The Perry Hotel Key West at Stock Island Marina welcomed its first guests on May 1. The 100-room boutique hotel is located on a private 220-slip marina within the three-year-old Stock Island Marina Village complex, and is helping to establish the area as the most coveted new destination in the Florida Keys.
Hilton has announced the appointment of John Trovato as Managing Director of both the historic Casa Marina Resort and refined The Reach, in Key West, Florida. Effective immediately, Trovato is responsible for managing Casa Marina, a 311-room beachfront property nestled along the southern edge of Key West, and The Reach, a 150-room boutique resort just west of sister hotel Casa Marina and steps away from Duval Street.
The Drury Inn & Suites Fort Myers at I-75 and Gulf Coast Town Center is nearing completion and will begin to welcome guests this July. The new hotel is the company"s first property in Fort Myers, Florida, and second in the state. In addition to its 180 guest rooms, the property features more than 2,800 square feet of flexible meeting and event space.
Orlando World Center Marriott proudly announces the appointment of Joshua Cain as Executive Pastry Chef to its distinguished culinary team. In this role, Mr Cain oversees all pastry operations for the world’s largest Marriott including a team of 22 baking and pastry professionals for banquets and catering, in-room dining and the hotel’s 10 diverse and seasonally-inspired restaurants and lounges.
Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Neubauer, as its new Director of Sales & Marketing. Neubauer will oversee all sales and marketing efforts for the storied 30-year-old resort that recently completed a $40 million property-wide renovation. Neubauer brings more than three decades of hospitality experience in some of the country’s top markets. His career began at the Miami Airport Hilton & Marina as an assistant housekeeping supervisor before he completed a corporate management training program, helping to open the Palm Beach Airport Hilton. Neubauer quickly moved up the managerial ladder at various Hilton and Doubletree properties across the country from beverage manager and restaurant manager to director of restaurant operations and sales manager. During his tenure with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, he served as associate director of sales for properties in Pasadena and Amelia Island, and director of incentive sales for four resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico. Neubauer was director of sales and marketing for Starwood Hotels and Resorts for ten years before returning to The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation as its director of sales and marketing. Prior to joining the team at Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa, Neubauer was the Director of National Accounts for Naples Grande Beach Resort. A graduate of Florida International University in Miami, Neubauer holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, and currently resides in Naples.
Home2 Suites by Hilton, part of Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) industry-first All Suites portfolio, announced today its newest property, Home2 Suites by Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Airport-Cruise Port. Offering 130 suites, the hotel is designed for travelers looking for a fresh, new stay experience. Home2 Suites by Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Airport-Cruise Port caters to the booming tourism sector in Greater Fort Lauderdale, which is the area's second largest industry.*
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has appointed Ruben Sabater director of operations for Marenas Beach Resort, a Gemstone Collection property located in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida. Rikki Boparai, managing director, made the announcement. Ruben Sabater was previously general manager of The Sherry Frontenac Resort of Miami Beach, Florida. Prior to this appointment he worked with the Benchmark organization as regional engineering and facilities consultant, and earlier as director of operations for One Bal Harbour Resort & Spa, which Benchmark operated at the time. Prior to joining Benchmark, Mr. Sabater held leadership roles with the Mandarin Oriental Miami (director of engineering) as well as the Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Tower. He resides in Miami.
The Perry Hotel Key West at Stock Island Marina will welcome its first guests on May 1. The 100-room boutique hotel is located on a private 220-slip marina within the three-year-old Stock Island Marina Village complex, and is helping to establish the area as the most coveted new destination in the Florida Keys. Tucked between the mangroves lining Shrimp Road and the Stock Island Marina, The Perry Hotel Key West features large private terraces with water views from every guest room, a lush outdoor pool area with cabanas overlooking the working waterfront, and an on-site distillery. Embracing the local community, the property will feature an artists" studio and Stock Island"s Arts & Provisions, a local shop and art gallery, which will feature rotating installations created by Key West craftsmen.
Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Neubauer, as its new Director of Sales & Marketing. Neubauer will oversee all sales and marketing efforts for the storied 30-year-old resort that recently completed a $40 million property-wide renovation.
Meliá Hotels International (MHI) has officially appointed Ernesto Luna as the new General Manager of ME Miami of the ME by Meliá brand. ME Miami, which opened its doors in July 2016 as the first ME by Meliá hotel in the United States. A 15-year veteran in the Meliá family, Luna has extensive knowledge of the brand ethos and will bring years of hospitality industry expertise to this bustling downtown Miami property. Serving as General Manager for both ME Cancun and ME Cabo for the past 10 years, Luna will bring the years of success he found within those properties to ME Miami. In addition to experience with the ME by Melia brand, Luna also held several management positions within Gran Meliá – MHI’s most luxurious resort brand.
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Katie Tully director of guest & owner services for The Grove Resort & Spa Orlando. The 878 room all-suite hotel, which is a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property, opened its first phase on March 10, 2017, just minutes from Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Florida. Bill Lee, The Grove’s general manager, made the announcement. Katie Tully most recently served as the director of rental management for Reunion Resort, also located in Orlando, where she was responsible for the administration and management of the property’s home and villa rental programs.
