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Lowcountry

$73 Million Sale of New Orleans Marriott Courtyard and Springhill Suites Hotel to Group Lead by Louisiana Businessman Robert J. Guidry

May 2, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

First Major Hotel Sale Since Early 2023 Signals Rebound of Hotel Market Sales

NEW ORLEANS, May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Len Wormser, Senior Vice President and Scott Stephens, Senior Principal and Chief Operating Officer of Hospitality Real Estate Counselors (HREC), together with Cushman Wakefield Commercial Real Estate Services, are pleased to announce the sale of the 410 room Marriott dual branded New Orleans Courtyard and Spring Hill Suites Hotels located near the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center/Arts and Warehouse District of the Central Business District. The purchase price was $73 million.

Robert J. Guidry along with Guidry Land Partners and Orlando businessman David Bansmer purchased the properties. These AAA located hotels were sold unencumbered by management and fee simple. InterMountain Management has been selected as the new management company, they also operate the buyer’s 19 story 232 room Residence Inn on St Charles Avenue.

“Clearly I am very bullish on New Orleans as with this purchase we now own three hotels with 642 rooms in this city and no doubt in my mind we will add to the portfolio over time”, said Guidry. He went on to say, “this city simply has more to offer visitors than any other in our country”.

“This transaction represents the first hotel of any significance sold in the New Orleans CBD French Quarter market in the last 16 months,” said Wormser, the Louisiana broker of record. “It was a pleasure working with both the seller and buyer, and HREC looks forward to future transactions with both in the City, and elsewhere, stated Wormer.

“Moreover, the New Orleans lodging market is and will experience significant positive tailwinds in 2024-26 anchored by a full convention calendar 2024-2026, highlighted by the Taylor Swift three night concert in October 2024 and Superbowl returning to the city for the 11^th time in February 2025,” said Wormser.

“These events coupled with over 120 recurring events and festivals each weekend in NOLA, will increase revenue for the hotel NOLA market double digits 2024-2026 compared to 2023.”

Wormser representing HREC is the most active Hotel Investment Advisor in the New Orleans and Southeast U.S. market. Throughout his career Wormser and HREC has sold and/or developed over $550 million in closed Lodging transactions (approx. 4,500 rooms) representing approximately 25% of the core New Orleans market. including recent sales of the 220 room Bourbon Orleans at a price of $90 million, and the 309 room New Orleans Airport Hilton located in Jefferson Parish for $53 million.

For more information about this transaction or the Southeast U.S Hotel Industry, please contact:
Len Wormser
Louisiana Broker License 995680273-ACT
850-830-4595
lwormser@hrec.com
Visit HREC®’s website at www.hrec.com

SOURCE Hospitality Real Estate Counselors (HREC)

Lowcountry

ThinkAndor, an AI-first platform, transforms emergency care at the Medical University of South Carolina

May 2, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

ORLANDO, Fla., May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Andor Health, an AI-first company reimagining virtual care, announces a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming the patient experience in MUSC Health emergency departments. The program uses artificial intelligence (AI)-powered ThinkAndor® to reduce wait times and enhance the quality of care for patients.

Figure 1: This graph compares the provider productivity for provider-in-triage (PIT) providers from January through February of 2023 to January through February of 2024. ThinkAndor Virtual Rounding and virtual triage capabilities were leveraged for ED triage beginning in 2024.

The demand for emergency care continues to rise, leading to overcrowding and excessive wait times. By leveraging ThinkAndor Virtual Rounding, ambient documentation and virtual triage capabilities, emergency departments can identify and address patients’ needs more efficiently, ultimately improving experiences and outcomes. ThinkAndor’s novel approach to emergency department (ED) triage significantly reduces the proportion of patients with “leaving without being seen” (LWBS) dispositions by 17%.

Health systems can optimize emergency care delivery by integrating AI-powered ThinkAndor Virtual Rounding and virtual triage capabilities into traditional ED workflows. Upon arrival, patients are promptly placed in dedicated consultation rooms where they receive initial assessments and treatment from MUSC clinicians who are remotely based and perform assessments virtually. Providers monitor patients’ progress through ThinkAndor’s Virtual Command Center and update patients as they await further evaluation.

