The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, a Montage Resort Joins Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI)
Palmetto Bluff, SC. June 24, 2015 - South Carolina's AAA Five-Diamond The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, a Montage Resort has joined as the newest member of Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI). Already recognized as the “#1 Resort in the U.S.” in Conde Nast Traveler magazine's “Reader's Choice Awards 2013,” and the #3 “Best Hotel in the USA” in 2015 by U.S. News & World Report, the acclaimed resort is undergoing a $100 million expansion that will include a luxurious new 150-room hotel expansion (with exceptional meeting space, a new Spa, and dining facilities), that will complement the inn's existing 50 individual cottages. The new hotel expansion, slated for completion in 2016, also is designed and anticipated to be at the AAA Five-Diamond level. Together the resort will boast 230 guest rooms, suites, cottages and village homes, complemented by 16,000 square feet of meeting and function space for meetings and incentive programs, the scenic 18-hole May River Golf Course (designed by Jack Nicklaus as a Signature Course), and countless fabulous outdoor venues for special events.
This marks ALHI's second Member resort in its portfolio that is managed by Montage Hotels & Resorts, joining the extraordinary Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, which features 220 guest rooms and suites and 55,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event facilities.
The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, a Montage Resort becomes ALHI's second Member in South Carolina, joining the renowned Belmond Charleston Place, offering 435 elegant guest rooms and 40,000 square feet of meeting space in the heart of Charleston's beautiful historic district. The ALHI Global Sales Organization (GSO), which serves the North American meetings and incentive (M&I) marketplace for its Membership of over 170 Four- and Five-Diamond quality hotels and resorts worldwide, now represents The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, a Montage Resort to meeting professionals, association executives, business executives, and incentive specialists interested in conducting meetings and/or incentive programs at the resort. The announcement was made by ALHI President Jim Schultenover.
Nestled in the picturesque 20,000-acre nature preserve and residential community of Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina, The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, a Montage Resort is known for its truly lush waterfront setting among majestic 100-year-old Live Oaks and scenic rivers, as well as for its beautiful Southern Colonial architecture, gracious Southern hospitality and charm, first-class accommodations, and outstanding service. Located along the coast of South Carolina (between Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia), and just 30 minutes from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (for ease of access), the resort is already the recipient of such accolades as “#1 Top Hotel in South Carolina” in 2015 by U.S. News & World Report, and #5 in Travel + Leisure magazine's “Top Resorts in the Continental U.S.” in 2014.
The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, a Montage Resort currently offers 4,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, which includes the 1,800-square-foot Oak Ballroom (boasting a lovely verandah and charming fireplace), plus attractive boardrooms. The resort also offers 30,000 square feet of beautiful outdoor meeting/event space, which includes Moreland Pavilion along the May River, the vibrant Village Square (which can accommodate 200 guests), and an enchanting five-story treehouse with gorgeous views of the estuary. Other features include river access, a freshwater lake, an extensive nature preserve, the scenic 18-hole May River Golf Course (a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course), an Equestrian Center, eight Har-Tru tennis courts, two croquet lawns, bocce, several great dining options including the fine-dining The River House restaurant, walking trails, and complimentary canoes and kayaks for guests (who often report dolphin sightings).
The new hotel expansion, which will feature the same beloved Southern Colonial architectural style of the existing inn, will offer 150 luxurious new guest rooms and suites that will include guest rooms in the main building plus rooms in adjacent waterfront buildings. Plus, it will feature a new 7,000-square-foot ballroom, five additional meeting rooms (for a total of 10 meeting rooms), a premium destination Spa Montage and fitness center, and expanded dining facilities. When complete, the newly expanded resort will feature over 16,000 square feet of meeting space, nine dining options, and 24-hour in-room dining. The expansion will allow the resort to comfortably accommodate groups up to 450 guests. Importantly, the expansion will preserve the nationally lauded Lowcountry aesthetic and Southern hospitality of the existing inn.
“We are delighted to add The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, a Montage Resort to our ALHI portfolio of AAA Four- and Five-Diamond quality hotels and resorts,” said Schultenover. “It is already a remarkable resort, which provides the quintessential Southern experience, and will be even more extraordinary now that it will accommodate larger groups and programs with the additional rooms, tremendous new meeting space, and truly beautiful outdoor event space to serve the meetings and incentive marketplace.”
In addition to its Membership in ALHI's worldwide portfolio, The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, a Montage Resort becomes the newest option in ALHI's “Level 5 Collection” specialty segment, consisting of the crème de la crème of luxury hotels which have received the highest and most celebrated honors, including the AAA Five-Diamond and/or Forbes Five-Star Awards. ALHI now provides planners with 28 “Level 5” options within the esteemed ALHI portfolio. In addition, the resort also becomes a new option within ALHI's “Golf Collection” specialty segment.
ALHI (alhi.com) is the leading independent Global Sales Organization (GSO) serving the North American meetings and incentive (M&I) marketplace for its Membership of over 170 Four- and Five-Diamond quality hotels and resorts worldwide. In addition to the 115,000 rooms and 10 million square feet of function space in the hotel portfolio, ALHI also provides GSO “Alliance” sales services for 9 luxury cruise ships appropriate for M&I programs; a worldwide Destination Management Company (DMC) offering program support from 100 service providers in over 65 countries; and the Bermuda Tourism Authority and that island's fine M&I resorts. One call connects to an experienced ALHI GSO Sales Professional with advocacy and sales assistance for meetings, conventions, and incentive programs. ALHI is a dues-funded organization, so there is no cost to the planning organization to access the GSO network with local professionals and ease of discussing viable options for your programs.
Collectively ALHI is prepared to assist Accounts with their programs in the U.S.A. and over 75 countries and destinations worldwide. ALHI provides a team of experienced and knowledgeable sales professionals for Account advocacy with full market one-call professional GSO sales assistance and access to their distinctive hotels, resorts, and venue resources for M&I programs of any size and scope worldwide. ALHI helps Accounts best achieve their objectives and budgets, with distinctive venues, vital insights, and responsible service to enhance the ease and success of their programs.
In addition, for ease of matching specific event criteria, ALHI provides very useful information on 12 defined “Specialty Segments” within the ALHI portfolio which makes it easy for planners to quickly identify site-specific solutions for their programs. These include the “Beach & Island Collection,” “Big Box Solutions,” “Level 5 Collection,” “City Solutions,” “Passport Collection,” “Golf Collection,” “Entertainment & Gaming Collection,” “U-200 Gems,” “Historic Collection,” “Mountain Collection,” “Ocean Line Collection,” and “Bahamas, Bermuda & Caribbean Collection.”
For information about any of ALHI's Members and resources, planners should contact their nearest of the 20 professionally-staffed ALHI Global Sales offices situated coast-to-coast in the United States and in Canada, with locations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Louisville, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Richmond, Southern California (3), Toronto, Washington, D.C., and Washington (state). For specifics, go to alhi.com to identify the “ALHI Team” sales professionals in your state/area.
For more information about ALHI, to inquire about any of the ALHI portfolio properties, and/or to acquire a free copy of ALHI's “2015 Meeting Facilities Guide” or the ALHI app, contact your nearest ALHI Global Sales Office, or call the “ALHI Group Desk” toll-free at 866-303-ALHI (2544), and visit www.alhi.com
Media Contact:
Karen Lamonica
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407-788-7070
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