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Tobby Rau director of operations for The Grove Resort & Spa Orlando. The 878 room all-suite hotel, which is a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property, opened its first phase on March 10, 2017, just minutes from Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Florida. Bill Lee, The Grove’s general manager, made the announcement. Tobby Rau was previously director of food & beverage at Streamsong Resort, located southwest of Orlando in Streamsong, Florida; there he also served as part of the property’s opening leadership team. Prior to Streamsong, Mr. Rau was director of food & beverage for the Royal Sonesta New Orleans, as well as at a range of other resort and hotel facilities across the U.S. and in the Caribbean. Mr. Rau has managed a variety of large-scale operations during his nearly thirty-years in the hospitality industry. With a keen focus on food and beverage, he has experience overseeing operations for both individual properties and clusters. Mr. Rau has directed food and beverage programs with revenues exceeding $52 million, operated up to eight food and drink outlets on a single property, and managed food and beverage service to meeting spaces up to 64,000 square feet in size.
Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, a luxury oceanfront resort located in Northeastern Florida, has named Mike Block the new Director of Golf.
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Kristina Turner area director of marketing for the Forbes Four Star-rated Villas of Grand Cypress, a Gemstone Collection property, and The Grove Resort & Spa Orlando, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property that opened its first phase on March 10, 2017. Both resorts are located near Walt Disney World® in Orlando, Florida. Ted Davis, chief sales & marketing office for Benchmark, made the announcement. Kristina Turner comes to Benchmark with nearly two decades of sales and marketing experience. She was most recently director of eCommerce for Hilton, where she led a team of 16 professionals overseeing 600 franchise properties in Florida, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Southeast Atlantic region. Prior to this Ms. Turner served as the regional eCommerce manager for Hilton. She began with the company as regional coordinator of sales & marketing. Ms. Turner graduated from Everest University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She was part of Hilton’s prestigious High Performer program. Kristina Turner and her husband reside in St. Cloud, Florida, where they also own and operate 3Beez Honey Farm, Inc.
When Eric Vasta started working at his father's diner at the age of 14, he had no idea that it was the beginning of a journey that would take him around the world, and ultimately, land him a job as the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort's executive chef.
Destination Hotels announces the appointment of Freddy Hernandez as Area Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Quirk Hotel, YVE Hotel Miami and the newly-introduced Royal Isabela. In his new role, Hernandez will oversee all Marketing & Public Relations operations from planning and developing communications strategies to cultivating media interest in all three hotels. With an extensive background in communications and digital marketing, Hernandez brings immense experience to his new position. Prior to joining Destination Hotels, Hernandez was the acting Director of Marketing & Public Relations at The Hall South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida, previously a Joie de Vivre brand property. Prior to that Hernandez held digital and marketing management positions with Eden Roc Miami Beach, Fairmont Turnberry Isle and Fairmont Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen Mexico.
Pier House Resort & Spa located in Key West, is proud to announce their financial controller, Teresa Russell has been named Remington Hotels "2016 Controller of the Year. Selected among 90 hotels within Remington Hotels portfolio, Teresa began her career at Pier House in 2000.
Hugo joins Bill Hansen Luxury Catering as a veteran of the hospitality industry and brings more than 19 years of hospitality sales and marketing experience to his role. As Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, he directly oversees all Marketing, E-commerce, Public Relations, and Sales Strategies for the company. Throughout his career, he has served in roles with Trust Hospitality, Starwood Hotels & Resorts – Caribbean, Global Sales at LXR Luxury Resorts, opening roles with Four Seasons Miami, Ritz-Carlton Hotels in Miami and Loews Miami Beach Hotel.
The Grove Resort & Spa Orlando opened its first phase on Friday, March 10, 2017 as an expansive, 106-acre destination hotel just minutes from Walt Disney World®. Set on Lake Austin, amid a portion of Central Florida's conservation grounds, The Grove launched with 184 of its 878 residential-style suites that help simplify family and group travel. Spacious accommodations that span up to nearly 1,600 square feet are matched with a standout amenity package that will roll out in stages. Opening with three swimming pools, a spa, fitness center, two bars and lounges, a large-scale grab-and-go, a lakefront pier with watersports, and a children's game room, The Grove will grow to also include a variety of other dining options and an on-site water park with a dual rider surf simulator, winding lazy river, and multiple water slides.
In this role, Chef Hepburn oversees all aspects of food and beverage in collaboration with Fisher, with special attention to the signature restaurant, The Deck at 560 Bar & Restaurant. Hepburn developed his soulful cuisine style at age 20 at the Holiday Inn located in DuBois, PA as Sous Chef and went on to hold the Executive Chef position by age 24. Chef’s passion for creating bold flavors and deeply satisfying dishes further emphasizes his signature cooking style. The opportunity to develop a new restaurant concept in such an incredible location appealed to Chef. His attention to detail and signature style comes to fruition through the cuisine as well as his staff’s service and presentation. Located on beautiful Marco Island, Chef instantly has connected to the community and its natural offerings, incorporating island favorites such as Lobster, Black Grouper and Sea Scallops into the new refined menu. He holds a CFBE®, the most prestigious certification available to a food and beverage executive, from American Hotel & Motel Association. When he’s not in the kitchen, Chef is frequenting other restaurants to expose himself to new styles and innovative culinary experiences that help influence his ever-changing menus.