Marshall Hotels & Resorts, a leading hotel management and services company that operates properties nationwide, announced that it has taken over management of the 148-room Best Western Plus University Inn & Conference Center in Clemson, S.C.
The hotel recently was purchased by Medalist Diversified REIT, a real estate investment trust specializing in value-add commercial real estate. To celebrate the occasion, Marshall hosted a grand re-opening event where the hotel’s new dining concept, Tiger Blvd. Bistro, was unveiled.
“The Best Western Plus University Inn & Conference Center, with its proximity to Clemson University and its ability to better weather economic ‘hiccups,’ is an ideal addition to our growing, nationwide portfolio of third-party managed hotels,” said Mike Marshall, president and CEO, Marshall Hotels & Resorts. “This marks our 15th university-hotel, a specialty of ours, as well as our 14th conference center hotel. This type of hotel requires a unique touch, and we look forward to helping the property improve both its guest satisfaction scores and bottom line for the new owners.”
Located at 1310 Tiger Blvd., less than one mile from Clemson University, the four-story hotel also provides 6,200 square feet of conference meeting space. The hotel, the largest in the surrounding three-county area, underwent a massive renovation and repositioning during 2017-18 to the Best Western Plus brand, including relocating the pool to an outdoor setting, completely renovating the lounge and restaurant and upgrading guest rooms and high-speed internet access.
Hotel amenities include a 24/7 fitness center, self-service laundry and business center. Guest rooms feature a 40” flat screen, high-definition television, mini-refrigerator, oversized work desk with multiple data ports and high-speed internet access. The conference center consists of modern, flexible ballroom space, as well as an oversized atrium for groups and events of all sizes. Guest may opt to dine at Tiger Blvd. Bistro, the hotel’s three-meal-daily restaurant serving good, Southern food, including biscuits & gravy, pimento cheese sandwiches and fried green tomatoes.
“General Manager Kathryn Campbell, a native of the Upstate with strong ties to the local community, is returning to the Clemson marketplace after a six year absence operating numerous, award-winning hotels across the country,” Marshall added. “Over the course of her career, she’s won numerous awards for financial management and currently is completing her CHA certification. With her admirable record managing such high profile hotels as the Hilton Garden Inn – Aiken, we are confident Kathryn is the right person to lead the Best Western Plus University Inn & Conference Center to its rightful position as the segment leader for the market.”
To further celebrate the opening, the management company donated dozens of tiger stuffed animals to children visiting the Joseph F. Sullivan Center. “It is important to us to become active members of the community, and what better way to announce our arrival than reaching out to children experiencing their own ‘home away from home’ moments,” Campbell said. “As the children undertake the path on the road to recovery, we wanted them to experience a taste of the southern hospitality we look forward to sharing with all the visitors to the area.”