School News

Hotel Features: • 199 rooms • 11,500-square-feet of meeting spaces and classrooms • 6,000+-square-foot ballroom • 5-acre arboretum and gardens • Opens spring 2023

A rendering of the future hotel at Darden, which will open in spring 2023 and be operated by Kimpton

New Darden Hotel and Conference Center to Become Kimpton’s First On-Campus Boutique Hotel

The Darden School Foundation and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, part of the IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Luxury & Lifestyle Collection, in March announced a groundbreaking partnership through which Kimpton will open its first hotel in a university setting on Darden Grounds in Charlottesville. The announcement means the impressive facility that has been rising over the past year to replace the former Inn at Darden will be operated by one of the most respected names in the hospitality industry.

Set to open in spring 2023, the new Kimpton hotel will provide a world-class hospitality experience on the Grounds of one of the world’s leading business schools. The five-story boutique hotel — surrounded by a five-acre arboretum and botanical gardens— pays homage to both the University of Virginia’s and Charlottesville’s longstanding traditions; commitment to community; and creative, innovative and forward-thinking spirit.

Owned by the Darden School Foundation, the hotel is Kimpton’s first destination on the campus of a university. “We have found kindred spirits with the team at the Foundation as well as the entire University of Virginia community at large,” said Kimpton CEO Mike DeFrino. “Kimpton is a brand known for its constant pursuit to create meaningful human connections, and we know that’s been a pinnacle for the UVA and Darden communities since their founding. We have exciting things in store, and we’re eagerly counting down to next spring.”

The project is made possible thanks to generous donors, including lead donor Frank M. Sands Sr. (MBA ’63), who provided seed money as part of his transformational gift to Darden in 2019 — the largest in School history. Principal founding sponsors of the hotel, arboretum and botanical gardens include Martina Hund-Mejean (MBA ’88), George Tahija (MBA ’86), Dick Crawford (MBA ’74), the Altec/ Styslinger Foundation, the Hugin Family, Steven C. Voorhees (MBA ’80) and Donald E. Morel Jr., Ph.D. (TEP ’97).

Reservations will open up in the coming months. For event inquiries or information regarding group bookings, contact Home_Office_Sales@kimptonhotels.com.

For information on making a gift to support the hotel, restaurants, arboretum and botanical gardens, please contact Samantha Hartog, interim vice president for Advancement, at hartogs@darden.virginia.edu.

Darden ‘Emerging Stronger’ From Pandemic

"Preserving the special culture around the faculty and providing resources for the next generation is absolutely critical.”

Dean Scott C. Beardsley Addressing a full Abbott Auditorium during the annual State of the School event on Darden Reunion Weekend, Dean Scott Beardsley detailed sources of current momentum and opportunities to further strengthen Darden hallmarks.

Beardsley said Darden is emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger than before, with a clear focus on achieving excellence in several dimensions: continued success in attracting top students who earn top jobs, strengthening the world’s best business school faculty and positioning Darden Grounds for the future.

Beardsley noted the ways in which the School has expanded in recent years, with roughly 1,100 degree-seeking students learning on Darden Grounds in Charlottesville and at UVA Darden DC Metro. Darden will soon offer three formats of its renowned MBA. In addition to the Full-Time MBA in Charlottesville, the Washington, D.C., area Grounds are home base to the Executive MBA and the forthcoming Part-Time MBA. A Master of Science in business analytics is also offered on the D.C. area Grounds.

Beardsley detailed the School’s efforts to retain and attract top faculty talent. “Preserving the special culture around the faculty and providing resources for the next generation is absolutely critical,” said Beardsley.

He also addressed the latest progress on construction of the boutique hotel and adjacent arboretum and botanical gardens in Charlottesville. When the gardens are complete, Beardsley said, the School would have “the best outdoor facility of any business school,” with outdoor classrooms and various contemplative spaces for wellness.

Before the State of the School address, alumni leaders presented the dean with a check for more than $9 million, representing the total giving from classes celebrating their Darden reunion in 2022.

“We have momentum, and we are so grateful for everything you’re doing,” said Beardsley. “Our goal is to develop purposedriven leaders for this Commonwealth, for the United States and for the world. We need responsible leaders. As we’ve seen in our world today, there’s nothing more important than great leadership.”

Powered by Purpose Campaign Hits Homestretch to $400 Million Milestone

Progress Toward Purpose

92%

$371M

As of 6 June 2022

Powered by Purpose Campaign Goal $400 million

by 30 June 2025

Darden’s Powered by Purpose Campaign Priorities 1. Faculty, Thought Leadership & Curricular Innovation 2. Scholarships, Financial Aid & Student Experience 3. Grounds Master Plan, Technology & Innovation 4. Darden Annual Fund