The Shepherd Hotel

Good Shepherd Pavilion LLC, recently announced boutique hospitality de sign firm IIG as the company that will design The Shepherd Hotel, a hotel set to open to the public in late 2020. Located in downtown Clemson and within view of Clemson University, the hotel will provide an opportunity to employ a large percentage of its workforce to those with learning and intellectual disabilities. The design of the hotel will reflect The Shepherd Hotel mission to inspire and welcome all guests.

The idea for the hotel originated with co-founder Rick Hayduk, a seasoned luxury hotel leader. His daughter Jamison, who has Down syndrome, inspired him to operate a hotel whose primary service providers are individuals with disabilities. Encouraged by his oldest daughter, Vaughn, a Clemson University alumnus, Hayduk partnered with the ClemsonLIFE (Learning Is for Everyone) program to develop the hotel.

To bring the project to fruition, Hayduk partnered with Rich Davies, a real estate developer and now co-founder of The Shepherd Hotel.

Many, but not all, of the hotel's employees will be students or graduates of the ClemsonLIFE program. The hotel will provide the students with practical hospitality training to fulfill their requirements for a Certificate of Hospitality from the university. The goal is that after employment at the hotel, students will have a greater opportunity to find gainful employment.

The Shepherd Hotel team is hopeful that the hotel will provide a positive experience both for employees and guests. The goal is for guests to leave feeling inspired.

A rooftop event space that can hold up to 150 people. This space will be available to rent and is th e first of its kind in downtown Clemson.

A bar with a terrace on the third floor

A ground-floor restaurant

Hotel website