MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Life for convention-goers in this vibrant Dixie jewel of a town got even better this year with the completion of the new Radisson Plaza Hotel.
The hotel actually is literally connected to the vast Mytle Beach Convention Center, providing a symbionic seamless border that is the ultimate in convenience.
The 402-room hotel was built to complement the architectural styling of the Convention Center and now each entity sits entwined, a singular giant blue-green jewel two blocks off the ocean on North Oak Street.
Unlike many convention center-hotel complexes which present rather bland exteriors, the Radisson Plaza-Convention Center facilities offer very colorful and pleasing presentations, both utilizing huge atrium-style green-glassed corner terrets.
Large hallways offer simple and easy access from one facility to the other, providing guests and convention center visitors weather-free corridors.
The 250,000 square feet Convention Center has several parking lots and the hotel offers a large attached parking garage. The center also has 17 meeting rooms of 14,400 square feet, a pre-function area of 16,000 square feet and 17,000 square feet ballroom. The center also has a 100,000 square feet exhibition hall and large outdoor events plaza.
The hotel opened in January 2003 and has already received "10" ratings (highest level) in every category in an early customer survey.
The terret-atrium design provides lots of well-lit attractive space for the hotel's restaurants, bars, swimming pool, gym, etc. The hotel's Vidalia Restaurant is particularly attractive with its airy atrium-style large room highlighted by giant photos of food utensils and a collection of copper and stainless steel kitchenware (pots, pans, collanders, etc.) suspended in rectangular and circular formation high above the dining room. The 180-seat restaurant features a variety of low-country dishes provided in tasty fashion by the staff of executive chef James Clark.
The hotel's central location (only about 2 blocks from the huge Broadway at the Beach shopping-entertainment-restaurant complex, two blocks off the white sand beaches and within 6 miles of 14 top golf courses) also makes it an outstanding jumping off point for much of the varied attractions the Grand Strand has to offer, including about 1,800 restaurants, 60 miles of beaches and dozens of entertainment venues. The international airport is four miles away and the large Myrtle Square Mall is just across the street from the hotel.
The hotel took great care in presenting a pleasing interior. Immediately upon entering the hotel guests are provided a concierge lounge area featuring a huge wall of lifesize rainbow-color ceramic fish (ranging from 12 inches to 18 inches), representing fish found in the ocean near Myrtle Beach. Artist Chris Rowley of McClellanville, S. C., did an amazing job in making the fish look very lifelike. The hotel also commissioned several other regional artists for artwork representing birds, marshes, beaches, fishermen, bones, hammock, the sea, coral, gardens, etc., placed at various points around the hotel.
The hotel features 400 first-class rooms, each featuring hair dryers, in-room coffee maker, iron/board, safe, high-speed Internet access, 24-hour room service, mini bar, work station, large color TVs on a turntable and on-demand movies. Ample-sized decks provide chairs and tables for ocean viewing. A presidential suite and two-room suites (with a central living room) are available.
The top two floors are designated Plaza levels, hosting complimentary contintental breakfast buffets, special amenities and private access and check-in.
Valet parking is available, as is bellservice and concierge. Multi-service phones offer a variety of assistance, including messaging and self-encoded wakeup calls.
A covered pool, hot tub, business center, exerecise room, gift shop are all also available.
Hotel manager Chris Lacey has instilled an incredibly-friendly and helpful attitude in his staff and guests are constantly treated as if they were the most important people in town.
Radisson Plaza Hotel rates are somewhat seasonal, but range from about $88 to $230 per day.
Hotel contact information:
2101 North Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, S. C., 29577
Phone: 800-537-1690 or 843-918-5000
Fax: 843-5001

This story was published on 22 Apr 2003.