Happy birthday, Hotel Trundle. Tomorrow – Tuesday, April 9 – is Columbia’s first independent boutique hotel’s one-year anniversary of being open for business… and it also just happens to be National Unicorn Day. 🦄 Want to break out your unicorn wine glass to toast them? They’re having a birthday party tomorrow, 4-6 p.m., featuring rosé by ViniCola and The Bubbly Bus, sweet treats from Ally and Eloise + more.

In celebration of their all-things-local philosophy, we’re taking a look back at the impact Hotel Trundle has made on our community + all the local businesses they work with and support (and vice-versa) along the way.

First, the numbers:

64%. The percentage of Hotel Trundle’s expenses that go directly to other locally owned businesses. Their art is local, their food is local; even their mattresses are local. And that percentage doesn’t even count their lease payments and payroll; both of which go to local people who then spend many of those dollars in Columbia. 💸 Our heads are spinning.
$20,000. The approximate value Hotel Trundle has provided to local nonprofits through donations, sponsorships + trade. They invest back into our community by supporting local orgs with anything from small auction items for school fundraisers to large contributions to the Columbia Museum of Art.
57. The number of local businesses + individuals they work with in different ways – from featuring their products in the hotel to partnering with them on community events around the city. (We counted.)

Bonus: What’s all this local goodness for if we can’t enjoy it? (Kidding.) Hotel Trundle will run a birthday flash sale for locals who book starting tomorrow (their birthday + National Unicorn Day) through April 12 for a little R&R during the months of June + July. Book here to Treat. Yo. Self. Pro tip: Pair your stay with one of their Experience Packages (read our reviews here).

Hotel Trundle’s local connections

All in a night’s stay, here’s what local goodness you can expect:

🍰 Food + drinks from Ally + Eloise, Carolina Cafe, Craft and Draft + Indah Coffee – to name a few. (Pro Tip: the Sweet Stay Package comes with Ally + Eloise macarons.)

🛋 No standard issue hotel furniture here. Almost all the swoon-worthy furniture you see was made just for Hotel Trundle, including furniture from Bricker and Beam, pillows from Harris Pillow, robes + slippers from Uptown Gifts and flowers from Something Special Florist.

🖼 Local makers rule at HT: Lauren Dillon created the plaster art in the lobby, and Dalvin Spann blessed the corridors with fun Lego art. Even their door hangers have detail + design from Sean McGuinness, a.k.a. Neo Monster Island (formerly known as That Godzilla Guy).

🎟 Their staycation packages involve the community, too – featuring films at The Nick, painting at Grapes + Gallery, cooking classes with Let’s Cook + more.

“We were given an incredible opportunity— a unicorn opportunity — and we wanted to pay it forward by investing in and supporting our community,” says Rita Patel, co-owner of Hotel Trundle. “We want to showcase Columbia through a new lens to our visitors so that they walk away with a heightened view of what Columbia has become, and that it’s a city full of so many talented makers, creators, artists, and more. We believe in working together, supporting one another, and encouraging each other… it’s an impactful, revived way to do business, and we enjoy it every day.”

See the full list of all the local businesses the boutique hotel works with below. 👇

ArtworkLauren DillonLobby plaster art installationAshley WilliamsonLobby artFairoozan ArtLobby artMaya SmithLobby artAngela ZokanLobby and guest room artAshley ConcannonLobby and guest room artBonnie YoungierLobby and guest room artSylvio Lynch (former Carolinas native)Lobby and guest room artLeah RichardsonCorridor artDalvin SpannCorridor artBohumila AugustinovaStair rail cross-stitch artA Classical GlassUnicorn stained glass in lobbySean McGuinness (Neo Monster Island previously That Godzilla Guy)Guest key card holder and door hanger artwork*Cedric UmojaFitness room mural (formerly)Food & BeverageAlly & EloiseBreakfast muffinsCarolina CaféBreakfast bagelsSandwich DepotBreakfast and Sip and NibbleThe GrandSip and NibbleIndah CoffeePublic space coffeeLoveland CoffeeGuestroom coffeeAlephWineCurated SelectionsWineCraft and DraftBeer consultantsCarolina KernelsTurn Down snackFinishes/FurnishingsBricker & BeamLobby and guest room furnitureBest MattressGuest room mattressesHarris PillowGuest room pillowsUptown GiftsRobes and slippersColumbia FlagsExterior flagsImage 360Exterior and interior signageExperience PackagesSomething Special FloristsFlowers with Sweet Stay PackageAlly & EloiseMacarons with Sweet Stay PackageGrapes & GalleryPaint and pour with Artsy PackageBourbonDinner with Artsy PackageColumbia Museum of ArtAdmission tickets with Artsy PackageLula DrakeDessert and night cap with Foodie PackageLet's CookCooking class with Foodie PackageThe NickMovie tickets with the Dinner and A Movie PackageHampton Street VineyardsDinner with Dinner and A Movie PackageColumbia Brew BusBrewery PackageThe WhigDinner with Brewery PackageCola JazzLive Jazz for First Thursday On MainDesign/CollateralByFarrGraphic DesignerApex GraphixPrinterKickstand StudioPhotographerShop Turner & MossSeasonal decorPOND & CompanyInterior DesignerThe Boudreaux GroupArchitectMashburn ConstructionContractorAdministrativeScott + CoCPAUniversity of South CarolinaInternship ProgramFIG ColumbiaIn-Room Lifestyle MagazineSouthern ValetValet parkingFisher Phillips Legal Advisor HSBLegal AdvisorWillis HRHR AdvisorIntech Systems of SCTelecommunications

This content was created in partnership with Hotel Trundle.