With significant reductions in wait times and LWBS rates, early results from MUSC’s program have been promising. For example, when fewer beds were available to move patients through MUSC’s ED, LWBS rates should have risen. However, after implementing ThinkAndor Virtual Rounding and virtual triage capabilities, MUSC’s LWBS rates remained flat because patients were triaged upon arrival, accelerating time to care and disposition. Additionally, due to a remarkable increase in the number of patients receiving medical screening examinations with ThinkAndor AI-first capabilities, MUSC experienced an improvement in productivity by approximately 500% (see Figure 1) when compared with traditional in-person triage.

“Through our strategic partnership with Andor Health, we are transforming emergency care. With ThinkAndor supporting the Emergency Department, we have experienced better outcomes, improved ED throughput and increased patient satisfaction. Even during peak demand when the hospital is at- or overcapacity, the virtual care we are delivering through ThinkAndor ensures optimal outcomes,” said Morsal Tahouni, M.D., assistant professor and medical director of Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina.

“By implementing ThinkAndor, we were able to maintain our LWBS rates under 4%, below the national average, even when capacity at each campus was greater than 100%,” explained Jeanhyong “Danny” Park, M.D., assistant professor and director of ED Clinical Informatics, Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina.

“Innovation is at the heart of everything we do, and our AI-first approach to transforming emergency care is a testament to that commitment,” said Raj Toleti, chairman and CEO of Andor Health. “We recognize the need to automate key workflows of collaboration, documentation and observation within care delivery with an AI-first approach, and ThinkAndor achieves that goal.”

Visit Andor Health at ATA Nexus 2024 booth 619 to learn why ThinkAndor is the leading AI-first virtual care collaboration platform.

About Andor Health
Andor Health revolutionizes clinical care through generative AI-powered virtual experiences across the continuum. ThinkAndor® empowers healthcare providers with actionable insights and ambient monitoring by harnessing generative AI to procure, process, and intelligently translate data and signals trapped in various systems, including electronic medical records and biometric devices. With proven ROI, ThinkAndor® puts AI into action by improving workflows, time to treatment, patient outcomes, and clinical productivity. For more information, visit Andor Health or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a unique mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,200 students in six colleges – Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy – and trains more than 900 residents and fellows in its health system. MUSC brought in more than $300 million in research funds in fiscal year 2023, leading the state overall in research funding. MUSC also leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health funding. For information on academic programs, visit musc.edu.

As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Patient care is provided at 16 hospitals (includes owned or governing interest), with approximately 2,700 beds and four additional hospital locations in development; more than 350 telehealth sites and nearly 750 care locations situated in all regions of South Carolina. In 2023, for the ninth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.

MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $5.9 billion. The nearly 31,000 MUSC family members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, students, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research, and patient care.

Lowcountry

Spirit Airlines to begin nonstop flights from Charleston, SC to Detroit, MI

May 2, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Attention Charleston, South Carolina: The Motor City, Detroit, Michigan is calling!!!

You’re just a flight away thanks to Spirit Airlines. Beginning July 10, 2024 Spirit Airlines will be offering nonstop flights to Detroit 4 times a week!

Flights are on sale now. Click HERE to search and book!

The tail of a Spirit Airlines Co. aircraft is seen on the tarmac at Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S., on Friday, June 02, 2017. Photographer: Saul Martinez/Bloomberg

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Lowcountry

Mellow Mushroom Celebrates their 50th Anniversary – Check out what is in store!

May 2, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Festivities to Take Place Across Various Mellow Locations, May through November

Featuring Special LTO Menu Items, Pop-Up Mellow Pint Nights, New Merch & More

Mellow Mushroom – the stone-baked pizza brand with 160+ locations nationwide – celebrates 50 years of business this year and is set to mark the golden anniversary with a kaleidoscope of celebratory events across locations from May 14 to November 2024.

Mellow Mushroom will commemorate five decades with the launch of a company-wide, limited-time-only anniversary menu featuring a mix of returning fan-favorites and brand new menu items – including an official 50th anniversary cocktail – alongside a 50th-inspired happy hour experience set to pop up at Mellow locations across the country, newly minted packaging, exclusive 50th themed Mellow Shop merchandise and a national ad campaign.

“As the commemoration of this 50th milestone begins, we want to thank the Mellow Mushroom guests who have recognized our unwavering commitment to quality pizzas, munchies, salads and more for a half century,” said Anne Mejia, Senior VP Brand Development at Mellow Mushroom. “With each Mellow Mushroom restaurant, Mellow owners have created a truly unique and very Mellow experience where guests have celebrated countless first dates, birthdays, anniversaries, and other occasions throughout the last 50 years.”

