South Carolina
Charleston
Charleston Marriott Hotel: All guest rooms have been upgraded with Marriott pillow-top bedding, new furniture and upgrades to the bathroom, with continued renovations to the hotel’s exterior, lobby, pool and fitness facility as the hotel transitions to a full-service Marriott.
Francis Marion Hotel: The 216-room hotel completed the first phase of renovations in 2006 and began the second phase in 2007. Combining suites and carriage rooms eliminated the smallest guest rooms.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort: In August, the resort opened a new $20 million clubhouse at The Ocean Course. It contains four meeting rooms and more than 3,000 square feet of meeting space on the second floor.
Greenville
Greenville CVB (800) 351-7180;
Online Listing;
www.greenvillecvb.comCarolina First Center (864) 233-2562;
Online Listing;
www.carolinafirstcenter.com Formerly the Palmetto Expo Center, the Carolina First Center offers more than 315,000 square feet of exhibit space and 88,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. A $22 million enhancement of the facility was completed this year. Improvements included increasing the contiguous exhibit area to 200,000 square feet. Additional upgrades are under way.
Hyatt Regency Greenville (864) 235-1234;
Online Listing;
www.greenville.hyatt.com Enhancement to each room of the 328-room hotel includes Hyatt’s Grand Bed, oversized feather pillows, 250-thread-count triple sheeting, a workstation with oversized desk, wireless Internet access and a 32-inch LCD flat-panel TV. Meeting space received new carpet.
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach Area CVB: April 2008 is the expected opening of The Market Common, an urban village concept with retail shops and restaurants to be located on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.
Caravelle Resort: Completed an $8 million renovation of its 580 guest rooms earlier this year.
Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort: Recent renovations included upgrading meeting facilities and the exterior entrance, relocating the business center, expanding the restaurant and fitness center and adding luxurious bedding in guest rooms. The hotel will accept bookings beginning January 2008 for a new 12,500-square-foot conference center that will connect with the hotel’s existing meeting space.
Kingston Shores: Kingston Shores is a 12-acre development that includes the new 184-unit Royale Palms condominium, as well as the 385-room Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort, which is scheduled to complete a renovation and expansion project this winter.
Marina Inn at Grande Dunes: The 230-unit property located on the Intracoastal Waterway offers 15,000 square feet of indoor function space, two on-site championship golf courses and a full line of in-room spa services. In 2008, the marina’s retail area will also be home to a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.
Newberry
Newberry Firehouse Conference Center: Renovated 1890s era firehouse located in the heart of downtown Newberry within walking distance of a Hampton Inn hotel and the Newberry Opera House.
North Myrtle Beach
Barefoot Resort & Golf - A Premier Resort: Barefoot Resort is building the Lakeside Conference Center, which will offer 10,000 square feet of covered meeting space and nearly 20,000 square feet of outdoor event space and will include a back patio area, spa and health club facility. Meeting and event space is expected to be finished in spring 2008.
