THOMASVILLE —The Courtyard Thomasville Downtown project is focused this week on team member training, final design touches and preparing the property to receive guests soon.

“We are proud to have been selected to bring the first hotel to downtown since the turn of the last century, and we want to make sure this project has the maximum impact to the success of our beautiful, historic and unique city,” said Jeremy Emmett, chief executive officer of Southern Lodging, the Thomasville business that owns the hotel.

On Friday, Courtyard Thomasville Downtown personnel will hear representatives from the City of Thomasville Visitors Center and Thomasville Downtown Merchants Alliance speak at the hotel to ensure the staff is informed about attractions, historic landmarks, restaurants, shops and the unique history Thomasville offers.

“The entire Courtyard team will then leave the hotel to tour the local area and visit some of those unique locations for themselves,” Emmett said. “The staff will get to experience Thomasville for the afternoon as our guests will during their visits.”

Some tour stops will be:

• Tokwotton Historic District

• Historic Dawson Street

• Museums

• Big Oak

• Churches

• Historic Thomas County Courthouse

• Flowers downtown museum

• Amphitheater

• Shops, boutiques and restaurants on Broad Street and in the surrounding Historic Downtown District. 

“If I left anything off the tour list, it is because Thomasville has so much to offer, and we are going to do our best to ensure that everyone who visits our hotel understands they may have to come back many times to experience it all,” Emmett said.

The hotel, which has hired 45 employees, expects to open within the next couple of weeks.

“I want to make sure that every team member at the Courtyard has a proper sense of place, and the information they need to help create unique experiences for our guests, rather than just simply providing them a great place to stay during their visit,” Emmett said. “While this training is focused on the adjacent downtown area and Thomasville’s tourism destinations, our team will also be well-versed in all the other products, services and unique experiences Thomasville and Thomas County have to offer.

“We really want this project to be the long-awaited tide that lifts all boats.”

Reservations can be made by visiting www.courtyardthomasville.com. Questions may be directed to info@courtyardthomasville.com.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820