Development in and around the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College continued this spring with the opening of a Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott adjacent to the award-winning complex.
Owned by Berry and managed by Atlanta-based Hotel Equities, the 81-room hotel is located on the Armuchee Connector, which intersects with Martha Berry Highway just north of Mount Berry Mall. Many rooms look out on the sprawling tennis center, which has become a popular destination for tournaments of all types since opening in 2016 as a public-private partnership involving Berry and other entities.
Originally home to 57 outdoor courts, the center was enhanced in 2020 with the addition of a 51,000-square-foot indoor facility, making it even more attractive for events such as this spring’s Atlantic Coast Conference men’s and women’s tennis championships.
The adjacent hotel expands the center’s ability to generate tourist dollars for the local community by providing suitable accommodations for players and spectators who previously might have stayed in other nearby cities. At the same time, it will benefit Berry students by offering valuable work experience in the area of hospitality management while
also generating revenue that will be used to support scholarships.
“The hotel project is consistent with the college’s focus on providing special opportunities for students to combine learning and work, while also creating new revenue streams that contribute both to our educational mission and the economic vitality of Rome,” said President Steve Briggs.
The Fairfield brand was selected in part because its story and heritage align with the history and values of Berry. Artwork in the hotel’s public spaces feature embedded QR codes that allow visitors to learn more about the college.
Among the hotel’s many amenities is the Baseline Bar overlooking the tennis center. This space offers small plates and refreshments to guests taking in the action on the courts below and enjoying the view of Lavender Mountain in the distance.
