Woodloch Resort Announces Partnership with Moka Origins Coffee As the New Year commences, two businesses in the Poconos are poised for exciting new beginnings. Woodloch, an award-winning, three property resort, and Moka Origins, an ethically-sourced coffee and chocolate company, are proud to announce the start of a partnership aimed at enriching the experience for resort guests while honoring Moka’s motto, “made locally, support globally.” This collaboration represents a shared commitment to offering guests unparalleled quality, sustainability, and community support.Nestled in the Pocono Mountains, Woodloch has been a cornerstone of family-friendly getaways for decades, renowned for its exceptional hospitality and endless activities. Woodloch is the largest employer in Pennsylvania’s Pike and Wayne counties and generates the most tourism dollars in the Northern Pocono Mountains area. The Poconos resort employs over 1,200 staff members and welcomes nearly 100,000 visitors per year. Moka Origins, known for its artisanal approach to coffee production, places emphasis on direct trade relationships with farmers, sustainable farming practices, and social responsibility. Woodloch will feature Moka Origins across its various dining and retail outlets. Guests can now indulge in the finest handcrafted coffee and chocolate while supporting a shared vision of social responsibility and environmental stewardship.This ethos aligns particularly well with the philosophy at Woodloch’s destination spa resort, The Lodge at Woodloch. The property features a working organic farm where the focus is on giving back to the environment before benefiting from it, in turn creating healthy soil and healthy plants and, consequently, healthy people. The Poconos spa looks forward to presenting Moka products through immersive guest experiences, such as chocolate tastings intertwined with storytelling about how Moka Origins began. In 2015, Moka Farms was founded in Cameroon, West Africa to help generate employment through sustainable farming and the creation of a Farmers’ Training Center. By 2017, Moka’s co-founder, Jeff Abella, started buying cacao and coffee directly from farmers around the world and began a chocolate and coffee company in Honesdale, PA, just 20 minutes from Woodloch. The company’s mission is to use chocolate and coffee as a vehicle for social change by ethically sourcing coffee and cacao, offering training programs on their Cameroon farm, and planting a tree for every product sold. To date, over 517,000 trees have been planted, more than 276,000 pounds of beans have been sold, and 2,600 workshops on sustainable agriculture have been provided to farmers.“We are thrilled to partner with Moka Origins,” said Brad Kiesendahl, CEO of Woodloch Resort. “Their dedication to sustainability, waste reduction, and environmental consciousness aligns seamlessly with our values here at Woodloch. We are committed to enhancing the guest experience by offering the finest quality coffee and chocolate while supporting a company with such a strong mission.” Moka Origins CEO, Jeff Abella, expressed equal enthusiasm, stating, “Partnering with Woodloch is a fantastic opportunity for us to expand our commitment to sustainability and community impact. We admire Woodloch’s dedication to creating an exceptional guest experience and look forward to providing their guests with our products while contributing to meaningful initiatives together.”
Woodloch Resort Employees Provide Gifts to Local Children As the holiday season draws to a close and the New Year commences, Woodloch, a three-property resort in the Northern Poconos of Pennsylvania, embraces a tradition of giving that extends far beyond the holiday rush. For the past few years, the dedicated staff at Woodloch have championed their very own Angel Tree program, embodying the true spirit of the season by supporting those in need within the Woodloch community. Amidst the chaos of holiday preparations, the housekeeping team at The Lodge at Woodloch, the adults-only destination spa, found a unique way to make a lasting impact. Housekeeping Manager Linda Angermann recalls, “Before Christmas of 2022, I had a meeting with my team and proposed the idea of each team member contributing a dollar from their daily tips to adopt a child for Christmas. They all agreed and were excited to do so. We raised $150 to give a nice holiday to a child.” Inspired by this success, the team decided to continue their efforts year-round. Through their dedication and perseverance, the housekeeping team raised over $2,000 by the end of 2023. With these funds, they were able to bring the magic of Christmas to over 15 children, ensuring smiles and happiness well beyond the holiday season. Their efforts did not stop there. The team donated surplus funds to KidsPeace, an organization supporting behavioral and mental health needs in children, families, and communities. Across the Woodloch properties, 25 “angels” and numerous departments joined hands to brighten the holiday season for 50 local children. Angermann expressed her gratitude, stating, “My team shines with generosity all year round, but their spirit truly sparkles during the holidays. We’re excited to surpass the $2,000 mark for 2024!” The Woodloch Angel Tree program illuminates the true essence of the holiday season – a time for giving, spreading joy, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. It is a testament to the unwavering compassion of the Woodloch staff and comes as no surprise to C.E.O. and owner, Bradley Kiesendahl: “Our team is comprised of some of the most kind and caring individuals you will ever meet. Their heartfelt hospitality shines through in everything they do. They are heavily involved in the local community and very giving of their time and service, volunteering on community councils, in charitable organizations, schools and beyond. They never hesitate to support one another, particularly during times of adversity. We are immensely proud of and grateful for our exceptional team.”
