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$125 million The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Opens |
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KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C., Aug. 20, 2004 - The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island,
one of America's most anticipated resorts, opened its Atlantic oceanfront
doors at 1 p.m. Friday.
The doors opened after a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by a "Who's Who?" of South Carolina politicians, business leaders and celebrities. The hotel was formally opened by owner William H. Goodwin and his wife Alice, Managing Director Prem Devadas, U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings, Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr., Kiawah Island Mayor Bill Wert and Chad Prosser, director of the South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism department. Owned and operated by Kiawah Island Golf Resort, The Sanctuary has been
designed to reflect the style of a grand southern seaside mansion and is
located along 10 miles of pristine beach only 30 minutes from Charleston.
The 255-room, $125 million oceanfront resort features some of the largest
and most luxurious guestrooms in America, including a 3,100-square-foot
Presidential Suite. Ninety percent of the rooms have ocean views.
In addition to its luxury guestrooms, The Sanctuary has two oceanfront restaurants: the Ocean Room, featuring New American cuisine; and Jasmine Porch, which serves regional favorites. There is also a casual seaside grill, two bars, seven boutique shops, more than 18,000 square feet of meeting space, a luxurious nature-based spa, and wireless Internet access stretching onto the beach. Guests can also play five championship golf courses, including The Ocean Course -- home of the 1991 Ryder Cup and last year's World Cup. The Sanctuary has two historic, sister properties: The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA and The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, TN. The Jefferson is one of only 24 resorts, inns and hotels in North America to hold both the prestigious Mobil Five Star and AAA Five Diamond awards. The Hermitage Hotel recently garnered the AAA Five Diamond Award. "Despite its youth, we expect that The Sanctuary will be considered a grand hotel, much like The Jefferson and The Hermitage," said Prem Devadas, The Sanctuary's managing director. "We have created magnificent public spaces and amenities and that invite community interaction and togetherness, much like the grand hotels built at the turn of the century." At the height of the travel season, The Sanctuary will have over 350 employees, and is projected to contribute over $3 million per year to local and state tax bases, while the projected annual expenditure by out-of-state guests in the surrounding community is about $40 million. "If you're looking at economic clusters that are going to continue being key drivers in our state's economy, then you've got to start with tourism," said S.C. Governor Mark Sanford. "We've got a tremendous competitive advantage compared with other states on that front and The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island is a perfect example of why that's the case. It's a truly breathtaking reminder of the kind of quality of life South Carolina has to offer and one we're sure will promote our state's natural beauty while continuing to bolster our tourism economy." |
Contact:
Kiawah Island Resorts The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island http://www.thesanctuary.com |