Couple finalizing plans for 11-suite boutique hotel in Milledgeville
Joshua Flournoy and his wife Aerin are combining their love of travel and their hometown to bring an 11-suite boutique hotel to Milledgeville.
MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Joshua Flournoy and his wife Aerin are combining their love of travel and their hometown to bring an 11-suite boutique hotel to Milledgeville.
“When we travel to Hawaii or different places we stay in villas and like bungalows,” Joshua said. “We want to bring that unique spin and create something unique just for Milledgeville.”
Flournoy says each suite will include a kitchenette, fireplace and a living room. He says the hotel will also include amenities such as a sauna, putting green and access to massages. A reservation can last for up to seven days before renewal, and Flournoy says the hotel ideal for couples and anyone else looking to book a nice getaway or staycation.
“Instead of going to Myrtle Beach or, you know, Destin, Florida, you can come right here and experience the relaxation,” Flournoy said. “And you know, get catered to and pampered to.”
Earlier this week, the Milledgeville City Council approved an ordinance to designate the 7.5-acre property on West Martin Luther king Junior Drive as a community-commercial zone, clearing the way for the project.
Hank Griffeth, the City Manager of Milledgeville, says he’s excited about the potential for parents with college students in town to have another comfortable place to lodge. He says the hotel could also be of convenience to staff working at Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin, which is less than a mile away.
“If there are folks who travel to work at the hospital and live somewhere else, they can have it as a place for them to stay overnight or multiple nights,” Griffeth said.
Next, Griffeth says a civil engineer and the Flournoys will present additional certified and business plans to the city for approval. Flournoy expects the project to be completed between 8 and 12 months from now, and says he’s excited to bring economic growth and hospitality to the place he calls home.
“So, that’s what we’re embarking on doing,” Flournoy said. “And we’re going to make sure we see it come to success.”
The Flournoys expect the project to cost anywhere between $700,000 and $1 million, which they say will be self-funded. The couple will soon share details on how designers can draft concepts for each suite, which city residents will judge and vote on.
