Mr. Hospitality

Bennett, who owns and founded Bennett Hospitality in 1983, has grown his business to nearly 3,000 hotel keys in South Carolina, Montana and Georgia. With a deep love and respect for the hospitality industry, Bennett thought more could be done to promote hospitality in the Holy City.

“It’s always a joy to brag on my city,” he says. “People love to hear stories, and I love building and promoting Charleston.”

As one of the top tourist destinations in the world, it only makes sense that the city has a world-class hospitality school, so in collaboration with College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu, Bennett is funding the creation of the Michael and Amy Bennett School of Hospitality and Tourism Management – the first named school at the College.

“Charleston is the most hospitable city in America, so there should be a school of hospitality that reflects that,” says Bennett, whose wife, Amy ’82 – whom he met when she was leading a quail hunt – is a CofC alum, as is son Jack ’16, who now heads up Bennett Hospitality with Bennett’s sister, Kim Bennett Brown, one of the founding members of the company. “It really should be the biggest thing at the College of Charleston.”

For Hsu, Bennett’s transformational gift marks a defining moment for the university and its business programs.

“With Charleston’s long and storied tradition as one of the world’s great hospitality and tourism destinations, there is no better home for a top-tier program studying this dynamic, multibillion-dollar industry,” says Hsu. “Michael got his start as a student working at the College, an experience that helped launch his extraordinarily successful career, and it is deeply meaningful to see him invest in future students who may follow in his footsteps.”

Like Charleston, Bennett has come a long way. He grew up with nine family members in a two-bedroom house across from the peninsula in West Ashley. What sounds like a struggle was actually an adventure. In addition to playing sports, which his parents attended with great dedication, Bennett actively participated in his father’s entrepreneurial endeavors.

One such opportunity got Bennett and his brother out of school to raise sunken boats in Charleston Harbor. His father figured out how to raise the boats using inner tubes. They’d tie 50 of them around the vessel and go back with an air hose to fill them up. When the boat reached the surface, they would start pumping out the water. Once they got the boat to shore, the team would get the boat back in shape and ready for sale.

“Dad worked tirelessly,” says Bennett, adding that his father also owned a vehicle repair business. “He found opportunities when others saw none.”

His father’s strong work ethic and integrity flowed through to Bennett, and his can-do spirit fostered determination for a brighter future. It was his mother, however, who taught him hospitality.

Initially, Bennett’s mother held Sunday family dinners, but the children’s sports often conflicted with suppertime. She moved the supper to Thursdays and welcomed whoever was around to join them – from congressmen to bricklayers. She brought Charleston hospitality to life.

Bennett’s parents gave him a solid foundation and the confidence to take the long view when looking for opportunities, and his education came in traditional and nontraditional ways. He took courses at the University of South Carolina and at the College, but he didn’t feel compelled to complete a degree – he just took the courses he felt he needed.

While taking classes at the College in 1977, Bennett worked with the facilities maintenance team, and he credits that experience with setting him up for his life’s path.

“I helped renovate buildings primarily on Glebe Street, and what I learned has stuck with me,” he says. “I remember that I would practice swinging the hammer before hitting the nail, and a member of the crew said, ‘Hit it, Son. We aren’t building a piano.’”

One day Bennett saw American Cruise Lines stop in the harbor and parlayed his way into a job as a deckhand, which gave him insight into what would become his life’s work – hospitality. He learned the importance of making people feel special so they return. He also saw how all the little towns along the East Coast had inns, taverns, and bike and moped rentals. In Charleston, he set up his own bike and moped rental, Free Wheelin’, which proved to be a huge success, but Bennett wasn’t comfortable with the seasonality of the business. After two years, he sold Free Wheelin’ and moved on to home renovations.

Bennett’s inspiration for becoming a developer was former Mayor Joe Riley, who was first elected to office in 1975 and was transforming Charleston. Like his father, Bennett found opportunities in places where others saw none, and he saw myriad opportunities in Charleston.

“Downtown Charleston was poor, but we didn’t know it because we had all these beautiful old buildings and the water,” says Bennett. “What we didn’t have was much in the way of jobs. Joe Riley created the hospitality industry that we know today and the many jobs that came about because of tourism.”

Right with Riley was then-College of Charleston President Ted Stern, who was expanding the College (the student population grew from 440 students in 1968 to more than 5,000 in 1978), creating an urgent need for more housing. Bennett’s first venture was buying a place in need of renovation a few blocks from campus that could fit four apartments. Using the rental revenue from that house, Bennett bought the next place to house students and continued his process of acquire, renovate, rent.

When Riley brought annual events to the Holy City, including the Spoleto Festival and the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, Bennett was in lockstep with him and began to set his sights on hotels.

In 1983, to manage his growing business, Bennett established his namesake company. In addition to developing hotels, Bennett owns the restaurant group Holy City Hospitality, which includes Virginia’s on King, named after his mother and featuring her signature dishes; Vincent Chicco’s; Coast Bar and Grill; 39 Rue de Jean; Victor’s Seafood and Steak; and a catering business. Over the years, he also has developed strip malls, parking garages, office buildings and resorts, as well as the Charleston Music Hall, which his company purchased in 1995 and transformed into a world-class performance venue.

Bennett embraced Riley’s 100-year plan, which centered on preserving the city’s beauty and history while revitalizing its downtown. Riley’s vision fit perfectly with Bennett’s idea of multigenerational wealth – he wanted his properties to be standing and glorious for the next 100 years and beyond so that his investments today generate income for his family for years to come.

