VOLUME 25 NUMBER 9 ■ GSABUSINESS.COM
Part of the
Occupancy, rates on the rise for SC hotels
News network names new chief
By Christina Lee Knauss
Jason Thomas takes over as executive editor for SC Biz News. Page 6
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Goodwill on the go The nonprofit’s Upstate/ Midland branch puts job training services on tour Page 9
All roads lead to ... Columbia?
Infrastructure tips scales for Mark Anthony Brewing Page 14
Fuel Diversity
Researchers develop self-repairing hose that could advance use of hydrogen fuel. See Page 8.
Best in state
Economic developer from Upstate awarded for innovative programming Page 19
INSIDE
Leading Off........................... 2 SC Biz News Briefs................. 3 C-Suite................................. 4 In Focus: Ports, Logistics and Distribution......................... 13 List: Motor Freight Lines ..... 17 Bonus list: Employee Benefits Brokers............................... 18 At Work............................... 19 Viewpoint............................23
MAY 23-JUNE 5, 2022 ■ $2.25
network
Contributing Writer
otels around South Carolina continue to see strong demand for rooms despite reduced service levels caused by ongoing hiring challenges, according to first quarter 2022 report released by Colliers South Carolina. According to the report, the average hotel occupancy rate around the state was 66.83% during the first quarter, up from 59.08% percent in the third quarter of 2021 and 49.76% in the fourth quarter of that year. Average daily rates for hotel rooms and revenue per available room are continuing to increase and, as a result, to offset a rise in operating costs during the first quarter, the report said. On average, hotels are reporting a 20%-30% increase in operating expenses over pre-pandemic levels largely because of staffing challenges. Hotels are dealing with this ongoing worker shortage by reducing daily housekeeping services, training employees to perform duties in multiple areas of service and increasing automation. The average daily rate for hotel rooms statewide continues to rise and was $126.74 in See HOTELS, Page 6
Bosch ramps up ICE, electrification production By Molly Hulsey
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mhulsey@scbiznews.com
osch has a new project on the rise in Anderson, company President Mike Mansuetti told hundreds of business leaders gathered from across the 10 counties for Upstate SC Alliance’s annual meeting on May 13. Mansuetti couldn’t share much more than that, but he did tell the audience that the com-
pany’s South Carolina team is ramping up production for both its internal combustion engine and electrification powertrain production. “We see by 2030, electrification growing to about 30% of the market, but the rest of it will still be traditional what we call internal combustion engine or some variation of the ICE, for example, with a hybrid power charge,” he said. “So there’s still a lot of technology that remains to be developed, especially if we’re
In Focus
Buy American Act
Domestic content in construction materials may surge in October. Page 13
going to meet those CO2 and sustainability targets that we all want to meet that will continue to require improvements in, let’s say, the classic combustion technology.” Bosch’s way forward will focus on achieve a balance between innovation, such as the company’s forays into long distance hydrogen fuel cell research, and its legacy with longstanding customers. See BOSCH, Page 12