Since its opening more than 35 years ago, the 434-room hotel in the heart of downtown has kept the name "Charleston Place."
That's been true, even as other brand names were added to it. First, it was "The Omni," then "Orient Express" and, most recently "Belmond."
As of March 1, the hotel has dropped Belmond from its name and it's now The Charleston Place, an independently and locally owned and managed property. The transition comes about five months after businessman and philanthropist Ben Navarro, via his company Beemok Hospitality, bought Charleston Place for $350 million, promising multimillion-dollar renovations and a long-term vision for the anchor property.
Along with its name change, Charleston Place now has an updated website and a new logo, created by local design firm SDCO Partners. Beemok said the logo is meant to resemble the "bud of a giving tree."
Bob Megargle (left), managing director of The Charleston Place, listens as Beemok Hospitality executive Casey Lavin addresses employees on March 1. Brad Nettles/Staff
Coming next is more than $100 million worth of renovations to the hotel. Work is expected to begin in about a year, in early 2023, and will involve redesigns of the lobby, courtyards, guest rooms, suites, spa, restaurants, bars, retail, meeting spaces and pool.
Beemok has said it will be reimagining "nearly all aspects of the hotel."
Employees from all departments gathered Tuesday morning in the hotel's courtyard to celebrate the transition. Casey Lavin, president of Beemok Hospitality, thanked them all for their support over the months leading up to the official change.
"This is an important journey we couldn't do without you," Lavin said.
The property's new leaders have some "audacious goals," said managing director Bob Megargle, who joined Charleston Place in November. He'd previously managed a Four Seasons in San Francisco.
"We are now about to write the best chapter of this hotel," Megargle said.
Members of the "quarter-century club" — the 43 employees on staff who have worked there 25 years or more — were asked to do the honors of hoisting a flag with The Charleston Place's new logo.
The Charleston Place's new flag flies over the hotel courtyard on March 1. Brad Nettles/Staff
After that flag was raised above the hotel's Market Street entrance, miniature replicas were passed out to the crowd, which poured from the courtyard out onto Market Street where a jazz band led as they paraded around the block and back into the courtyard.
Bob Benke recalled standing in the same area for Charleston Place's ribbon cutting in 1986. At that time, the once-controversial project was a catalyst for development downtown. Benke was first hired as an assistant banquet manager. He's been with the property ever since and is now capital project manager.
"Now, we're having a rebirth," Benke said.
The Charleston Place employees parade down King Street on March 1, after the hotel marked its transition to an independent locally owned and managed property. Brad Nettles/Staff
To mark the transition, the hotel has been decorated in new greenery and, underneath the chandelier in the lobby, a large sculpture of two hands holding a tree has been installed. Paper leaves and pens are set out with an invitation for people to write their favorite memory from Charleston Place.
Other programming this month will stem from themes of growth, greenery and spring. The hotel will host the plant truck operated by Sullivan's Island-based Haegur this upcoming weekend, a plant workshop later this month and a community concert with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra on March 20.
Beemok has said to expect more seasonal programming, special décor and events throughout the year.