“Joe Riley created the renaissance of the last 50 years,” says Bennett. “In the early ’70s, there were few jobs, but Joe Riley revitalized Charleston and attracted the big companies like Boeing, Mercedes Vans and Volvo, just to name a few.”

Riley was grateful to have someone like Bennett in his corner. He appreciated how Bennett saw Charleston’s potential and built on its position as a place of excellence.

“It has been my great fortune to watch you create your most remarkable gifts to our city,” says Riley in a letter to Bennett. “And I have watched you from your childhood, as I knew not only you but your wonderful, loving family. The sparkle in your eye, your natural kindness and never-say-die spirit have been a joy to witness. You made this world-class city even more so.”

That natural kindness came through in 2015 after the tragic shooting at the Mother Emanuel AME Church. Bennett knew he had to do something. The day after the shooting, he went to then–College of Charleston President Glenn McConnell’s office and told him he wanted to create the Mother Emanuel AME Church Endowed Scholarship.

“It was pretty spontaneous; it was purely emotional,” says Bennett. “I was so overwhelmed by the forgiveness with which the community handled the shooting that I wanted to do something for these beautiful, forgiving people. The idea of helping the children of the people from Mother Emanuel is moving to me. I know the people I used to work with at the College all those years ago attended Emanuel AME, and if it helps one of their relatives, that would be a beautiful thing.”

In 1990, when a dilapidated property on the peninsula became available, Bennett conferred with Riley, his longtime mentor, about building a hotel there. “I always looked to him for leadership on land and buildings,” says Bennett. “If he thought it was good, I went for it. He hung the moon, and I always listened to him.”

Getting the funds for that property proved challenging. North of Calhoun was a part of town where few people ventured. Fortunately, Bennett had Helen Hill, president and CEO of Explore Charleston, by his side.

“I gave numerous bank presentations with Mike, and I always told them that I would leave my nonprofit and go work at the hotel because it was a slam dunk,” says Hill. “Back then it was so hard for people to see what we have here, but we were finally successful, and Mike opened a Hampton Inn, which was a new brand back then.”

After opening the Hampton Inn one block from Marion Square on Meeting Street, Bennett snapped up the South Carolina State Arsenal, also known as the Old Citadel, which abuts Marion Square on Meeting Street, and converted it into an Embassy Suites.

The success of these two hotels inspired Bennett to build an heirloom hotel to anchor Marion Square. The site sat across King Street from where his father shined shoes during the Great Depression. The hotel took 20 years from concept to completion, but, as an avid hunter and fisherman, Bennett had learned patience, a quality that has reaped benefits in all aspects of his life.

Opened in January 2019, Hotel Bennett, named in honor of his parents, was awarded one Michelin Key in 2025 for being among the worldʼs most exceptional hotels.

“It’s been very positive for tourism,” says Hill. “Incoming visitors have no idea that the hotel is new. Mike did a great job making it look like it’s always been there.”

Bennett does everything with intention. He created Bennett Hospitality with the goal of creating a multigenerational legacy. With the creation of the Michael and Amy Bennett School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, he wants to inspire more students to go into hospitality and to share the unique experience offered by Hotel Bennett and the city of Charleston.

Since it opened, Hotel Bennett has won numerous awards. Bennett attributes the awards to the hotel’s philosophy – B Kind. Named in his son Brennan’s memory, B Kind is about being kind to oneself, family, co-workers and guests. For Bennett, making people feel at home, relaxed and enveloped in love and kindness is serious business. He wants everyone who walks through his hotels’ doors to feel the B Kind vibe.

Paul Schwager, dean of the School of Business, where the Michael and Amy Bennett School of Hospitality and Tourism Management will live, is excited about the opportunities this new school will bring. The school will enhance all aspects of the program, including increasing executive engagement, attracting top-notch faculty and students, providing the resources for innovation and creating more opportunities for global exchanges.

One such exchange in the works is with Dublin City University. Bennett has been bringing students from Ireland for intensive hospitality training for the past 15 years. He introduced President Hsu to the president of Dublin University, and initial discussions have begun.

“Charleston is a living learning lab for our hospitality and tourism management program,” says Schwager. “For more than 25 years, the city has offered our students exceptional internship opportunities, access to world-class resources and meaningful industry connections.”

Connections like the one Bennett has with the College of Charleston will serve as the foundation for the new school.

“Michael’s work ethic, attention to detail and quality will show itself in the school; he has done hospitality in the right way,” adds Schwager. “The school will create the finest hospitality leadership pipeline in the world, and we have Michael Bennett to thank for that.”

Brumby McLeod, associate professor of hospitality and tourism management, worked with Bennett on a project-based learning program with the tall ship Spirit of South Carolina. Through that experience, McLeod got to see just how much Bennett loves Charleston and how the new school will enhance the hospitality and tourism management offering at the College.

“Michael is a brilliant real estate developer whose family business has done great things for the city of Charleston,” says McLeod. “Mr. Bennett is a true service leader, and he does so without fanfare.”

The Michael and Amy Bennett School of Hospitality and Tourism Management will not only raise the stature of the program as the first named school at the College, but also create momentum for the institution and the city.

“Mike’s vision and generosity will ensure that the College of Charleston stands among the very best universities in the nation for educating the next generation of leaders in hospitality and tourism management,” says Hsu.