�What�s New� is a quarterly release listing new venues, activities, shows and much more compiled by the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (CACVB). For past issues of �What�s New in Charleston�, visit www.charlestoncvb.com and go the News section. To download Charleston Area images, visit www.charlestoncvb.com and enter the user id: media and password: welcome.

NEW CONSTRUCTION The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Built at a cost of $125 million, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island represents the crowning jewel of a resort island already known for its championship golf and pristine beach. Opening in August, and just 35 minutes from downtown Charleston, The Sanctuary reflects the style and charm of a 19th century grand seaside mansion. The hotel features 255 spacious guestrooms, spectacular oceanfront dining and a nature-oriented spa. For more information, call 843-768-2912 or visit www.thesanctuary.com. NEW RENOVATIONS

Mobil Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond Inn and Dining Room to add Spa, Rooms Building upon its stellar reputation and continuing commitment to tradition, Woodlands Resort & Inn announced a hallmark plan to add a destination spa, uniquely configured guest quarters, and an expanded conference facility. The master plan includes the addition of a new restaurant, red-clay tennis courts and a magnificent reflecting pool. Projected completion date is spring 2006. For more information, call 843-875-2600 or visit www.woodlandsinn.com.

Sheraton North Charleston Undergoing Renovations The Sheraton North Charleston Hotel & Convention Center is well under way with a $4M facelift. All rooms will be completely redone with new case goods, carpeting, wall finish and all new bathrooms. Every area of the hotel is scheduled for renovation and the total project should be completed by the end of 2004. For more information, call 843-747-1900 or visit www.sheraton.com.

Historic Wentworth Mansion to Open Spa Wentworth Mansion, Charleston's only AAA Five Diamond hotel, will be adding one more indulgence to its already-luxurious accommodations: a spa. The historic hotel is joining forces with well-known local day spa, Urban Nirvana, to create the Spa at Wentworth Mansion. The new spa, with plans to open in September, will feature three treatment rooms, one dedicated to couples only, and will offer massages, wraps, scrubs, skin care treatments and waxing services. For more information, call 843-853-1886 or visit www.wentworthmansion.com.

NEW FOOD NEWS Sienna Restaurant Two of Charleston�s culinary namesakes have joined forces to launch a new endeavor. Ken Vedrinski, award-winning former executive chef at Woodland�s Resort and Inn, has partnered with Andy Selent, owner and operator of two of downtown Charleston�s nightlife establishments. Together they opened a contemporary Italian restaurant in downtown Daniel Island. For more information, call 843-881-8820 or visit www.siennadining.com.

Carolina Food Pros Offer Visitors "A Taste of History" Beginning this July, visitors can take a bite out of Charleston's 300-year history during a Saturday culinary heritage tour. Carolina Food Pros, the tour's sponsor, is a Charleston-based company dedicated to preserving and promoting the region's heritage foods. The tours last approximately two hours and start at 9:30 am in front of the Charleston Museum. For more information, call 843-723-3366 or visit www.carolinafoodpros.com.

Zinc Bistro & Bar Award winning Executive Chef, Tony Pope, creates a contemporary French American Bistro atmosphere with a creative influence of fresh local seasonal ingredients. Zinc is located in Mount Pleasant on the Cooper River with stunning views of Patriots Point and of downtown Charleston's skyline. For more information, call 843-216-9332 or visit www.zincbistroandbar.com.

NEW FLIGHTS

Independence Air Introduces New Low-Fare Service to Charleston Independence Air announced it has chosen Charleston International Airport (CHS) as one of its 35 summer launch destinations with new low-fare service scheduled to begin July 17th. The schedule begins with six daily non-stop flights to Washington Dulles International Airport, and quickly grows to seven flights on July 23rd. Connections to 25 cities will also be available by later this summer. All flights are now available for sale on the Independence Air web site at www.FLYi.com.

