(Charleston, SC) - The highly anticipated and luxurious Hotel Bennett in Charleston, South Carolina, is now officially open. Today, Hotel Bennett welcomed distinguished guests and members of the community to celebrate with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. 

The hotel is named for the Charleston-based Bennett family, and is owned by local hotelier and businessman Michael Bennett. The property is being managed in a collaborative partnership with Salamander Hotels & Resorts, the luxury hotel company founded by Sheila Johnson.

Two decades in development, the hotel is located on the corner of the city’s famed King Street and historic Marion Square, and the 179-room property carefully combines European architectural inspiration married with classic Southern furnishings and details throughout. Hotel Bennett’s historic site formerly housed the original west wing of The Citadel, South Carolina’s Military Academy, and more recently was home to the Charleston Library. Construction on the hotel began in 2015. 

“Hotel Bennett was constructed with the same classical character and quality as buildings from over a century ago. To complement Charleston’s architectural heritage, we used the finest materials, including beautiful limestone, marble, bronze and copper,” said Michael Bennett. “Today’s official opening marks an immensely proud moment for my family, for whom I named the hotel, and our beloved city, Charleston. We are so excited to share each and every detail with our community and visiting guests. Hotel Bennett: Be Kind.”

Hotel Bennett features a two-story signature restaurant, Gabrielle Charleston, with a sweeping outdoor dining terrace overlooking Marion Square and a menu developed by Executive Chef Michael Sichel which is inspired by the local bounty of Coastal Carolina; the French-style La Pâtisserie on King Street offering authentic French pastries, desserts, sandwiches, and a full coffee bar; Fiat Lux, a rooftop bar and pool, with exclusive cabana experience and sweeping views of Charleston’s cityscape; and Camellias at Hotel Bennett – a stunning champagne bar, striking in design and pink hue, showcasing reclaimed marble from the former library for its bar and table tops.

The property includes a curated concierge club for guests and a signature luxury spa with five treatment rooms, including a couples’ room, relaxation area, manicure/pedicure studio, and state-of-the-art fitness center. It also features over 12,000 square feet of grand event and meeting spaces, including the 6,600-square-foot Crown Ballroom with a dramatic 30-foot ceiling and expansive arched windows, and the rooftop Observatory room.

“Hotel Bennett is destined to become one of America’s finest,” said Sheila Johnson, Founder & CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts. “The buzz and excitement about this property in the hospitality industry is incredible. We are thrilled to introduce Salamander’s clients and guests to this stunning hotel, which is the result of decades of hard work by the Bennett family.”  

For more information and to make a reservation, please visit www.hotelbennett.com. Rates begin at $450.

About Bennett Hospitality

Founded in 1983, Bennett Hospitality is one of the largest locally-owned companies in Charleston, S.C. The company is a multi-faceted, real estate and hotel development company, as well as a hospitality, restaurant, and asset management company. The company owns 18 hotels, eight restaurants and a catering company in four states. Projects are developed, constructed and managed in this framework and range from award-winning resort developments to the re-design and re-development of two city blocks, including six restaurants, a 1000-seat music hall and two hotels in downtown Charleston. For additional information, visit www.BennettHospitality.com.

About Salamander Hotels & Resorts

Salamander Hotels & Resorts is a privately owned and operated company based in Middleburg, VA, just outside Washington, D.C. Founded by entrepreneur Sheila Johnson in 2005, the company has a luxury portfolio featuring the stunning Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, a 340-acre equestrian-inspired property near Washington, D.C.; The Henderson, a 170-room grand beach resort in Destin, FL; Hotel Bennett, a 179-room new luxury hotel in Charleston, SC, overlooking the city’s historic Marion Square; Innisbrook Resort in Tampa Bay, which hosts an annual PGA TOUR on its Copperhead Course; and the recently renovated oceanfront Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, FL, home to layouts by Nicklaus and Watson. All Salamander properties are members of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. For additional information, visit www.SalamanderHotels.com or call 540-687-3710.