Ceremony set for Thursday to mark start of work on new oceanfront lodging tower in Myrtle Beach

Officials will gather on an oceanfront lot Thursday afternoon for something you haven’t seen much of during the past five years in Myrtle Beach: a groundbreaking for a new hotel.

Work is set to start on the 14-story Homewood Suites Oceanfront Resort & Conference Center at 1805 S. Ocean Blvd. next to the Hampton Inn & Suites Oceanfront, which will share amenities with the new $25 million tower. Homewood is scheduled to open in spring 2016.