On Saturday, Oct. 20, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to commemorate the construction of the Inn at Elon. While the ceremony was not directly held on the construction site due to rain, a tent was set up where donors, members of the board of trustees and the Elon community gathered. A pile of dirt was set up so that ground could ceremoniously be broken.
This ceremony was a part of the inauguration events in light of the inauguration of Elon University's ninth president, Connie Ledoux Book. Along with donors, President Book gave remarks and participated in the ceremonial groundbreaking. The construction of the inn is made possible by 12 donor families.
Comments were made about how the hotel will continue to push the university forward during President Book’s tenure. The inn is said to attract more people onto campus, like alumni and family, for events such as Homecoming, athletic games and visiting speakers and scholars for conferences. The inn is also open to the public, as it will include 10 suites and 70 rooms, and feature amenities like a restaurant, lounge, a ballroom, and conference room.
The inn is said to benefit Elon, as it will be owned by the university. The revenue generated by the inn will not only pay to operate the business, but will fund scholarships for students. Projects like this are for the advancement of the university.