Millions of travelers head to Hilton Head Island each year for its beaches, golf courses, and Lowcountry setting, making tourism one of the biggest drivers of the South Carolina island’s economy.
But visitors planning a trip later this year will find one of the island’s major oceanfront resorts unavailable for an extended period.
The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, located at Two Grasslawn Avenue in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is preparing to temporarily close for a major renovation.
The Marriott-branded property sits along the Atlantic Ocean and features 420 guestrooms and suites.
What has made it famous is direct beach access, outdoor pools, dining, spa services, and nearly 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
The closure comes in a market where hotel availability is highly important to the local economy.
Hilton Head attracts approximately 2.84 million visitors annually, according to the Chamber of Commerce, supporting thousands of local jobs.
Westin Hilton Head will be closed for months
The Westin Hilton Head resort is scheduled to close on Monday, November 2, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice reviewed by TheStreet.
Current booking information indicates the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa will remain closed from Nov. 2, 2026, through April 16, 2027, putting the property out of service for roughly five and a half months.
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The shutdown will also temporarily affect 219 employees, with layoffs scheduled to begin Nov. 3.
The hotel said those workers are expected to be recalled once the renovation is complete.
However, the Westin cautioned that construction schedules can change, which could also shift the planned closure period and the timing of temporary layoffs and recalls.
Employees will be notified if the schedule changes.
Westin Hilton Head Island Resort to temporarily close.neiu20001 / Getty Images
Resort changed hands in nearly $200 million deal
The planned shutdown comes less than a year after the property changed ownership.
KSL Capital Partners, a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure investments, announced in September 2025 that its affiliates had acquired the Westin Hilton Head through its Tactical Opportunities Fund.
KSL did not disclose the purchase price in its announcement.
However, Beaufort County property records showed the nearly 14-acre property changed hands for approximately $199.8 million on Sept. 26, 2025.
The buyer was Grasslawn Property LLC, which listed KSL Capital’s Denver office on the deed.
At the time of the acquisition, KSL described the Westin as a market-leading oceanfront resort in one of the Southeast’s most sought-after leisure destinations.
The firm said it planned to build on the property’s legacy and find new ways to further elevate the resort.
The property had already received substantial investment before the acquisition.
KSL said more than $47 million in capital enhancements had been made to the Westin since 2012.
Its 420 guestrooms and suites had also recently been refreshed when KSL announced the purchase.
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