Delta Launches New Nonstop Service Between New York and Charleston Delta Air Lines launched its new nonstop service between New York and Charleston, and Savannah, GA. Delta now offers customers one daily, round-trip, nonstop flight each between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and the two southern cities. The new service complements the service Delta offers from New York- LaGuardia to Charleston and Savannah, giving customers a choice of airports and more flights to choose from. For more information, visit www.delta.com. NEW SERVICES

Audio Visual Headquarters (AVHQ) AVHQ can provide the "WOW" factor to meetings and special events. Intelligent Lighting Systems, Customized Audio Packages, IMAG, Rear Screen and LCD Projection, Speaker Confidence Monitors and Plasma Screens are only a few of the outstanding products and services AVHQ's experienced team of audiovisual experts provide to Meeting Planners. For more information, call 843-577-9185 or visit www.avservicescorp.com.

Charleston Harbor Tours Purchases New Vessel Charleston Harbor Tours, under new ownership, has made many great changes such as the recently purchased new vessel, The Carolina Belle. It�s a beautiful vessel that seats 120 for dinner and has a capacity of 300 people. A professional USCG licensed captain narrates the rich history and points out local points of interest and facts about Charleston�s Harbor. The one and a half hour non-stop Harbor of History Tour captures the history of the Holy City from a unique perspective. For more information, call 843-722-1112 or visit www.charlestonharbortours.com.

Charleston Samplers Charleston Samplers offers a wide variety of authentic Charleston and South Carolina Lowcountry gifts and collectibles. Locally owned, they carefully select products to provide a genuine taste of life in Charleston. Charleston Samplers specialize in custom gift and theme baskets for any size event. For more information, call 843-767-1524 or visit www.charlestonsamplers.com.

Outdoor Discovery Tours, Inc. Outdoor Discovery Harbor Dolphin Tours, offers island tours with dolphins, shelling, historic waterfront, birds and history, and friendly knowledgeable naturalists and historians. The tours offer a bathroom, cover for shade, and cushioned seating. For more information, call 843-336-4047 or visit www.dolphin-tours.com.

Weddings Elegantly Designed, LLC Weddings Elegantly Designed will fulfill wishes with their attention to detail, personal service and innovative style. WED's services are uniquely focused on function and design. Their event planners offer a combination of creative and organizational touches that will enhance any celebration. For more information, call 843-722-9333 or visit www.charlestonevent.com.

NEW EXHIBITS

EXHIBITION: The Accessory en Vogue: Shoes from The Charleston Museum Collection From September 17 to January 2, 2005, the Charleston Musuem will present an array of footwear from the delicate 18th century silk slipper to the toe-pinching Victorian boot. Selected from The Charleston Museum�s collection of over 250 shoes, examples on display will include a pair of silk shoes worn by Eliza Lucas Pinckney, c. 1770, the 1914 wedding shoes of Wilhelmina Dorothea Mayer Hollings, and white silk heels worn by Nancy Moore (Thurmond) when she was Miss South Carolina in 1965. For more information, call 843-722-2996 or visit www.charlestonmuseum.org.

EXHIBITION: The Bountiful Coast: Foodways of the South Carolina Lowcountry From November 12 through September 12, 2005, the Charleston Museum presents The Bountiful Coast: Foodways of the South Carolina Lowcountry, an exhibition exploring the foodways and dining customs of the 18th and 19th century Lowcountry. The Bountiful Coast will encompass many facets of the Museum�s collection, including archaeology, decorative arts, natural history, and textiles. For more information, call 843-722-2996 or visit www.charlestonmuseum.org.

NEW FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Sterling Faith Curator-Led Public Tours at the Charleston Museum On September 8, 22, Oct. 13, 27 at 10:30 am, a museum curator will lead guests through Sterling Faith: 300 Years of Charleston's Sacred Silver. In association with local churches and synagogues, The Charleston Museum will display examples of local historical ecclesiastical silver. The Museum will feature selections from its own nationally recognized collection of southern American silver in conjunction with pieces loaned by local places of worship. For more information, call 843-722-2996 or visit www.charlestonmuseum.org.

