Hyatt Place Downtown Florence expected to open in February
By: Andrew Boardwine
FLORENCE, S.C. — Construction on the new Hyatt Place in downtown Florence is inching to completion.
The construction on the Hyatt Place Downtown Florence, a five-story, 103 room property, began in the summer of 2017.
The hotel was developed by SpringBridge Development LLC and will be managed by Raines Hospitality, a locally owned company that manages several hotels in South Carolina and Florence including Hotel Florence downtown.
Brittney Edwards, corporate director for sales and marketing at Raines Hospitality, said the hotel represents a $20 million investment in downtown Florence and creates more than 30 jobs in the market.
Edwards said the company expects to open the downtown hotel in February.
“For Raines Hospitality, it is a very exciting time as we see Hyatt Place Downtown Florence nearing completion with an official opening set for February 2019. As downtown continues to flourish, the Hyatt Place will prove to be a great addition as it will draw new people to the area who are particularly loyal to the brand.”
Edwards said that Raines Hospitality expects to see Hyatt Place excel just as Hotel Florence has in downtown Florence.
“Downtown Florence was the ideal location for Hyatt Place as Raines Hospitality saw a need for additional hotel rooms due to the success of Hotel Florence and growth of the market,” Edwards said. “After much research, we found that it would be a great secondary to Hotel Florence as well as the best fit for those looking to travel downtown. Hyatt Place will draw new business to the area as well as support the businesses already here.”
Grey Raines, owner of Raines Hospitality, said the company has seen great support from the community of Florence.
“Raines Hospitality saw the addition of Hyatt Place as an opportunity to push development into what is a growing and unique market while placing a complimentary hotel to Hotel Florence,” Raines said. “Having the support of community partners and a thriving city center allows all of Florence to continue to flourish.”
In 2018, Edwards said the company added two new brands to its portfolio, opening a Cambria Hotel in Mount Pleasant — the first Cambria in South Carolina — in July and a Hampton Inn & Suites in Columbia nearly a month ago. Raines Hospitality also took over management of a boutique property in Mt. Pleasant, The Inn at I’On & Palmetto House Inn, back in the spring and looks forward to it becoming an “Ascend Collection Member” with Choice Hotels at the end of the month.
Edwards said that Raines Hospitality will add five new properties in the Florence, Charleston and Grenville markets in 2019. In Florence, the company will open the Hyatt Place in February followed by a Comfort Inn & Suites near the Florence Center in the second quarter of the year, according to Edwards.
Additionally, Raines Hospitality will manage the Hyatt Place in Mount Pleasant’s Towne Centre, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2019 and two Cambria Hotels, which will open in the fourth quarter of 2019 in Greenville and Summerville.
“2018 has been a great year for Raines Hospitality and we have nothing but bigger and better expectations for 2019,” Edwards said.
