Tourist season gets late start as Hilton Head, Bluffton resorts open after coronavirus
Hilton Head and Bluffton resorts that had closed because of the coronavirus pandemic are beginning to announce opening dates as tourist season ramps up for a late start.
The Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort reopened ahead of Memorial Day weekend, but several others will remain closed into the beginning of June.
Bluffton’s Montage Palmetto Bluff announced in a news release that it would reopen June 4, and Hilton Head’s Sonesta Resort plans to open June 5, according to its website.
Hilton Head Health’s website says it will accept new arrivals starting June 7.
The resorts have posted extensive guidelines letting visitors know what their policies are for safety in light of COVID-19.
Those guidelines address the disinfecting of room keys; social distancing in gyms and lobbies; and masks and temperature checks for employees, among other issues. Montage said its steam rooms and saunas would remain closed, and valets would be taking extra precautions to sanitize steering wheels of the cars in their care.
In Beaufort County, hotel and resort occupancy rates plummeted over the last two months as local leaders discouraged tourism and other states required residents to shelter in place.
Disney’s Hilton Head Resort closed March 20 and announced Wednesday it would reopen to guests on June 15.
On May 20, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster announced that tourist attractions like mini-golf and museums could reopen ahead of the holiday weekend.
This story was originally published May 22, 2020 at 3:55 PM.