Woodloch Resort to Host 15th Annual “A Night for the Cure” On Sunday, October 22, 2023, Woodloch Pines Resort, an inclusive resort in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, will host the 15th annual A Night for the Cure. The tricky-tray fundraiser benefits The Penn State Cancer Institute (PSCI) as part of BK Hope Cures. Originally established 24 years ago by Bob Kiesendahl (BK), co-owner of Woodloch and leukemia survivor, the organization’s mission is to raise awareness and funds in the fight against cancer. Held in the Heritage Nightclub at Woodloch Pines from 5 to 8 PM, the family-friendly evening will feature over 150 items donated by local individuals and businesses, as well as wine and beer tastings, hors d’oeuvres, a dessert table, and a 50/50 raffle. Guests will enjoy live entertainment and have the chance to win dining gift certificates, unique gift baskets, and overnight stay packages at the area’s leading resorts and hotels. Admission costs $15, and 100% of the profits benefit The Penn State Cancer Institute breast cancer research and awareness efforts. The PSCI is a leading cancer facility centrally located in Hershey, PA. The dress code is casual, and attendees are encouraged to wear pink in support of the cause. Last year, over 400 people attended and more than $23,000 was raised! “Each year, A Night for the Cure continues to grow and improve. It’s a special evening to raise money for a very important cause, demonstrate our solidarity with survivors, celebrate with friends and even win some fantastic prizes. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the local businesses and individuals who generously contribute their time and skills to create this exceptional event,” said Bob Kiesendahl. In addition to A Night for the Cure, Hope Cures also holds two other fundraising events each year, which include both a golf tournament and a 5K run/walk. Over the past 24 years, Hope Cures has raised over $1.5 million. These funds benefit cancer research and patient care at several worthy facilities and foundations. For more information about Hope Cures and this October’s great event, please visit: www.bkhopecures.org/trickytray. Additionally, table and room reservations can be arranged by calling Woodloch Resort at 570-685-8002.
The Country Club at Woodloch Springs Selected as Distinguished Golf Destination The Country Club at Woodloch Springs, a nationally-recognized golf course in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, has been awarded the prestigious Distinguished Golf Destination award, as determined by the Annual Distinguished Golf Destinations award program conducted by BoardRoom magazine in partnership with Forbes Travel Guide. For fine resorts, semi-private, daily fee, and public golf courses that operate at the highest standards, BoardRoom magazine’s entirely merit-based Distinguished Golf Destinations award program uses a facility-specific rating system that recognizes the facility, its management, and its staff based on a proprietary criteria and validation process that distills and measures a facility’s Exceptional Golf Experience. As defined by Distinguished Golf Destinations, “Exceptional Golf Experience” is that special combination of “qualities” that a destination provides its golfers. It is not just the quality of service, of the facilities, nor of the product provided; it is also the quality of the staff and of the management. The most important quality, however, is that of the intangible. While difficult to measure, the latter is comprised of those magic moments experienced — the guests befriended, the memorable events attended, as well as the facilities’ traditions, history, and heritage proudly recognized at Woodloch Springs. “On behalf of BoardRoom magazine in partnership with Forbes Travel Guide, we’d like to congratulate The Country Club at Woodloch Springs for earning Distinguished Golf Destination status for their efforts in providing an exceptional golf experience,” said John Fornaro, Publisher of BoardRoom magazine. “This is a great honor for the whole team at Woodloch Springs and the entire Woodloch family,” said John Pillar, PGA, Director of Golf at Woodloch. “We’ve always been proud of our club, and this recognition helps reinforce that.” Woodloch Springs is one of three properties that encompasses Woodloch Resort, which also features an award-winning family resort (Woodloch Pines) and a luxury destination spa (The Lodge at Woodloch). Spanning 438 acres, the course features unparalleled views of scenic mountain landscape and manicured green. There is also a state-of-the-art driving range and 16-acre teaching and practice facility. The semi-private course is open to members and guests of Woodloch, and limited outside tee-times are available.
Woodloch Named Number One Family Resort Woodloch, an all-inclusive family resort located in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, has once again been selected by USA TODAY as the number one family resort in the United States in their 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Woodloch Pines claimed the same honor in both 2019 and 2021. Nominees are chosen by a panel of travel experts, a well-traveled and well-educated group who are not only experts in their fields and their cities but also discriminating in their tastes. They include a combination of editors from USA TODAY, editors from 10Best.com, and other professional contributors. “We are truly humbled to be chosen as the number one family resort by USA TODAY for the third time in four years. Woodloch has been in our family for over six decades, and it is an honor to see our resort ranked among so many amazing properties and national brands,” said Brad Kiesendahl, CEO and President of Woodloch. “We are eternally grateful for the hard work and sincere hospitality of our staff members as well as our loyal and passionate guests who so kindly sing our praises year after year,” he continued. To obtain more information or to book a stay, please visit woodloch.com, or call 1-800-Woodloch.
