Meet the General Managers of Hershey Inn & Suites
Industry Veteran Joseph Blessing Appointed General Manager
Hershey Inn & Suites, the newest hotel to join The Official Resorts of Hersheypark, is set to welcome guests on May 1. Ahead of your visit, we invite you to meet the friendly faces behind the sweet hospitality Hershey, Pa., is known for.
Meet Joseph Blessing, General Manager
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts (HE&R) is thrilled to introduce Joseph Blessing as the General Manager of the soon-to-open Hershey Inn & Suites. Joseph brings 20 years of hotel management experience to the new property having spent the last two decades with Marriott’s most recognized brands.
Joseph brings a wealth of specialized experience to Hershey, specifically in the select-service industry. He spent 10 years in the Virginia Beach market before returning to his home state of Pennsylvania, where he gained first-hand experience in opening new properties from the ground up. Most notably, he led the successful opening of the Fairfield Inn & Suites Expo Center in Lebanon, and most recently served as the leader of the Courtyard by Marriott Hershey Chocolate Avenue (Spring Creek) for the past four years.
His commitment to guest satisfaction and operational precision have not gone unnoticed by the industry. In 2022, Joseph received the prestigious Marriott Diamond General Manager of the Year award, a distinction that celebrates the top-performing hotel teams and individuals across the properties worldwide. Under his leadership, his properties have also consistently earned Platinum Circle Awards for guest service scores, placing them in the top 5%–10% of the brand nationwide.
I am honored to join Hershey Entertainment & Resorts and lead the team at Hershey Inn & Suites as we introduce a fresh, modern approach to The Official Resorts of Hersheypark experience. My goal is to blend convenience with the signature hospitality our guests expect, ensuring every family experiences an unforgettable stay in The Sweetest Place On Earth.
Meet Keith Burnett, Assistant General Manager
Serving as the Assistant General Manager is a familiar face to the Hershey Entertainment & Resorts family - Keith Burnett. Keith joins the Hershey Inn & Suites team with more than a decade of experience, a Partner of the Year (a prestigious company award) and a passion for guest connection.
Keith's HE&R journey began in 2014 with a VIP Guest Services Internship. Shortly after, a transition into a full-time role as Housekeeping Floor Supervisor at Hershey Lodge provided an opportunity to see the value of teamwork and lean into the selfless spirit of service. By 2017, a promotion to Assistant Front Office Manager opened doors for mentoring the next generation of interns, emphasizing that proactivity and networking are the keys to success. The following years saw a steady rise through the ranks of the Lodge’s Front Office, serving as PM Operations Manager in 2018 and Guest Services Manager in early 2019.
Our goal is simple - Whether a guest stays for a week or just a single night, the team at Hershey Inn & Suites is ready to ensure that the attention to detail and warm welcome they receive are the highlights of their visit. Hospitality is about personalizing the experience, anticipating guests’ needs, and delivering consistency that builds trust and encourages repeat business.
Hershey Inn & Suites Overview
With rates starting at $149, the hotel features 130 rooms with seven suites; each space combining comfort and convenience with signature Hershey hospitality. Guests will enjoy convenient on-site amenities such as complimentary hot breakfast, a lobby bar and grab-and-go marketplace, an arcade, a fitness center and a year-round indoor pool.
Hershey Inn & Suites is designed to give families more ways to stay and play without missing out on the FREE resort benefits. Free perks exclusive to guests include best price on Hersheypark tickets, extra hours (morning and evening) on Hersheypark operating days, front-gate shuttle service to a private drop-off location and complimentary admission to Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story Museum Experience, adding exceptional built-in value for visitors.