50th Anniversary Menu Covers

Mellow Mushroom Launches 50th Anniversary LTO Menu Items

May 14 through November 11

Available across all Mellow Mushroom locations, the LTO menu items will be listed within a special 50th anniversary section of the menu. This section includes new items like the Super Pepp Pizza featuring a Mellow Red Sauce base topped with mozzarella, pepperoni, Mama Lil’s Peppers, dollops of seasoned ricotta cheese & a swirl of Mike’s Hot Honey^®, Chop To It Salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet onions, Mama Lil’s Peppers, black olives, provolone & julienned salami on a bed of chopped Romaine lettuce topped with house-made croutons served with gluten-free red wine vinaigrette on the side, and Honey Sriracha Wings featuring nine double baked honey sriracha wings sprinkled with sesame seeds & chives served with celery, carrots & a choice of ranch or bleu cheese dressing. in addition to revived classic pizzas including The Marley featuring jerk chicken, mozzarella cheese, Italian sausage & sweet onions on a pesto base crust andThe Maui Wowie featuring a pesto base with mozzarella, honey ham, pineapple, jerk chicken, banana peppers & applewood-smoked bacon. Mixed to perfection to complement the new flavors, the brand will also roll out an official 50th Anniversary cocktail – The Disco Peach made with Jim Beam Bourbon, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, peach, fresh sour & Coca-Cola^® – while the recently launched Lavender Groove Lemonade Mocktail (also available as a cocktail) makes its return!

In addition to mouth-watering food and beverage offerings, Mellow Mushroom will introduce three new menu cover art designs, three new pizza box designs, newly branded cups and to-go packaging, 50th themed gift cards and a variety of new themed retail offerings that will be available to shop via the Mellow Mushroom Shop beginning May 14.

Mellow Pint Night: Cheers to 50 Years

Leaning into the brand’s deep-rooted love for pizza and beer, Mellow Mushroom is toasting the big 5-0 with the launch of a pop-up happy hour set to take place across various Mellow locations throughout summer and fall. While guests can already find a huge selection of the best local and international beers on tap at every location, Mellow Pint Night will serve as a one-night-only experience at select Mellow restaurants in an effort to spotlight regional beer partners and their standout pours with featured collectible 50th anniversary pint glasses. To stay up to date on future Mellow Pint Night’s, keep an eye out on local Mellow social pages and news from the brand’s Shroom Room e-club. More details to come!

Touted for its following and counterculture essence, Mellow Mushroom blends the boundaries between art, music, high quality ingredients and passionate standards for dining. Each individual restaurant is uniquely reflective of its local community while holding true to Mellow Mushroom’s core values and brand. Widely known as the originator of hand-tossed, stone-baked, one-of-a-kind pizza, the main menu – anchored by its coveted “secret dough” recipe – boasts fan-favorite pizzas like the Holy Shiitake Pie with olive oil and garlic base, shiitake, button and portobello mushrooms, caramelized onions, mozzarella, and Wisconsin aged white cheddar, finished with a garlic aioli swirl and a spritz of black truffle oil, garnished with fresh chives and shaved parmesan. Highly customizable Build-Your-Own pizzas are also available, creating the perfect canvas for a kaleidoscope of ingredients with options for meat-lovers, vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free and other dietary-conscious diners, alongside a revolving door of munchies, greens, burgers and sweets.

Founded on pizza and beer, guests will also find a huge selection of the best local and international beers on tap at every location. Behind the Mellow Mushroom bar, a variety of made-from-scratch mixers and electric spirits come to life in the form of Liquid Karma Cocktails with standouts including The Campfire Peach Margarita made with Casamigos Blanco & Mezcal Tequilas, peach, jalapeno & house-made agave sour.

About Mellow Mushroom

Mellow Mushroom has been serving out-of-this-world, stone-baked pizzas since 1974. Founded in Atlanta, Georgia & now operating 160+ locations across 17 states, the iconic pizza bakers are all about being high on pizza, people and passion. Elevating the dining experience with A Higher Order of Pizza™, Mellow Mushroom’s coveted secret dough recipe and red sauce have garnered a cult-like following over the years.

Mellow Mushrooms’s menu of hand-tossed, stone-baked pizzas also includes calzones, hoagies, munchies, greens, sweets & more with plenty of gluten-free & vegan options. Behind the Mellow bar, guests can enjoy a selection of fun, specialty cocktails & mocktails, wines and a selection of local beers.