Fall Candlelight Tours of Houses and Gardens From September 16-October 23, the Preservation Society of Charleston sponsors the Fall Candlelight Tours of Houses and Gardens. Guides provide information on the architecture, antiques and historical significance of each property, most of which are privately owned and not open to the public. Tours take place each Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening from 7-10pm. All tours are self-paced walking tours held on the peninsula of Charleston. For more information, call 843-722-4630 or visit www.preservationsociety.org.

Daniel Island Park Day A fall tradition in Charleston is Daniel Island�s Park Day, one of the Lowcountry�s largest one-day festivals, taking place on October 23 from 10am-4pm. It�s held in several of the community�s outdoor parks. This entertaining day of events, games, food and music is great fun for the entire family. For more information, call 843-856-1363 or visit www.danielisland.com.

World War II Discovery Day On October 26, from 4:30-7pm, The Charleston Museum will host a World War II Discovery Day in conjunction with the upcoming 2005 exhibition. Participants are invited to bring artifacts to the Museum for identification, documentation and photographing. Charleston Museum curators will be on hand to identify and discuss these objects. The Museum�s goal is to locate and document artifacts related to World War II or the Charleston homefront. For more information, call 843-722-2996 or visit www.charlestonmuseum.org.

New Members� Programs Fill Autumn Days at Drayton Hall During September, October, and November, Drayton Hall will present a special members� series in conjunction with the Charleston Museum. The series will illuminate lesser known parts of Drayton Hall�s 266-year history and Drayton Hall�s many connections to other families, historic sites, and events that shaped the Charleston region. All events are free to members of the Friends of Drayton Hall and the Charleston Museum. For more information, call 843-769-2600 or visit www.draytonhall.org.

Drayton Hall Presents Great History in the Great Hall On October 28 from 6-8pm, Drayton Hall presents its first Great History in the Great Hall event. This intimate event will begin with cocktails and hors d�oeuvres on Drayton Hall�s portico. After cocktails, guests will enter the great hall where Desmond Fitzgerald, the Knight of Glin and curator at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for eleven years, will present a lecture entitled �Irish Furniture and Carving of the Georgian Age.� For more information, call 843-769-2600 or visit www.draytonhall.org.

Harvest Festival Weekend Trail Ride Mullet Hall Equestrian Center will host its first ever Weekend Trail Ride the weekend of November 5-7 as part of Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission�s Harvest Festival. Equestrians are invited to bring their own camping and riding gear, supplies and, of course, horse to spend the weekend riding, at their leisure, on 20 beautiful miles of marked forest trails during the day and camping at night. For more information, call 843-795-4FUN or visit www.ccprc.com.

The Art of Charleston Dining The Art of Charleston Dining, held on November 7 at the Family Circle Cup Tennis Center on Daniel Island, is an event created to celebrate Charleston�s culinary heritage by highlighting the best the city has to offer in fine dining and art. There will be food served from many of Charleston's finest restaurants as well as a variety of art exhibits displayed by local galleries and artists. For more information, call 843-849-5300 or visit www.familycircletenniscenter.com.

NEW PACKAGES

Wild Dunes Resort Offers "Gramps Camp" "Gramps Camp" held September 10-12 in honor of Grandparents day, starts with a variety of activities ranging from a scavenger hunt, to a nine-hole afternoon golf outing, to Lowcountry Olympics - an easy-going, local take on the international games. Edgar's Italian Restaurant and the Sea Island Grill offer family dining specials and an atmosphere that fosters great conversation between the generations. After dinner, families can retire to the AAA four diamond-rated Boardwalk Inn, or one of Wild Dunes newly renovated "family friendly" vacation villas - both of which are being discounted up to 15% for the weekend. For more information, call 843-886-6000 or visit www.wilddunesresort.com.

