2018 promises to be an exciting year for Salamander Hotels & Resorts, the luxury hotel company founded by Sheila Johnson.

Here's 8 stories for '18 to get your creative juices flowing:

1. CHARLESTON, SC: Perfectly positioned on the corner of King Street and Marion Square in the nation's top-ranked city, the elegant Hotel Bennett will open in Summer 2018. Located on the site of the former Citadel and County Library, it sits in the center of town overlooking Charleston's most visible gathering space. Touted as the Grandest New Hotel in the South and European in its design, the 179-room property will feature elegant guestrooms and suites opening onto the square, a two-tiered restaurant with outdoor seating, a stylish pink-hued bar called Camellias, a spectacular rooftop pool and bar, a luxury spa, a patisserie, and over 14,000 square feet of grand event and meeting spaces. www.hotelbennett.com.

2. CHARLESTON, SC: Hotel Bennett is managed by Salamander and owned by Michael Bennett, a third generation Charlestonian who has helped transform the city's upper peninsula over the past quarter century. He fought for the property's approval as an homage to his family, including his father who once shined shoes opposite the site during the Great Depression. www.hotelbennett.com.

3. NEW ORLEANS, LA: In July 2017, Salamander opened NOPSI Hotel in New Orleans' Central Business District. The first luxury hotel to open in the city for a generation, it is located in the former New Orleans Public Service Inc. headquarters, where people once paid their utility and transportation bills. To this day, there are thousands of NOPSI manhole covers throughout the city. The hotel features 217 refined guestrooms – including 76 suites – a lively and regionally inspired restaurant called Public Service, 14,000 square feet of architecturally significant indoor and outdoor meeting space, and a sophisticated rooftop pool and bar named Above the Grid. New Orleans is celebrating its Tricentennial in 2018 with numerous events. www.nopsihotel.com.

4. DESTIN, FL: Henderson Beach Resort opened in November 2016, bringing a new level of luxury resort accommodation to the Gulf Coast. The sweeping resort overlooks Destin's famed sugar-white sands and emerald-green waters, is located along one of America's top beaches adjacent to a 208-acre environmentally protected state park, and is reminiscent of a grand seaside manor of yesteryear. This spring, the resort will open additional condo-style accommodations surrounding its pools, in addition to launching new health and wellness programming and facilities, featuring four doctors and a Himalayan Salt Suite. www.hendersonbeachresort.com

5. MIDDLEBURG, VA: The reason Sheila Johnson entered the hospitality industry, Salamander Resort & Spa opened in 2013 to critical acclaim after a decade of development. Since opening, it has become renowned as having one of the best spa and equestrian programs in the country. Located in the historic village of Middleburg, Virginia's horse and wine country, the resort has significantly expanded its culinary offerings and added programming with Mountaineer Sean Burch for 2018. www.salamanderresort.com

6. PALM COAST, FL: In the fall of 2016, Hurricane Matthew caused substantial damage to Hammock Beach Resort, especially to its oceanfront golf course: The Ocean Course by Jack Nicklaus. After a 13-month restoration project, the course re-opened in November 2017 with new salt-tolerant Platinum Paspalum grass, as well as reconstructed tee boxes, bunkers and green complexs. During this timeframe, the resort also renovated its lobby, one-bedroom condominiums, meetings space and restaurants, and re-launched its Lodge as a boutique hotel experience. www.hammockbeach.com.

7. KISSIMMEE, FL: Located only 10 minutes away from Walt Disney World, Reunion Resort is the only property in the world with three Signature golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. In the fall of 2018, the resort will significantly enhance the golf experience at the Nicklaus Course with a new clubhouse, new greens and a re-routing of the 17th and 18th holes. www.reunionresort.com.

8. TAMPA BAY, FL: In preparation for its 50th anniversary in 2020, Innisbrook Resort plans to renovate its 400+ condominium-style accommodations in 2018. This 900-acre property, which has four golf courses, hosts the PGA TOUR's Valspar Championship every March on its famed Copperhead Course, a tournament that this year will include Rory McIlroy for the first time. www.innisbrookresort.com.