TAMPA, Fla. (April 10, 2018) – The Epicurean Hotel was recently awarded three high-level awards from Marriott International’s Hotel & GM Awards – Franchise: Hotel of the Year – Distinctive Premium, General Manager Hero Award and General Manager of the Year recognizing two of the hotel’s managers. These winners will now move on as nominees in Marriott International’s Full Service Hotel & GM Awards – The Americas being presented on May 9 in Washington, DC.
The Hotel of the Year – Distinctive Premium award is presented to one hotel among nearly 750 in Marriott’s “distinctive” brand category, which encompasses Autograph, Westin, Renaissance Hotels, Le Méridien, Gaylord Hotels and others. The annual award recognizes one property that exceeds expectations in all areas of financial and guest satisfaction; brand promise and delivery; art and local community events and more. In addition, the Epicurean’s strong partnerships with charitable organizations such as Feeding Tampa Bay and the James Beard Foundation played an important role in securing this prestigious award.
“The team at the Epicurean Hotel is enthusiastic, dedicated, creative and loyal, so to have them recognized on this level is truly deserved, yet humbling,” said Joe Collier, president, Mainsail Lodging & Development. “We share these awards with everyone on our outstanding staff, who each had a hand in securing these honors.”
The General Manager Hero award was presented to current Epicurean Hotel general manager Kevin Scott for his leadership during Hurricane Irma. This award is given to a manager and hotel that perseveres in the face of a challenge or hardship. Scott and his dedicated staff worked tirelessly to make the Epicurean a refuge for stranded and evacuated travelers during the storm, relaxing pet and cancellation policies, offering complimentary buffets and carefully instructing guests on how to handle power outages, with the hotel providing glow sticks and head lamps for each room.
In 2017, the Epicurean had the unique situation of having dual general managers overseeing the property. Tom Haines, the opening general manager, managed the hotel through the first half of the year before being promoted to vice president of operations for Mainsail Lodging & Development. Kevin Scott began his career with Mainsail in July 2017, taking over the reins as general manager of the Epicurean. Both general managers were recognized by Marriott as General Manager of the Year. Under their direction, the Epicurean continued its positive trajectory in both financial performance and guest satisfaction. The innovative ideas and inspirational leadership of both Haines and Scott helped elevate the unique brand story which permeates the Epicurean Hotel with its distinct personality.
Located in the trendy Hyde Park historic district of South Tampa, Florida, the food-focused Epicurean Hotel features a state-of-the-art culinary classroom known as the Epicurean Theatre; Élevage, a restaurant where classic recipes are re-imagined; EDGE rooftop bar; Chocolate Pi pâtisserie; Bern’s Fine Wines & Spirits wine shop; Evangeline full-service spa; and 5,200-square feet of flexible event space. The Epicurean Hotel was developed in collaboration with Mainsail Lodging & Development and the legendary Bern’s Steak House and is the first newly constructed hotel property in the United States to join the prestigious Autograph Collection® of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR).
For reservations, please call (855) U-AWAKEN (829-2536) or visit www.EpicureanHotel.com.
About Mainsail Lodging & Development LLC
Mainsail Lodging & Development is a Tampa-based hospitality company that develops and operates lodging products in the Southeastern US and the Caribbean. Their property portfolio includes three Autograph Collection® hotels – Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina (ScrubIsland.com), a private island resort in the British Virgin Islands; the boutique food-focused Epicurean Hotel (EpicureanHotel.com) in Tampa, Florida; and Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club on Anna Maria Island, Florida; in addition to Mainsail Beach Inn (MainsailBeachInn.com), a boutique beachfront hotel on Anna Maria Island, Florida. The company also operates corporate housing throughout the Southeast, exclusively managing the Florida market for Oakwood Worldwide® under both its ExecuStay® (ExecuStay.com) and Oakwood® (Oakwood.com) brands, while also operating ExecuStay in Georgia, portions of Alabama, and The Carolinas. Two additional Florida hotels are planned for 2018 and 2020, respectively – Fenway Hotel in Dunedin and Luminary Hotel & Co. in Fort Myers. Just north of Tampa in Pasco County, Mainsail Lodging is also developing a 128-room Residence Inn in conjunction with an indoor sports complex, opening in 2019. Mainsail Lodging’s corporate charity is Feeding Tampa Bay – the largest food rescue and distribution organization in the community. Mainsail actively supports the cause through a variety of employee and guest programs ranging from packing and sorting at the warehouse to annual events including Epic Chef Showdown. MainsailHotels.com
About Bern’s Steak House
Internationally known for its vast wine collection, perfectly aged steaks and famous dessert room, Bern’s Steak House offers a world-class, incomparable dining experience. When Bern Laxer opened in 1956, he envisioned Bern’s as Art in Steaks. Today, son David Laxer and Chef de Cuisine Habteab Hamde continue Bern’s tradition of excellence with a gastronomic adventure that includes prime dry-aged steaks cut-to-order, 21 choices of caviar, fresh seafood and vegetables in a setting like none other. Housing the World’s largest wine collection of over 500,000 bottles, Bern’s offers 7,000 selections to its guests. In 2015, Bern’s was named a semi-finalist for Outstanding Wine Program by the James Beard Foundation. Additionally, in 2014, Bern’s was named an Outstanding Restaurant Semi-finalist, one of twenty in the country by the James Beard Foundation. Lastly SideBern’s, (now Haven), Bern’s sister restaurant and its Executive Chef Chad Johnson, also of the Epicurean Hotel, were named a 2012 and 2014 Semifinalist for Best Chef: South. Haven, formerly SideBern’s opened in March 2015. For more information on Bern’s Steak House and its subsidiaries, visit bernssteakhouse.com.
About Autograph Collection Hotels
The Autograph Collection is an evolving ensemble of strikingly independent hotels. Exactly like nothing else, each destination has been selected for its quality, bold originality, rich character and uncommon details. From near to far, iconic to historic, the result is an array properties that is nothing less than unique, nothing short of collectively exceptional. For more information and reservations please visit www.autographhotels.com, or explore our social media channels to learn more about championing the independent spirit.
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Twitter: www.twitter.com/Autograph
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