup Awards.


XX 2003 Resorts & Great Hotels selects Ballantyne Resort as the Connoisseur’s Choice.

XX 2003 Successful Meetings readers recognize Ballantyne Resort as an outstanding meeting facility with the Pinnacle Award.

September 2003 Ballantyne Resort receives the Gold Award for “Best Hotel Under 250 Rooms” by Charlotte Trip Magazine.

September 2003 The Golf Club at Ballantyne Resort wins the Gold Award for “Best Golf
Course” by Charlotte Trip Magazine.

October 2003 Kids Wish Network honors Ballantyne Resort as an official “Guardian Angel” for helping to fulfill the wishes of children with life threatening illnesses.

October 2003 Ballantyne Resort receives Best in Show award at the Southern Women’s Show.


XX 2004 Resorts & Great Hotels selects Ballantyne Resort as the Connoisseur’s Choice.

March 2004 North Carolina Magazine names the Golf Club at Ballantyne Resort the #1 Public Golf Course in the Charlotte market.

March 2004 The Charlotte Observer presents the Readers’ Choice award for “Best Golf Course in Charlotte” to the Golf Club at Ballantyne Resort.

November 2004 Conde Nast Johansens names the Spa as Most Outstanding Spa in North America for 2004.

September 2005 The Golf Club at Ballantyne Resort wins the Gold Award for “Best Golf
Course” by Charlotte Trip Magazine.

October 2005 Ballantyne Resort receives Best in Show award at the Southern Women’s Show.

November 2005 Conde Nast Johansens names the Spa as Most Outstanding Spa in North America for 2005.

April 2005 Steve Kalczynski joins Ballantyne Resort as General Manager.

May 2005 Ballantyne Resort joins Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ The Luxury Collection.

June 2005 Golf Magazine selects the Dana Rader Golf School as one of “The 25 Best Golf Schools in America.” The Dana Rader School ranks 13th among the Top 25 and Number 1 in North Carolina.

September 2005 The Golf Club at Ballantyne Resort wins the Gold Award for “Best Golf
Course” by Charlotte Trip Magazine.

October 2005 Ballantyne Resort receives Best in Show award at the Southern Women’s Show.

November 2005 Conde Nast Johansens names the Spa as Most Outstanding Spa in North America for 2005.

November 2005 Ballantyne Resort receives AAA Four-Diamond award.

September 2005 The Golf Club at Ballantyne Resort wins the Gold Award for “Best Golf
Course” by Charlotte Trip Magazine.

X 2005 PGA Magazine selects Ballantyne Resort as a “Great Golf Resort of the World.”

March 2006 PGA Magazine selects Ballantyne Resort as a “Great Golf Resort of the World.”

March/April 2006 Golf for Women recognizes Dana Rader and Julie Cole as part of the nation’s Top 50 female instructors for the sixth consecutive year.

May 2006 Charlotte Magazine picks Ballantyne Resort as the “Best Hotel to House In-Laws” in Charlotte.

June 2006 Ballantyne Resort selected as a “Best Bathroom” by readers of Executive Traveler.

June 2006 Best of Citysearch awards Ballantyne Resort with best Hotel Pool in Charlotte.

June 2006 Best of Citysearch awards Ballantyne Resort as best Luxury Hotel in Charlotte.

June 2006 Best of Citysearch selects Ballantyne Resort as best Romantic Hotel in Charlotte.

June 2006 Best of Citysearch recognizes Ballantyne Resort as best Weekend Getaway Hotel in Charlotte.

June 2006 Ballantyne Resort works with Habitat for Humanity in partnership with the Carolina Panthers, as well as other Bissell Companies, such as hotel, real estate and commercial leasing divisions.

July 2006 The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) presents Ballantyne Resort with the Partner of the Year Award for a full service hotel.

August 2006 The Spa at Ballantyne Resort recognized as a “Best Spa” by readers of Executive Traveler.

September 2006 The Golf Club at Ballantyne Resort wins the Gold Award for “Best Golf
Course” by Charlotte Trip Magazine.

November 2006 Ballantyne Resort receives AAA Four-Diamond award.


January 2007 Ballantyne Resort receives top honors for Performance across all divisions of Eastern Canada, Northeast and Southeast regions of the United States and the Caribbean at the North American Starwood Hotels & Resorts Sales Conference.

January 2007 Ballantyne Resort wins Team Hot Team of the Year at the North American Starwood Hotels & Resorts Sales Conference.

January 2007 Ballantyne Resort is awarded Sales Team of the Year at the North American Starwood Hotels & Resorts Sales Conference.

January 2007 Ballantyne Resort receives Excellence in Revenue Management, led by Selena Talbert, at the North American Starwood Hotels & Resorts Sales Conference.

April 2007 Best of Citysearch selects Ballantyne Resort as best Romantic Hotel in Charlotte.

April 2007 Best of Citysearch awards Ballantyne Resort with best Hotel Pool in Charlotte.

May 2007 Charlotte Magazine picks Ballantyne Resort as the “Best Golf Course” in Charlotte.

August 2007 Golf Digest selects Dana Rader as one of Golf Digest’s America’s 50 Greatest Teachers in the August 2007 issue.

August 2007 Ballantyne Resort ranked among the top business hotels in the U.S. and Canada in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Business Hotels 2007 readers’ survey.

October 2007 10Best names Ballantyne Resort & Spa a 2008 Best Bet for Colorful Characters.

November 2007 10Best names Ballantyne Resort a 2008 Best Bet for A Room with a View.

November 2007 Ballantyne Resort won a 2007 ELEVATE Lifestyle Award for Best Spa for Body Treatments in Charlotte.

December 2007 Best of Citysearch’s Spa & Beauty Audience poll selects Ballantyne Resort for Best Manicures & Pedicures in Charlotte.

January 2008 Mobil Travel Guide honors Ballantyne Resort with several Mobil Four-Star Awards for lodging, the Spa at Ballantyne Resort and dining at Gallery Restaurant.

January 2008 Ballantyne Resort is named Most Excellent Golf Course by Condé Nast Johansens.