News

The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton region continues to see significant investment in its hospitality sector. Millions of dollars have been spent and committed to hotel renovations and luxury resort enhancements, reinforcing the area's position as one of the Southeast's premier leisure and meetings destinations.

During the past two years, several of Hilton Head Island’s most recognizable resorts have completed transformative projects.

• The Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort unveiled a $26 million property-wide renovation, modernizing guest suites, public spaces, dining venues, and meeting facilities.
• The Beach House Hilton Head completed an $11 million transformation featuring a reimagined Tiki Hut, redesigned pool complex, expanded beachfront event space, and refreshed guest amenities.
• The Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa (formerly Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa) renovated all 513 guestrooms and suites, including the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Suites, in a multi-million dollar, phased enhancement that also included the lobby, restaurants, bars, meeting space, and public areas.
• Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island also recently completed an extensive, multimillion dollar renovation of its guest rooms, restaurants, spa, pool areas, and meeting spaces, creating one of the island's most comprehensively refreshed resort experiences.
• Within Bluffton, the Montage Palmetto Bluff Resort has continued to expand and enhance its luxury offerings through the addition of new guestrooms and waterfront cottages, ongoing improvements throughout the resort, and new guest experiences that have helped it maintain its standing as one of the nation's premier luxury destinations.

And full-service resorts aren’t the only places getting some tender, loving care. Rather than replacing existing hotels, owners are reinvesting instead, spending major capital to elevate older properties and keep them competitive at a variety of budget levels for discerning travelers. This creates a win-win for visitors and residents alike, since these renovations improve the visitor experience without significantly increasing room inventory or new hotel development.

For example, just off the bridge to Hilton Head Island, the Hilton Garden Inn recently completed a major renovation, refreshing guestrooms and public spaces to better serve both business and leisure travelers. Conveniently located near Tanger Outlets, Old Town Bluffton, and Hilton Head Island's beaches, the renovated property enhances the region's diverse lodging offerings and complements the area's growing portfolio of high-quality options.

And this collective momentum shows no signs of slowing.

The island’s Holiday Inn Express completed a five-story addition, new lobby, upgraded rooms, resort-style pool deck, meeting space, and fitness center in 2025, yet another example of major reinvestment. And now, the owners of that property, rather than constructing a hotel on vacant land, are redeveloping and expanding the existing hotel property into a new, three story boutique concept called The Wave South Forest Beach. Developers broke ground on this property in June 2026 (opening in spring 2027) and it will feature residential-style stays with 20 spacious suites (60 bedrooms) including full kitchens, private balconies, and a private bath for every bedroom, plus a resort-style amenities.

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa is preparing for its next major chapter. Following its acquisition by KSL Capital Partners, ownership has announced plans for a significant renovation that will temporarily close the resort for approximately six months while guestrooms, public spaces, and resort amenities are reimagined. The project follows more than $47 million in previous capital investments and is expected to further elevate the property's position within the luxury resort market.

Across the Calibogue Sound, the Haig Point Club & Community Association on Daufuskie Island is advancing plans to renovate and expand its hospitality offerings, enhancing the member and guest experience while preserving the club's distinctive Lowcountry character. Called Project Harmony, this $40 million investment will build on a seaside lifestyle foundation through restoration, refinement, and modernization of the club’s golf offerings, while aligning infrastructure and residential growth to support long-term value.

Meanwhile, The Sea Pines Resort continues its long-term reinvestment strategy with plans to renovate The Inn & Club at Harbour Town while pursuing the development of a new five-star luxury hotel. The proposed addition would represent one of the most significant hospitality investments on Hilton Head Island in decades and further strengthen the resort's reputation as a world-class golf, leisure, and meeting destination.

Tourism remains one of the Lowcountry's largest economic engines, supporting thousands of jobs and generating spending that benefits restaurants, retailers, attractions, and local businesses. Taken together, these projects represent more than updated guestrooms, refreshed lobbies, and expanded leisure offerings. Continued reinvestment by hotel and resort owners demonstrates confidence in the region's long-term economic outlook and ensures our area remains competitive in an increasingly sophisticated travel marketplace.

From Bluffton and Hilton Head Island to Daufuskie Island, the hospitality industry is raising the bar on visitor experiences, and residents and businesses alike can expect to benefit from this investment for years to come.