A landmark Pembroke hotel has been named a nominee finalist for two 2026 Historic Hotels Worldwide awards.

The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club has been nominated for best historic resort and best historic hotel in the Americas.

The 2026 Historic Hotels Worldwide Awards of Excellence recognise outstanding historic hotels, inns, resorts and other heritage lodgings for their preservation of historic integrity, architecture and ambiance.

The hotel is among more than 320 hotels and resorts around the world identified by Historic Hotels Worldwide for preserving and maintaining their historic character and heritage.

Lawrence Horwitz, executive vice-president, Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide said: “This hotel is part of a select group of nominee finalists in a number of categories. It is an honour to be nominated and recognised.”

Tim Morrison, general manager of the hotel said: “Hamilton Princess & Beach Club has been an integral part of Bermuda’s story for more than 140 years, and this recognition is a wonderful testament to our continued commitment to preserving the character, heritage and legacy of this iconic hotel.”

He said he was especially proud of his colleagues, whose passion and dedication bring the “Grande Dame” to life every day, while ensuring its remarkable history continues to be celebrated for generations to come.

The hotel offers 380 guestrooms, including 51 suites, along with more than 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor reception and meeting space.

This week the hotel also made the Worldwide World Heritage Experiences List of top 25 authentic historic hotels. Lodgings on this list are located within or close to historic sites recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation World Heritage Convention. In this case the UNESCO site is the Town of St George.

To be nominated and selected for membership and inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide, a programme of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, a hotel must be at least 75 years old and recognised for its historic significance.

The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club known affectionately as “The Pink Palace”, was built in 1885. The ‘Princess’ in the name refers to Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, who visited Bermuda in 1883.

The royal is often credited with kick starting Bermuda’s tourism industry by praising it to the hilt and calling it a place of “eternal spring”.

Historically, the hotel also played an important role during the Second World War when it became a base for the British Censorship Department.

The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club became a member of Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2018.