The Southern Living Hotel Collection Welcomes Four

ATLANTA, Oct. 7, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Southern Living Hotel Collection, ( www.SouthernLivingHotelCollection.com ) a small, curated group of independent, four-and five-star level hotels, resorts and inns that span 18 Southern states and offers the best in authentic Southern hospitality is pleased to welcome its newest members: The Willcox Inn (Aiken, SC), The Henderson Park Inn (Destin, FL), The Swag (Waynesville, NC), and The Inn at Willow Grove (Orange, VA). Since its launch this past July, the Collection has grown from its 15 premier hotels, resorts and inns to 19 carefully selected properties chosen by the editors at Southern Living .

"We're delighted to welcome these four distinguished properties to our collection of the South's finest hotels, resorts and inns," said Lindsay Bierman, Editor in Chief of  Southern Living. "Each of these hotels exceeds excellent service and accommodations to create a distinct and memorable Southern experience."

Members of the Southern Living Hotel Collection are vetted according to the same criteria Southern Living editors use to determine editorial coverage. The collection is by invitation only.  Each hotel in the collection provides a memorable experience through impeccable service, outstanding cuisine, high-quality facilities and the finest amenities. The Collection will continue to select additional properties over the coming years until the offering reaches up to 100 of the very best hospitality experiences across the South.  For more information about the Southern Living Hotel Collection or to make a reservation at a Collection member visit:  www.SouthernLivingHotelCollection.com , or like the Southern Living Hotel collection on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/southernlivinghotelcollection .

The new hotels in the Collection are:

The Willcox: A white-pillared Colonial Revival landmark on the National Historic Register. It has been a permanent fixture in the resort town of Aiken, SC since 1898. 

The Henderson Park Inn: Tucked into the dunes on one of the most beautiful beaches on Florida's Emerald Cost on the Gulf of Mexico, it is Destin's only adult-only hotel offering 35 distinctive guest suites.

The Swag: An intimate, family-owned-and-operated, all-inclusive luxury inn located in the high mountains of Western North Carolina just 50 miles west of Asheville.

The Inn at Willow Grove: Nestled on a private 40-acre estate in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, it is a boutique hotel in a historic 18th century plantation house and surrounding cottages. 

About the Southern Living Hotel Collection

Launched in July, 2013, The Southern Living Hotel Collection includes 19 unique experiences from seaside to mountaintop and everything in between. The Collection:

1. Barnsley Resort (Adairsville, GA)

2. Big Cedar Lodge (Ridgedale, MO)

3. Blackberry Farm (Walland, TN)

4. The Greystone Inn (Lake Toxaway, NC)

5. The Grove Park Inn (Asheville, NC)

6. The Henderson Park Inn (Destin, FL)

7. The Hermitage Hotel (Nashville, TN)

8. The Inn at Palmetto Bluff (Bluffton, SC)

9. The Inn at Serenbe (Chattahoochee Hills, GA)

10. The Willcox Inn (Aiken, SC)

11. The Inn at Willow Grove (Orange, VA)

12. John Rutledge House Inn (Charleston, SC)

13. Monmouth Historic Inn (Natchez, MS)

14. Pursell Farms (Talladega Springs, AL)                                                         

15. The Swag (Waynesville, NC)

16. Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club (Durham, NC)

17. Wentworth Mansion (Charleston, SC)

18. The Whitestone Country Inn (Kingston, TN)

19. Windsor Court Hotel (New Orleans, LA)

The Southern Living Hotel Collection is a carefully selected collection of independent resorts, hotels and inns, hand-picked by Southern Living , offering the best in authentic Southern travel, hospitality and experience. Spanning the 18 Southern states, these select members of the Southern Living Hotel Collection provide their guests with unique, undiscovered opportunities that showcase their history, destination and extraordinary service. Headquartered in Senoia, Georgia, the Southern Living Hotel Collection is exclusively licensed by Southern Living . The Southern Living brand is a division of Time Inc., one of the largest content companies in the world and the largest publisher in the United States.

Gayle MacIntyre, 404.643.8222