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Charleston Mayor Joe Riley.

“Mayor Riley said that if it

ought to be there in 100 years,

build it and make it last,” he said.

In addition to building

something that will be around

long after he is gone, Bennett

is concerned about making

sure Patriots Point and its

attractions remain intact for

future generations as well.

“Patriots Point is an

American classic,” Bennett said. “It’s a promotion of

America’s greatness. I have the chance to create money that

will help take care of the Yorktown in perpetuity.”

Bennett Hospitality owns and operates 18 hotels across

the country, including three in Mount Pleasant: The

Courtyard Marriott off Highway 17 and the Residence

Inn Marriott and the Hampton Inn on the Isle of

Palms Connector. He built his first hotel in downtown

Charleston in 1990, turning apartments on Meeting Street

into the Hampton Inn. The $101-million hotel Bennett

is building on Marion Square in Charleston is expected to

open in the fall of 2017.

Meanwhile, Bennett has

launched another project

at the foot of the Ravenel

Bridge in Mount Pleasant.

He hopes to break ground

at Ferry Wharf, where the

ferries pulled into Mount

Pleasant before the first

Cooper River Bridge was

built, late in 2016 or early

in 2017. Plans call for the

construction of hotels, retail space and office buildings.

Regardless of where or what he is building, Bennett’s

mantra remains to make it beautiful and make it last.

“I don’t ask how much money it’s going to cost,” he

explained. “As long as it doesn’t break me, I’m going to

build it, and I’m going to build it better than anyone ever

dreamed of.”

Among all his many projects, which is his greatest

accomplishment?

“Probably the one I like best is the one I’m working on

right now,” he said.

MIchael Bennett’s son, Jack, right, apparently is following in his

father’s footsteps. A recent Clemson graduate, he’s now part of

Bennett Hospitality.

Photo by Jenn Cady.

MPBM

www.MPBusinessMag.com

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www.MountPleasantMagazine.com

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811 Coleman Blvd.

Mount Pleasant, S.C.

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Locally Owned & Operated

For Over 14 Years

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