The nation's oldest city, St. Augustine, Florida, will soon welcome a brand new beachfront resort.
Designed by PFVS Architecture, the Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort is anticipated to open in its prime oceanfront location in September 2018. When it opens, it will be just one of five beachfront properties in the Embassy Suites by Hilton collection.
"The local community and our guests are going to be very pleasantly surprised by everything this new resort will have to offer," said newly appointed general manager Jason Kern. "We're building on Embassy Suites by Hilton's most popular brand amenities and best-in-class service to create something that will exceed all expectations."
Located adjacent to the iconic St. Augustine Pier, just 10 minutes from historic downtown St. Augustine, the resort will open with 175 spacious suites; each featuring a private bedroom and separate living area with sofa bed, armchair, work/dining table, wet bar, refrigerator, microwave and coffeemaker. A number of deluxe-category suites will also be available.
Numerous on-site eateries will tempt guests, although the resort will also feature Embassy Suites' famous, free cooked-to-order breakfast and nightly evening reception. Other culinary options will include the signature Harvest & Reel restaurant, serving locally sourced and specialty seafood from an open-show kitchen. A poolside bar and grille will offer Latin-inspired dishes and guests can also imbibe in specialty cocktails from the lobby-based Rhum Bar, which features full Atlantic views. A 24/7 market and a full-service Starbucks will also be located on-site.
The resort is being designed to provide maximum access to family-friendly, Florida-style soft adventure, including an infinity-style oceanfront pool and a splash park for kids. It will also partner with several local operators, who will provide eco-tours, surf lessons, tours of historic St. Augustine and other area activities.
The property fronts 535 feet of beach adjacent to Anastasia State Park, and its location next to a protected space will be key in preventing future development north of the hotel, helping to preserve the oceanfront views from its lobby, outdoor terraces and ballrooms.
The resort will also house 20,000 square feet of meeting space, including a waterfront ballroom and wedding facility.
A second phase of construction has already been announced, which will ultimately add another 100 suites to the property.
Key Appointments
The resort has recently announced two senior leadership positions, including the appointment of Jason Kern as general manager. Kern will oversee the hiring of new staff and day-to-day operations.
"Jason is an industry veteran with a tremendous track record of success at upscale beachfront properties on Florida's east coast," said Ron Mader, regional vice president of operations of HVMG, which is developing the property. "His skill set and experience make him the ideal choice to manage what is going to be a very special resort in St. Augustine."
Kern has two decades of hospitality industry experience, including as the general manager of the four-diamond Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, and as the director of sales and marketing at the Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Florida, where he guided the property through recovery efforts in the wake of just as Hurricane Matthew. He started his hospitality career at Universal Parks & Resorts, where he served on pre-opening teams for Islands of Adventure and CityWalk, as well as the Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort.
Also joining the team is Chris Pranis, who will assume the position of director of sales and marketing.
"Chris has a solid foundation in hotel sales, extensive experience in the local and regional markets, and productive relationships with key customers, all of which makes him a tremendous asset for the property," said Kern.
Pranis has spent the past decade in Florida's hotel industry, most recently as director of sales at the only AAA four-diamond The Shores Resort & Spa in Central Florida. Prior to that, he was senior sales manager at the luxurious Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine and corporate sales manager of the Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast. Pranis also spent eight years in New York, overseeing sales and marketing efforts for the Mill Pond Golf Course and Great Rock Golf Club. He also served as director of golf at Arnold Palmer Management/Century Golf.
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