(Photo courtesy of Graduate Tucson)

Graduate Tucson makes it on USA Today’s “Top 10 Best New Hotels of 2020” list


January 7, 2021
By Matt Sterner

The Graduate Tucson, which opened back in October 2020, brings and blends a mix of modern, upscale, and casual to the University area, and now it’s bringing in an accolade.

USA Today recently put together a list of its “Top 10 Best New Hotels of 2020” and The Graduate found itself smack dab in the middle of it next to hotels located in Nashville, New Orleans, and New York.

Graduate Tucson
Photo courtesy of Graduate Tucson on Facebook

The website posted the following about the 15-story hotel:

“Graduate Tucson offers local-inspired, hip accommodations near the Main Gate area of Tucson. The property features a lobby-level café and a rooftop bar with fire pits and views of Mt. Lemmon. Rooms feature free wifi and Malin + Goetz amenities.”

The new hotel, which is near Main Gate Square, came in seventh place out of the group. USA Today has a panel of experts that teamed up with 10Best editors to pick the nominees, and then the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.

Inside the The Moonstone rooftop bar at The Graduate in Tucson
Inside the The Moonstone rooftop bar at The Graduate in Tucson (Photo Courtesy of The Graduate)

USA Today’s Top 10 Best New Hotels of 2020

  • Grand Hyatt Nashville – Nashville, Tennessee
  • Hotel Haya – Tampa, Florida
  • The Abbey Inn & Spa – Peekskill, New York
  • The Joseph – Nashville, Tennessee
  • The Roxbury at Stratton Falls – Roxbury, New York
  • Brenton Hotel – Newport, Rhode Island
  • Graduate Tucson – Tucson, Arizona
  • Higgins Hotel – New Orleans, Louisiana
  • LOTTE HOTEL SEATTLE – Seattle, Washington
  • Surety Hotel – Des Moines, Iowa

If you haven’t visited The Graduate yet, make it a point to check out the top floor restaurant and bar, “The Moonstone” which is the star for locals and visitors.

With accordion glass doors that open the entire space into an essentially extended patio, Moonstone’s unrivaled views of the Catalinas and Rincon mountains are not just visible but on display from the high-window walled patio that makes up roughly 50 percent of the space. The patio also features multiple fire pits for lounging groups.

Fire pits with a view at The Graduate Hotel's The Moonstone
Fire pits with a view at The Graduate Hotel’s The Moonstone (Photo by Adam Lehrman)

While you’ll find plenty of delights to snack and sip on, for hotel guests, it’s just enough to satisfy yet still encourage exploring the area.

The Graduate, located at 930 E. 2nd St., is the newest member of a family of hotels that reside in dynamic university-anchored towns around the U.S.A. Learn more about The Graduate at graduatehotels.com/tucson.

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