Katelynn Singleton, news editor
Kelsee Brady, managing editor
On Jan. 28, the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott opened to guests at the Rome Tennis Center. First announced in 2019, Berry wanted to increase hotel availability in Rome and provide a hotel in closer proximity to campus. Berry partnered with Hotel Equities Group, which furnished the hotel, and the group will continue to assist with operations now that it is open.
Just over two and a half miles from the main gates, the hotel is open to anyone visiting Rome, and groups attending tournaments at the tennis center have already used the hotel.
According to a Berry College press release, administration chose the Fairfield brand due to its similarity of its history to Berry values.
The hotel has been in development for close to two years, according to Leah Cobb, the director of auxiliary initiatives and partnerships. The project broke ground in Oct. 2020. According to a press release from Berry, amenities will include a complimentary breakfast, high speed wi-fi fitness center, seasonal pool and a lobby bar and restaurant.
Also featured throughout the hotel are QR codes near pictures of iconic Berry landmarks, including College Chapel and the Old Mill. When scanned, the QR codes redirect the viewer to a page that provides the history of the Berry landmark and where it is located on campus. The Tennis Center now hosts around 50 tournaments a year, which provides a demand for places to stay. The hotel is a closer option than other hotels in the Rome area, which are downtown or on the Rome Connector. Another advantage of the Fairfield Inn & Suites is that it increases local revenue that may have been lost to nearby cities due to availability of hotels in Rome, according to a Berry press release. Parents and visitors during Mountain Day will also benefit from the new hotel.
Cobb said that the hotel will provide an alternative revenue for Berry that will help them support students.
“All of the revenue from people staying at the hotel will help support student scholarships,” Cobb said. “It’s an investment from the endowment that will get repaid and get back into the endowment.”
One of the goals of the hotel is to give Berry students a unique work experience. Focusing on hospitality management, Berry has also discussed plans of implementing a certification program as well although no specifics have been announced yet. Administration plans to let students work at the hotel for their LifeWorks positions, although the specifics have not been determined yet.
The Fairfield Inn & Suites hotel is located at 90 Match Point Way NE in Rome and is currently accepting reservations.