Florence’s Staybridge Suites to open in summer

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By: Andrew Boardwine, Morning News

FLORENCE, S.C. — Raldex Hospitality is proving it is invested in the Florence area with the construction of a new hotel, the Staybridge Suites at 150 Westpark Drive near the Florence Center.

Raldex Hospitality owns and operates the Holiday Inn Express, the Hilton Garden Inn and two Hampton Inn & Suites in Florence.

Gregg Parsons, president of Raldex, said the plan is for Staybridge Suites to open by midsummer as the team eyes the final few phases of construction.

 “Our whole team is extremely excited,” Parsons said. “This will be the fifth hotel here, and currently we have around 230 team members at the hotels, and all of them are excited about the new one opening.”

With the opening of the new hotel, Parsons said, Raldex Hospitality will have invested $80 million in the Pee Dee area.

“Florence is a great location,” Parsons said. “With access to two interstates and growing industries, there are several different markets to provide hotels. Everything we have is right here in Florence. We have a large investment, and that’s how we want it to be.”

The Staybridge Suites will offer an “extended stay” brand, which is designed for travelers and businesspeople looking for somewhere to stay multiple nights.

The hotel will have 112 rooms and guests can choose a one-bedroom, two-bedroom or studio-style suite, which all come with full kitchens.

The Staybridge Suites also has a 2,600-square-foot meeting space that can be broken into three smaller spaces, which can be used as a large ballroom or for classrooms, business events or banquets.

The hotel offers several amenities, including complimentary breakfast, a business center, fitness center, laundry facilities and an outdoor pool with a fire pit and grill area.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Robin Osborne, general manager of Staybridge Suites. “We’re excited to have the extended-stay brand, and we believe this is going to provide a great service to people coming into our community.”

Osborne said the location of the hotel will be instrumental in driving business.

“This area is where I-20 and I-95 come together,” Osborne said. “It’s a good stopover for anyone traveling through. The Florence area is growing with a lot of new corporate businesses, and this location has a lot of dining options, the rail trail, tennis courts are close by and the new soccer complex is close to being finished.”

The hotel will begin accepting reservations for meetings and events starting in mid-to-late summer.

For more information, visit staybridgesuites.com or call 843-519-5200.

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