Each location is locally owned and operated, providing a local flare baked in with Mellow’s trippy vibes, high quality, fresh ingredients and psychedelic artwork. Touted for its following and counterculture essence, Mellow Mushroom blends the boundaries between art, music, high-quality ingredients and passionate standards for dining. Mellow out…

For more information visit www.mellowmushroom.com.

Lowcountry

Hyundai Invests in Safety, Education, and Reforestation in Savannah, GA

May 1, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Hyundai partners with Memorial Health Dwaine and Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah and Safe Kids Savannah on the Child Passenger Safety Program
Hyundai partners with Georgia Southern University to provide STEM scholarships for undergraduate students
Hyundai partners with Coastal Bryan Tree Foundation to support reforestation within the Coastal Bryan County region

SAVANNAH, Ga., April 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Hyundai recently contributed to local Savannah nonprofit organizations to support safety, education, and reforestation in the community. Memorial Health Dwaine and Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah and Safe Kids Savannah received a donation to support child passenger and driver education programs. Georgia Southern University received a donation to provide scholarships to undergraduate students in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Coastal Bryan Tree Foundation received a donation to help replant trees within the Coastal Bryan County region. Ceremonial checks were presented to the organizations in Savannah, Georgia, the week of April 22.

Hyundai Invests in Safety, Education, and Reforestation in Savannah

“Over the past two years, Hyundai has established impactful relationships with local organizations in Savannah whose work aligns with our vision of progress for humanity,” said Brandon Ramirez, director of corporate social responsibility, Hyundai Motor North America. “As we begin to call Georgia home and prepare for the opening of Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, we are proud to invest back into the community by supporting safety, education, and reforestation initiatives that support our neighbors in coastal Georgia.”

Hyundai established its partnership with Children’s Hospital of Savannah and Safe Kids Savannah in 2022, and since then has donated $75,000 to support the Child Passenger Safety Program and driver education. Children’s Hospital of Savannah is the lead agency for Safe Kids Savannah, a local coalition of organizations and individuals whose goal is to prevent injury among children. Hyundai’s donation will continue to support the hospital’s consumer educational events, including car seat safety checks hosted by certified child passenger safety technicians.

“This donation will allow our Safe Kids program to give car seats to parents who may not otherwise have them for their children,” said Heather Newsome, administrator for the Memorial Health Dwaine & Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah. “Keeping children safe and healthy is our goal. Thank you, Hyundai, for helping us in this endeavor.”

Hyundai and Georgia Southern University are entering the second year of partnership, with Hyundai donating a total of $30,000 to STEM scholarships for undergraduate students thus far. With Hyundai’s commitment to innovation and Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America being built nearby, the company seeks to invest in the next generation of leaders in the science, technological, and engineering fields.

Coastal Bryan Tree Foundation is committed to reforestation in the Coastal Bryan County region, with the mission to plant, promote, and protect trees. Hyundai’s donation will be used to ensure the organization can continue its significant work in sustaining the environment of Coastal Georgia.

Hyundai also partnered with the United Way of the Coastal Empire and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire on health-related initiatives. The United Way will use the donation towards their community mental health program, and the Ronald McDonald House will use the donation towards their programming that cares for critically ill children and their families.

Additionally, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America and Hyundai Motor America participated in a volunteer day at America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. Over 20 employees helped pack 2,940 breakfasts for the summer breakfast program, which feeds children across Coastal Georgia.

Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company’s Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (in development in Georgia), and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai’s 835 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a recent economic impact report. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America

Lowcountry

Schumacher Opens Showroom and Boutique in Charlotte, North Carolina

May 1, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

The 135-year-old heritage brand expands its physical footprint to provide design enthusiasts and designers a new source for constant discovery

NEW YORK, April 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Schumacher, the venerable American design house, announces the opening of its first showroom and boutique in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 13, 2024. It will include a traditional to-the-trade showroom experience exclusively for interior designers as well as a separate luxury shop for designers and design aficionados alike to source smaller items.

Schumacher opens its first showroom and boutique in Charlotte, North Carolina in May 2024

Illustration of Schumacher’s Charlotte showroom and boutique

The shop will be located at 301 East Blvd. in Charlotte’s South End. Schumacher tapped Charlotte’s own Barrie Benson to design the interior. The 3,500-square-foot loft-like space will channel Benson’s signature style with compelling juxtapositions of old and new and a tantalizing color palette. It will feature a luxurious terrazzo floor, custom oak cabinetry, antique mirrored walls, and Schumacher’s fabrics and wallpapers throughout.

