Eugene Martin has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at TradeWinds Island Resorts
TradeWinds Resort, the ultimate family getaway set on 1,600 feet of the pristine St. Pete Beach, is pleased to announce the appointment of Eugene Martin as Director of Food and Beverage, following the significant expansion of its culinary offerings late last year. A respected hospitality executive with 4 decades of experience in luxury resort operations, Martin brings extensive expertise in food and beverage leadership, guest experience strategy, and large-scale resort management to the beloved Gulf Coast destination.
In his new role, Martin will oversee business strategy and operations for all dining outlets across the resort’s two properties, including the renowned RumFish Grill, home to the property’s signature 33,500-gallon aquarium featured, in addition to the newly opened Pete’s Gulf Bistro and Playa Taco Cocina Y Tequileria. He will lead food and beverage planning, banquet operations, product development, operational excellence initiatives, and the delivery of exceptional guest dining experiences across the resort.
Throughout his career, Martin has made impactful contributions in his senior leadership roles with Marriott International and Marriott Vacation Club properties across New York, Baltimore, the Caribbean, and Florida, earning recognition for operational excellence, guest satisfaction improvements, associate engagement, and revenue growth initiatives. Most recently, Martin served as general manager for Marriott Vacations Worldwide properties including The Westin St. John Resort Villas and Marriott Vacation Club resorts in Orlando, where he oversaw multimillion-dollar operations, large-scale teams, owner relations, and complex resort operations.
Martin began his hospitality career in culinary operations and is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University, where he earned degrees in culinary arts and food service management. His background combines operational strategy with hands-on culinary expertise, making him uniquely positioned to lead TradeWinds’ dynamic and evolving food and beverage program.