The Willcox in Aiken has been voted the second choice on the Reader’s 10 Favorite Resorts in South Carolina for Travel + Leisure magazine.
“I’m grateful that, you know, we were nominated and voted as one of the top resorts in South Carolina,” said general manager Tina McCarthy.
McCarthy said the hotel found out about the honor only days before it was announced to the public.
The Willcox has been part of the Aiken community for over a hundred years according to its website. McCarthy said the authenticity that the hotel offers guests is what makes The Willcox special.
“We use the word a lot that we’re a personal hotel,” she said. “It’s really, the sincerity, dedication of our team towards our guest is one thing along, of course, with the charm and historic character of Aiken and how kind and welcoming we are.”
Accolades like this help to bring more people not only to The Willcox, but to Aiken in general, McCarthy said.
“Of course, being a small town, that definitely encourages more people to visit us, which would in turn benefit the entire community,” she said. “Not only for the sport in Aiken, but just the charm and the small business community and the natural beauty that we have.”
It causes what McCarthy calls a “boomerang effect,” since people who come once will often continue to visit The Willcox every year.
“I mean, it’s a very special place,” McCarthy said. “And the same thing with the history for years and years, not only of the town but of the hotel. I often say you can’t recreate it.”
The list is decided based on votes from readers of the Travel + Leisure magazine and then compiled based on state.
Each resort is rated based on several categories including rooms/facilities, location, service, food and value, according to the Travel + Leisure website.
The Willcox received a final score of 94.59. The top resort, the Post House in Mount Pleasant, received a score of 96.
McCarthy called The Willcox and Aiken itself a “hidden gem.”