The boutique will sell antiques, unique home accessories, and gifts including pillows, throws, rugs, baskets, coffee table books, photography, art, tabletop items, and handmade ceramics. Monthly educational and inspirational events will be held to bring together Charlotte-area design lovers along with fun activities including flower-arranging classes, trunk shows, book signings, and workshops for interior designers.

The to-the-trade side will be set up as a design lab with two big open tables, offering designers plenty of space to scheme and shop the 7,000+ fabrics, wallpapers, trims, and rugs.

Schumacher chose Charlotte for its rapidly growing art and design community, recognizing it as an important new hub for interior designers and like-minded individuals with an interest in entertaining, living in beautiful spaces, and self-expression.

“It was a natural choice to have Barrie Benson design our new space in Charlotte, a city I have come to know and love,” says Dara Caponigro, Schumacher’s Creative Director. “I have known Barrie for more than 20 years, meeting her when I was an editor at domino (she was one of our cover girls!). Barrie’s sensibility, with its sophisticated twist on tradition, has always spoken to me. Plus, she is one of our collaborators at Schumacher: She and Chandra Johnson of SOCO Gallery have brought so many interesting artist collaborations to Schumacher under their Peg Norriss brand, all of which have been successes. I look forward to unveiling our new space and welcoming Charlotte’s cultivated community into our new home.”

Timur Yumusaklar, CEO of Schumacher’s parent company, FS&CO, says, “Charlotte is filled with such incredible design talent. We feel it’s our job to bring those talents closer to the growing audience of design lovers and to educate people on just how much interior designers can improve their lives. At Schumacher, we believe that good design can have an immensely positive impact on our emotional well-being and that it can allow us to be better selves – calmer, more centered, happier, more energized.”

For more information, visit schumacher.com or stop by the shop at 301 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203, when it opens on May 13!

About Schumacher
Founded in 1889 in New York by Parisian Frederic Schumacher, the company has been synonymous with style since it began. Still family-owned, Schumacher continues to uphold its namesake’s insatiable passion for beauty, thirst for quality, and quest for innovation. From fabrics, wallcoverings, and trim to furniture, rugs, and pillows, each of Schumacher’s wide-ranging collections is united by a respect for classicism and an eye for the cutting edge. Including Charlotte, Schumacher has 18 showrooms in the United States with plans to open one more in 2024, in addition to locations in London, Paris, and Milan. Schumacher is part of a growing stable of design companies in the portfolio of its parent company, FS&CO, which also includes Patterson Flynn, Backdrop, and Frederic Media. Learn more about Schumacher at schumacher.com and @schumacher1889.

SOURCE FS&CO

Lowcountry

Boatsetter Reveals Trending Destinations Ahead of Summer 2024 – Did Charleston, SC make the 10 Ten?

May 1, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

MIAMI, April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Boatsetter, the leading mobile app for boat rentals, charters, and on-water experiences, has unveiled the hottest travel destinations leading into Summer 2024. Backed by recent booking data and internal search queries, Boatsetter has seen a 115 percent boost in lake-based rentals and a 53 percent surge in pre-bookings for key summer holidays, particularly around the Fourth of July. This growth is fueled by broader trends as vacationers prioritize outdoor activities and off-the-beaten-path adventures, showcasing a significant shift in travel preferences towards on-the-water experiences.

“We’re thrilled to see a jump in pre-bookings and interest in lake locations soar as we ramp up for the busy summer ahead,” says CEO Michael Farb.

Boatsetter, the leading mobile app for boat rentals, charters, and on-water experiences, has unveiled the hottest travel destinations leading into Summer 2024. Backed by recent booking data and internal search queries, Boatsetter has seen a 115 percent boost in lake-based rentals and a 53 percent surge in pre-bookings for key summer holidays, particularly around the Fourth of July.

The rise of bookings around lake locations has been most notable in Chicago, Austin, Charlotte, and Seattle. Inland lake rentals have historically accounted for an average of 20 percent of the company’s total annual bookings, with Lake Michigan, Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Lake Norman, Lake Union, and Lake Washington leading the way as the most popular bodies of water near these major metropolitan areas. In contrast, among trending coastal cities, Miami stands out in the crowd with over 250 percent growth in pre-bookings for the week of July Fourth.

