We love Charleston, South Carolina. Full of coffee shops, buzzing restaurants on palm-lined streets and plenty of Southern charm. Stay at Belmond Charleston Place and try the oysters at ‘167 Raw’. We caught up with our partners at the Belmond, a hotel bursting with “southern charm and timeless elegance” and asked the hotel’s Marketing Director Eric Monteiro to tell us all.
“I always say I have the easiest job in the world!” says Eric. “Marketing the best hotel in the very centre of the best city in North America. It’s easy to fall in love (and stay in love) with Charleston and Charleston Place.”
From arrival, guests’ senses are stirred and indulged. From bronze fountains, crystal chandeliers and a double-arm staircase that hugs the lobby. No detail has been left unexplored! Described by Eric as a “cosmopolitan hideaway that is perfectly situated to explore the full beauty of historic Charleston”.
Like Love Brand, The Belmond Charleston Place operates with family in mind. This ethos is key to the hotel and its guests are made to feel at home instantly with its southern embrace. That “strives to make every guest feel a part of the soul of the city and to feel as if we are their home away from home, returning year after year in search of familiar faces.”
Eric tells us that what makes this so special is the fact that “our team has an incredible tenure, with multiple employees having worked here since the hotel opened in the late 80s. It’s truly a Belmond family. This year has been tough for so many reasons. Being able to reconnect with loved ones is top of mind for so many. Travel gives us an opportunity to escape from the everyday. To stop, recognize and appreciate the people and things in our lives. It’s also incredibly inspirational and fuels the mind, body and soul. Travelling with loved ones creates stronger bonds and creates shared memories that will be treasured for a lifetime.”
We couldn’t help to ask what the perfect day out in Charleston would be. “Start with breakfast in the garden-like Palmetto Café where peach tea and shrimp and grits are on the menu. Then venture out of the doors into the heart of Charleston. A private carriage tour is a wonderful way to see the city with little ones while learning more about its unique history. Allow us to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it al fresco in one of our beautiful waterfront parks. Then, slowly meander back to the hotel, admiring the historic architecture, secret gardens and abundant flora. Spend the afternoon at our rooftop pool overlooking Historic King Street with truffle fries and a Belmond Breeze. Urban living never felt so good.”
As day turns to night it would be impossible not to make the most of, what has been said as, one of the city’s best restaurants – The Charleston Grill. Eric confirms, “there’s no better place for a night out – live jazz, the city’s biggest wine cellar and incredible cuisine.” He certainly has us sold.
As the world re-emerges after the pandemic, we have all recognised how different the future of ‘business as usual’ will be. Eric explained to us that for Charleston Belmond “health and safety have also been top of mind for us but even more so now. Guests are temperature checked upon arrival and masks are required in all public spaces and throughout the city of Charleston. We also continue to practice social distancing at our restaurants, spa and pool”.
A year ago these, now routine procedures, would have been unheard of but for the hotel, it’s a way to evolve and ensure that all guests are kept as safe and healthy as they can be without having to compromise any of the Belmond Charleston Experience. “I think everyone realised just how valuable a change of scenery is for your mental health. Travel was valued before but I think even more so now we will all appreciate the opportunities we have to travel beyond our own backyards.”
Travel may look slightly different for us all in the coming years, especially when it comes to embracing mindful travel and sustainable options. Eric explains that for the hotel’s future, this is “something that’s top of mind for us and we continue to expand upon our efforts. I believe we will see more of a focus on this from consumers demanding more transparency and accountability for brands”. To wrap up we asked Eric what travel means to him. He replied “to travel is to live”, something at Love Brand. we couldn’t agree with more, being a brand built on a passion for travel from the start.
