BUSINESS
In May 2013, Hotel Florence’s opening helped usher in an era of downtown revitalization in Florence. The once-vacant dilapidated building became a historical anchor piece for the city’s renaissance. The 64-room hotel is now made up of four existing buildings that are now one. The exposed brick, hardwood floors, support beams and ceilings throughout the building are original. The staircase leading to the third floor is original, as well, and in large part why the building’s maintained its historical significance. And there’s "Tom Wall" even the “Tom Wall,” believed to be after Tom Barringer, whose family was longtime property owners in Florence. Originally, there was an effort to get the writing off but it was left as part of the history. Hotel Florence is now a member of the Tapestry Collection of Hotels by Hilton. With this membership comes the ability to serve guests through the Hilton operating systems, protocols and the Hilton Honors program. The hotel sees reservations from locals enjoying a weekend downtown to out-of-towners, including celebrities such as actress Jessica Biel and musician Lyle Lovett in for a concert at the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center.
Dylan Purvis & Taylor Johnson 20
VIPMagSC.com
May 2021
Pee Dee natives Dylan Purvis and Taylor Johnson each found the hospitality industry through a shared passion for people, curated guest experiences, connections to their communities, and particularly their joint appreciation for the city of Florence. Now, as leaders at Hotel Florence, the town’s only boutique hotel and a Woven by Raines property, General Manager Dylan and Director of Sales Taylor strive to provide a memorable and exceptional guest experience, while also giving back to their community.
Q&A with Dylan & Taylor: Tell us about yourselves... Dylan Purvis: "I grew up in Darlington with my mom and dad. I graduated from Darlington High School and from there I graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a degree in resort tourism management." Taylor Johnson: "I was born and raised in Florence and have lived here my entire life. Both of my parents work in Florence One Schools and have worked there for the duration of their career. I also grew up with my little sister, Reagan, who has been my built-in best friend from the start. I graduated from South Florence High School in 2014 and went on to attend Francis Marion University. During my time at Francis Marion, I participated in the Honors Program, FMU Ambassadors Program, and had the opportunity to study abroad in Leicester, England. In May of 2018, I graduated from FMU Summa Cum Laude with University Honors with a Bachelor of Business Administration focused in Marketing. After graduation, I was lucky enough to interview for the Sales Coordinator role for Hotel Florence