Exploring the upticks in internal search queries observed for major holiday weekends, Boatsetter’s list of the ten trending waterfront cities reflects guests searching specifically for boat rentals and experiences in those localities during time periods surrounding Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July week, and Labor Day weekend. Early data suggests that half day bookings (4-hour durations) lead the way as the most popular trip duration, accounting for 60 percent of total bookings, with the majority of trips taking place in the early afternoon between 10am and 4pm. Multi-day bookings are also on the rise, showing a 34 percent increase compared to last year.

“We’re thrilled to see a jump in pre-bookings and interest in lake locations soar as we ramp up for the busy summer ahead,” said Michael Farb, CEO of Boatsetter. “Guests have a desire to plan ahead and curate extremely unique trips, which Boatsetter’s community of local boat owners and operators can successfully bring to life.”

As the final countdown to summer continues, Boatsetter encourages travelers everywhere to explore all that the water has to offer in these top ten trending destinations:

Chicago
Seattle
Miami-Fort Lauderdale
San Diego
Tampa-St. Petersburg (FL)
Austin
Destin
Los Angeles
Charleston (SC)
Charlotte (NC)

About Boatsetter
With thousands of vetted boat listings worldwide, Boatsetter is the leading marketplace for boat rentals and on-the-water experiences. From pontoons to yachts, for lake days or weekend getaways, guests can find a boat for any occasion. Many guests book a boat with a USCG-certified captain or an expert guide, to explore the waterways with ease. Credited with pioneering the first-ever peer-to-peer boat rental insurance policy, Boatsetter has empowered boat owners with the tools and support to become entrepreneurs on the water. Launched commercially in 2014, over one million boaters and boat owners alike have turned to Boatsetter to discover the endless possibilities the water provides.

Lowcountry

Free Jazz in the Park at Waterfront Park (Tuesdays) in North Charleston, SC – through May 28th

May 1, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Outdoor Sunset Offerings free to the public at Historic Riverfront Park. Join us on select Tuesday evenings for classic and popular Jazz at North Charleston Rivefront Park. Bring your lawn chair or blanket. Relax under the oaks alongside the Cooper River. Perfect evening for the entire family. Share snacks for the kids, enjoy wine and cheese, or catch a reservation at Momo Riverfront.

Featured performers include Roman Pekar with Alva Anderson, Manny Houston, Heather Rice, Brandon Waller, Tynè Angela Freeman & Krystal Halvorson, Philip Lipton & Nolan Tecklenburg.

Lowcountry

Charleston Area Students Get Up-Close Look at Healthcare Careers

April 30, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

High school students eager to explore jobs in healthcare had a hands-on opportunity in recent months, as Lowcountry Acceleration Academy (LAA) and YWCA Greater Charleston teamed up to bring them face-to-face with people who have built their career paths around helping others.

SheStrong is an ongoing YWCA program for high school students who seek to engage with their communities and develop as leaders and changemakers. Supported by a $25,000 grant from Trident Health and its parent company, HCA Healthcare, the YWCA teamed up with LAA to offer students a rare opportunity to explore careers in healthcare.

All the students emerged with a clearer sense of purpose and plans to study a variety of healthcare disciplines in college. “I’m definitely going to college,” said Shay Grant, 17, of Summerville, who recently earned her diploma at LAA.

Shay and other students who successfully completed the new 8-month program were recently celebrated at a graduation ceremony held at the North Charleston academy.

“It has been our pleasure and an honor to partner with the YWCA and Lowcountry Acceleration Academy in the SheStrong Program and helping give young students an opportunity to experience healthcare,” Rod Whiting, director of communications and community engagement for Trident Health, said before the ceremony began. “We all recognize, especially in terms of the healthcare needs of our country, especially with an aging population, we do need that new generation of workers in healthcare.”

The program graduates were Malayjah Gathers of North Charleston, David Mouzone of Dorchester, Evyn Wright of Moncks Corner, Max Hallman of West Ashley, and Summerville’s Shay Grant, Isabella Castle and Zy Mazyck.

Shay said she emerged from the program with an ambition to study nursing in college and work with premature and seriously ill babies in a hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. “I was like, ‘Okay, I could do this. I love babies.’ ”

The YWCA focuses its efforts on empowering women and eradicating racism, and it made SheStrong available for LAA students who identify as female and for their allies. One of them was David, a young Black man who had the opportunity to job-shadow with a Black male surgeon.

