Experience a taste of all-American college town life at the Graduate Auburn, AL, complete with a coffee shop honouring local sports legend, Bo Jackson. Olivia Palamountain reports
A brand designed for university students and their parents, Graduate Hotels has announced the opening of its 35th property, the Graduate Auburn, AL, in Alabama, with reservations now available for stays beginning in September 2024.
Earlier this month it was announced that Hilton would be acquiring Graduate Hotels for £165 million, with plans to grow its presence to up to 500 sites.
The Graduate Princeton, NJ, property is now accepting reservations – it will open in early June 2024.
Located at 202 W Magnolia Avenue, just steps from Auburn University, this new opening marks the brand’s first property in Alabama and the seventh in Southeastern Conference university markets.
The property will feature 177 guest rooms across five floors, with a design that draws inspiration from the community’s vibrant spirit and culture.
Bespoke elements referencing local heroes, legends and cherished university traditions join a layered, eclectic style that blends sophistication with Southern charm for an immersive guest experience.
Guests can expect a range of amenities, including 1,000 sqm of meeting and event space, Graduate Hotels’ signature study table in the lobby, an indoor-outdoor rooftop bar and restaurant, and a unique coffee shop and bar created in partnership with Auburn University sports legend and Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson (Class of ’85).
The coffee shop, named Bo Jackson’s Beans, will honour Jackson’s contributions to the sports world and beyond, and is situated near where his career began in 1982.
Expect a carved wooden statue of Bo Jackson in the lobby bar, guest room sconces that nod to the Auburn University fight song, and orange and navy blue furnishings that allude to the school colours.
Ben Weprin, founder and CEO of Graduate Hotels, says: “Auburn is a quintessential college town oozing with tradition and charm. It was never about whether we wanted to be in Auburn, but always about finding the right site. Sitting at the corner of Wright Street and W Magnolia Avenue, steps away from Toomer’s Corner, we couldn’t have found a better location.”
Graduate Hotels, a hand-crafted collection of hotels residing in dynamic university-anchored towns across the US and UK, is known for its unique, tailored approach to each location.
With the opening of Graduate Auburn, AL, the brand continues to expand its presence in the Southeastern US, offering visitors and locals alike a distinctive and memorable stay in the heart of this storied university town.