October 8, 2026 — The St. James Hotel in Selma, Alabama, has reopened as part of Marriott’s Series by Marriott collection. Manager Spire Hospitality announced the reopening this week. It did not give the exact date the doors opened.
The 55-room hotel dates to 1837 and overlooks the Alabama River in downtown Selma. Spire calls it the only riverfront antebellum hotel left in the country. It is the ninth Series by Marriott hotel worldwide, and guests now earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points there.
The hotel has had several lives. Business Alabama reported in 2021 that it had closed in 2017 and then reopened as a Hilton Tapestry hotel. This week’s announcement does not say when that chapter ended or how long the hotel was shut.
Rooms have free Wi-Fi and work desks, and many face the river. There is a restaurant, a fitness center, meeting space, breakfast and parking. The owners are described only as Alabama natives. The Woodforest CEI-Boulos Opportunity Fund remains an investor.
The Edmund Pettus Bridge and the National Voting Rights Museum are steps away. General manager Cymethia Rudolph said guests “step right into the city.”
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Property | The St. James Hotel |
| Brand / parent | Series by Marriott / Marriott International |
| Manager | Spire Hospitality |
| Location | Downtown Selma, Alabama |
| Reopened | Announced October 6, 2026 (exact date TBA) |
| Rooms | 55 |
| Previous flag | Hilton Tapestry (from 2021) |
What it means for airline travelers
- It is now a Bonvoy hotel. Anyone who stayed here on Hilton Honors points will need Marriott points instead.
- Selma is a drive-in destination. The announcement gives no airport information. Check the drive from Montgomery or Birmingham before you book flights.
- A natural stop on a civil rights road trip. The hotel is on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, within walking distance of the bridge and museum.
- Book ahead. With only 55 rooms, the hotel can fill quickly on busy weekends.
- Travel-industry rates are TBA. Nothing was published with the reopening.
Sources
- Hotel-Online — “Spire Hospitality Reopens The Historic St. James Hotel in Selma Under Series by Marriott Collection” — hotel-online.com
- LODGING Magazine — “The St. James Hotel Reopens and Joins Series by Marriott Collection” — lodgingmagazine.com
- Business Alabama — “St. James Hotel Reopens in Selma” (January 2021) — businessalabama.com
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