Catalina is nothing if not a tourist destination, with the city of Avalon’s economy based on tourism and the travel industry.
Because of that, the dynamic duo of Rock and Kathleen Gosselin could be considered recent local heroes of the town for their accomplishments in the local hotel industry.
Catalina is nothing if not a tourist destination, with the city of Avalon’s economy based on tourism and the travel industry.
Because of that, the dynamic duo of Rock and Kathleen Gosselin could be considered recent local heroes of the town for their accomplishments in the local hotel industry.
Due to their hard work and attention to the details of their trade, Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce recently recognized the Gosselins’ Avalon Hotel, for TripAdvisor’s 2013 Traveler’s Choice® award for its exceptional standards and the example it sets for both the region as well as the broader hospitality industry.
The Avalon Hotel is number 20 of the Top 25 “Hotels for Service in the United States.”
“We are proud to be honored once again by TripAdvisor,” said Kathleen Gosselin, who with her husband Rock, is a partner in the business. “This award is a testament to the hard work of our staff, who are dedicated to going above and beyond to ensure our guests love the island as much as we do.”
Now in its eleventh year, TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards honor the world’s best hotels, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travelers.
Unlike any other hotel honors, TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winners are based on millions of valuable reviews and opinions from travelers around the world.
The Gosselins opened the hotel about nine years ago with a third partner, Carl Lambert.
The property was originally built in 1925 and it previously had 27 rooms with a bathroom down the hall.
The Gosselins did a major remodel of the building about 10 years ago and took the hotel to a new level of luxury.
“There had been some small remodeling done before that,” Kathleen said.
“We did a remodel from the studs up,” said Rock
The Avalon Hotel is not rated for a number of stars because it does not meet all of the criteria, such as full room service, but they have been praised highly by their customers’ reviews.
“We try and do the best we can with the space and size we are to make it a great experience,” Rock said.
Rock Gosslin has been living on Catalina for 30 years. Kathleen has been an Islander for 23 years. The couple met thanks in part to the ocean.
“We are both divers and hung out in the water and shared some of the same friends,” Rock said. “We were in the same sphere of influence. In fact, Carl and I went to college together in the late 70s.”
The success of the Avalon Hotel led the Gosslins to expand their operations and they now also own the Aurora Hotel and Spa in Avalon.
“They are both successful enterprises,” Rock said. “They both have the same level of service, but we have a different partner, William Feldhorn.”
The Gosselins said they intend to continue to provide the same quality of service for which their staff has been recognized.
“We are very thankful to our customer who posted such nice reviews about the hotel,” Kathleen said.
Meanwhile, Rock continues to participate with other Avalon business people as the chairman of the Board of the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.
“TripAdvisor is once again thrilled to recognize the world’s most outstanding hotels with the help of more than 75 million reviews and opinions from travelers around the globe,” said Christine Petersen, president, TripAdvisor for Business. “From the best bargain hotels to top luxury properties, outstanding service, value and quality are the hallmarks of our Travelers’ Choice winners.”
As TripAdvisor has continued its growth globally, featuring sites in 30 countries and in 21 languages, the Travelers’ Choice Hotel awards now highlight a broader range of spectacular properties across the globe than ever before.
To see the 2013 Travelers’ Choice Hotel winners, visit: http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Hotels-cBestService.
The Avalon Hoel is located at 124 Whittley Ave. in Avalon.
