Oct. 21–The first of two Marriott hotels going in the Nexton community near Summerville is now open.
The Courtyard Marriott, a 96-room hotel at 1510 Rose Drive, was recently completed by Blanchard & Calhoun Commercial Corp., a development firm based in Augusta, Ga. An affiliate of the company, Sheep Island Hospitality Partners I, owns the hotel. It’s operated by a third company, LBA Hospitality.
The new Courtyard Marriott is clearly targeted towards business travelers, with a focus on technology needs, comfortable work spaces and meeting areas.
“Today’s technology has changed how people travel. Our guests want a room that has purpose and flexibility that enables a seamless transition between relaxing and working,” said Janis Milham, a senior vice president of Marriott’s extended-stay brands. “Courtyard is designed to offer them a relaxing and functional space to work the way they want to, when they want to.”
The Courtyard is the first Marriott hotel to open in MeadWestvaco Corp.’s massive 4,500-acre Nexton development at U.S. Highway 17-A and Interstate 26 near Summerville. Room rates start at $119 per night.
Blanchard & Calhoun also plans to develop a second Marriott franchise, Residence Inn, near the recently opened hotel.
The firm said last year that construction would begin on the project in the fall of 2014, but it has yet to break ground.
MeadWestvaco spokeswoman Jennifer Howard said the hotel is still planned for the area, but the timeline for development is unclear.
Reach Abigail Darlington at 937-5906 and follow her on Twitter @A_Big_Gail
