The Mansion on Forsyth Park, Kessler Collection, in Savannah, Georgia, holds more than a century’s worth of history inside. To better tell its story, the hotel has shifted from a soft brand to a fully independent hotel.

General Manager Kathryn Day said the property has been a part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection since 2010. Kessler Collection creator Richard Kessler was a founding member of Autograph Collection.

The Mansion on Forsyth is still part of the Kessler Collection, but it has moved out from under the Autograph Collection umbrella to “allow us the ability to be nimble and have the freedom to bring our unique and artistic vision for the hotel to life,” Day said.

There won’t be any noticeable on-property changes as a result of moving to a fully independent hotel, she said. Only the hotel’s distribution will be affected.

“[We’ll continue] to deliver the same personalized luxury services to our guests,” she said. “[The change is in] the way we’re distributed to the community.”

The Mansion on Forsyth opened in 2005 as an independent luxury hotel and was redesigned to match the original mansion, which was built in 1888, Day said.

The mansion was originally a residence and then a funeral home before becoming a luxury boutique hotel, she said.

The mansion-turned-hotel now features 126 guestrooms and suites, restaurants, a mixology lounge and a historic ladies’ hat collection.

It was once common for women in Savannah to wear hats on Sundays, which inspired the hotel’s curated collection of more than 100 hats.

Day said a portion of the lobby also features artwork and other original works such as sculptures and jewelry from international artists.

The Mansion on Forsyth Park closed for three months at the beginning of the pandemic and reopened in June, Day said.

“We’re following the highest level of cleanliness protocols and sanitation throughout the building,” she said.

The health and safety of guests and the hotel’s team, or "grand performers," as they are called, is the high priority, she said.

While the hotel has not reached pre-pandemic performance levels, Day said January has been slower, but the hotel did “quite well” over the holiday season.

“Savannah’s an ideal place to … be able to be outside” while social distancing, she said.