COEUR d'ALENE - Management and staff at The Coeur d'Alene Resort erupted in cheers Tuesday when they got the news: Travel + Leisure magazine had just named them the No. 17 resort in the Continental U.S. in its 2013 list of the world's finest hotels.

"This is an absolutely huge award," said Jerry Jaeger, president and co-owner of Hagadone Hospitality. "I would put this up as one of the very best pieces of recognition we've ever received from international media over the years."

Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards gave The Resort a score of 91.65 out of a possible 100 for their 2013 World's Best Hotels ranking, which can be seen here: www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2013/hotels/resorts-us/511 The highest score, achieved by The Lodge in Sea Island, Ga., was 95.29.

"This incredible ranking makes us one of only three resorts in the entire Pacific Northwest including Oregon and Colorado," Jaeger said.

Of The Coeur d'Alene Resort's closest competitors, the Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach ranked 23rd, and the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs did not make the 50-property list.

"This is exciting news for anyone who cares about Coeur d'Alene," Jaeger said. "This caliber of national exposure gives us a real advantage in the ever-competitive tourism industry - and many other areas of economic development as well."

Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards survey is a reader's pool created by editors. For each category, voters who have experienced a hotel rate them on a scale of 1 to 5. Categories for hotels and resorts include rooms/facilities, location, service, restaurants/food, and value. The rankings will appear in the August 2013 print edition of the magazine.

Info: www.cdaresort.com