Fall Flowers Provide Fragrant Getaway With Opulent Accommodations Charleston Place Hotel is offering a special package for the 28th Annual Fall Candlelight Tours of Homes and Gardens. Guests are invited to experience the magic of Charleston this autumn by attending the Preservation Society�s Annual Fall Tours while enjoying luxurious accommodations at Charleston Place Hotel. Guests of Charleston Place enjoy a central location that is within walking distance to the homes on tour, complimentary continental breakfast and a special gift of James R. Cothran�s, Gardens of Historic Charleston. For more information, call 1-800-611-5545 or visit www.charlestonplacehotel.com.

NEW WEB SITES

New Tourism Web Site for Summerville and Dorchester County The Tourism Council division of the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce a new look and name for the area�s official tourism web site � www.visitsummerville.com. The new site encourages visitors to plan their trip online with a travel planner that lists attractions, shopping, events, lodging and dining options. Also included on the site are featured getaway packages, a place to request a free Visitor Guide in the mail, media room, meeting and convention planners� page and much more to entice visitors to include the �Gateway to Charleston� on a trip to the Lowcountry. For more information, call 843-873-2931 or visit www.visitsummerville.com.

Newly Updated Web Site at the Woodlands Inn Woodlands Resort & Inn, South Carolina's only Mobil Five Star and AAA Five Diamond Inn and Dining Room has updated its web site for guests to learn more about special packages, promotions, food and wine events. The latest promotion, Summer Solstice, is available now through September 30 and invites guests to relive the glamour and romance of times past as the Inn offers a rare opportunity to experience its many charms and traditional Southern hospitality. The package allows guest to stay the third and subsequent nights at half the customary price. For more information, call 843-875-2600 or visit www.woodlandsinn.com.

NEW HONORS AND AWARDS

Charleston Named One of the World�s Best Cities by Travel + Leisure The Charleston Area was named number four of the World�s Best Cities: United States and Canada by Travel + Leisure Magazine. New York came in first place with San Francisco and Quebec City right behind at number two and three respectively. This year�s awards are based on 425,105 evaluations by Travel + Leisure�s readers making them the most comprehensive and competitive awards to date. For more information, please visit www.travelandleisure.com.

Middleton Place Plantation Recognized by the National Wildlife Federation The Inn at Middleton Place has put out the welcome mat for all kinds of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife, while helping to protect the local environment. The Middleton property is now recognized as an official National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Backyard Wildlife Habitat site. The Inn has joined the many habitat enthusiasts who, with the help of the NWF, have turned their backyards into enticing wildlife refuges. The Inn at Middleton Place was also rewarded the South Carolina Wildlife Federations 2003 Commercial Conservation Award. For more information, call 843-556-0500 or visit www.middletonplace.org.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort Rated Top Public Access Golf Facility Readers of Golf Digest magazine recently bestowed upon Kiawah Island Golf Resort the highest rating for "service" of any public access golf facility in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. This high rating was part of Golf Digest�s latest �Place to Play� reader�s poll. For more information, call 843-768-2121 or visit www.kiawahgolf.com.

Peninsula Grill Inducted Into Fine Dining Hall of Fame Peninsula Grill, in the Planter�s Inn, was inducted into Nation's Restaurant News' Fine Dining Hall of Fame. The seven-year old Charleston favorite was one of just ten fine dining restaurants nationwide to be inducted this year as a salute to their excellence in food quality, service, ambience, and leadership in training and motivating staff. For more information, call 843-723-0700 or visit www.peninsulagrill.com.

Sleep Inn Charleston North Wins Inn of the Year The Sleep Inn Charleston North is the 2004 winner of the Sleep Inn of the Year Award from Choice Hotels International, franchiser of the Sleep Inn brand. The Inn of the Year Award is presented annually to hotels that exceed Choice�s rigid quality assurance standards. To qualify, a hotel must undergo a series of rigorous and unannounced inspections that evaluate every aspect of the hotel. For more information, call 843-856-5000 or visit www.choicehotels.com.

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Media Contact: Chris Nobles +1 843-805-3045 cnobles@charlestoncvb.com