“I’ve learned a lot about the medical field and I’ve learned about myself and what I’m passionate about, which is helping people and fixing them,” said David. After earning his high school diploma at LAA, he plans to enroll at Trident Technical College to earn an associate’s degree as a surgical technician, then move on to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology and move on to medical school.

“Thirteen years of work ahead of me,” he said. “It’s something I love, so I think I’m good. Find something you love and it will never feel like work.”

LAA educators said SheStrong invites students to move beyond ideas about healthcare based mostly on what they had seen in movies and on TV. During the program, professionals working in the field came to the academy to give in-depth looks at career paths including such familiar roles as doctors and nurses, to more specialized roles including chiropractors, healthcare assistants and technicians, and administrators and supply chain managers.

“You have a huge leg up when you can experience what a job is as compared to what you think it is,” said LAA Assistant Director Bria Alston. Academy career coach Quentin Morrison said the program allowed them to “be realistic and understand what it’s going to take.”

“They are going to ask about money, which is understandable,” Morrison added. “But I try to make them understand that even if the money is good, they’re not going to stick with a job if they don’t enjoy it.”

A highlight of the program came when participants donned blue scrubs and got comprehensive tours of Trident Hospital in North Charleston and its sister hospital, Summerville Medical Center. They also got to shadow professionals in the healthcare fields of their choice as they performed their daily duties.

Malayjah said she was surprised to learn about the complex web of facilities and responsibilities inside the hospitals. “I always thought it was just the doctors but it’s not,” she said. “It all starts at the bottom with supplies” — ranging from items as basic as cotton swabs, IV needles and bedding to high-tech diagnostic equipment and surgical suites. “That was mind-blowing to me.”

Malayjah said the idea of doing hands-on work with patients and their bodies doesn’t appeal to her, but she loves the idea of using sophisticated diagnostic equipment to help chart their journey to health. She also plans to begin her medical coursework at Trident Tech. “I want to become a radiology technician.”

At the graduation ceremony, program participants presented their career roadmaps and spoke about the paths they plan to take beyond graduation into their chosen healthcare fields. Regardless of their path, they will make a difference in their adult lives — and YWCA and Trident Health officials say they hope to continue and expand the SheStrong initiative after this successful pilot project.

“I’m immensely proud … These are some really, really resilient young adults,” YWCA Programs Director CJ Gathers told the students of the inaugural SheStrong healthcare class. “You all are not children. You are young adults who are going to make your mark on the world.”

Photo: (From left) Shay Grant, Max Hallman, Quentin Morrison, David Mouzone, Rod Whiting, Shay Grant, Bria Alston, Malayjah Gathers, CJ Gathers. (Credit: Hali Schaefer, LAA.)

About Lowcountry Acceleration Academy

Lowcountry Acceleration Academy is a free, public charter school in North Charleston, SC, and is part of a growing nationwide network of Acceleration Academies, which operates in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Nevada, California and Washington State. The academies re-engage students who have struggled in traditional schools for a variety of reasons, including the need to work full-time or care for young children; the need for more one-on-one attention; or a desire to accelerate their studies in order to graduate early and move forward with plans for college, military service, work or athletic careers. To meet such needs, Acceleration Academies provide a blend of online study and in-person academic, social and emotional support.

Like all public school programs, LAA is free of charge and open to students up to age 21 who want to earn their high school diplomas. Education Week featured the network following its success in re-engaging students after the Covid pandemic. Find more information at: accelerationacademies.org

Lowcountry

Want to Learn About Charleston with the best tour guides around? Bulldog Tours has you covered!

April 30, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Bulldog Tours has been celebrating the past, present and future of Charleston for over 22 years and they are only beginning. As the tourism landscape continues to grow and evolve, so too does the offerings of Bulldog Tours.

The team of dedicated history buffs and Charleston’s finest guides charm you with facts, charisma and flair as you look back at a different time in Charleston, get spooked by ghosts of Charleston past or get soaked in to the gorgeous Southern homes. All the while, you are swept away with the beautiful surroundings of the South’s most charming city.

What does Bulldog Tours Offer?

South of Broad Houses and Gardens
Charleston History Walking Tours
Drayton Hall
Fort Sumter
Dark Side of Charleston
Savor the Flavors of Charleston – Food Tours
Ghost Tours
USS Yorktown
African American History and Heritage

Click HERE to learn more or book your next tour.