The award-winning Carolina Inn picked up another impressive designation by receiving Expedia’s Insiders’ Select Award for 2011. The historic hotel ranked No. 14 among the 500 worldwide properties cited this year.

Given its almost century-old connection to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which has been a highly-recognized and internationally-respected chart topper for the quality of its academic, research and athletic programs for decades, The Carolina Inn has been offering memorable hospitality with its Southern charm, modern amenities, gracious service and fabulous food since 1924.

Out of 130,000 overall properties that Expedia offers, this award is given to only 500 properties throughout the world for receiving tremendous guest reviews, the value that they offer to the consumer and a recommendation from an Expedia Hotel Reviewer.

“The Expedia Insiders’ Select Award further validates the importance of delivering a memorable and quality guest experience each and every day,” said Shawn Gracy, general manager of The Carolina Inn. “We are certainly in elite company as there are international hotels in the Top 20 from Italy, Japan, Morocco, Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain & Canary Islands, Australia, New Zealand and Virgin Islands.”

Expedia is home to more guest reviews than any other online travel agency. In 2010 alone, its travelers submitted more than 520,000 new Guest Reviews of hotels across the globe. To ensure authenticity, Expedia verified each Guest Review by confirming that the reviewer has stayed at the property within the past six months. To qualify for the honor of inclusion on the Expedia Insiders' Select list, a hotel had to have a minimum number of reviews in 2010.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Carolina Inn is a AAA Four Diamond Award Winner and member of the Historic Hotels of America. Its award-winning Carolina Crossroads Restaurant is one of only four Forbes Four-Star restaurants in North Carolina and a AAA Four Diamond rated restaurant.