Tampa’s Epicurean Hotel Announces Promotions, New Hire

Hotel promotes two executive positions; adds veteran to event team

 TAMPA, Fla. (Sept. 8, 2021) – Epicurean Hotel recently announced the promotions of Audrey Greminger to Director of Sales and Vicente Lavayen to Director of Food & Beverage of the 137-room boutique hotel located in the trendy Hyde Park historic district of South Tampa. Fatima Del Carmen has also joined the team as Event Manager.

“We’re so proud to have the kind of real depth of talent on our team that many times allows us to promote from within, just as I was,” said Shawn Routten, General Manager. “And of course, it’s a huge advantage to have such a unique and desirable product that allows us to attract incredible new talent as well.”

As Director of Sales, Audrey Greminger will handle training and supervision of the sales and event planning team to generate and execute meeting business in the corporate, government, sports, and social market segments. Greminger first joined the Epicurean five years ago in event management, where she put her detailed-oriented personality to work, delivering incredible experiences for clients. After moving to the sales team, she was quickly promoted to her most recent role as senior sales manager, where she covered group and catering sales while driving top-line room revenue. A native of Tampa and graduate of Florida State University, Greminger worked at the award-winning restaurant Mise en Place in Tampa and Tallahassee’s Hotel Duval prior to her time at Epicurean.

Recently promoted to Director of Food & Beverage, Vicente Lavayen oversees day-to-day operations of Epicurean’s food and beverage outlets – Élevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar and EDGE Rooftop Cocktail Lounge – as well as catering for meetings and events. Lavayen was most recently the Restaurant General Manager for Élevage and has been instrumental in the success of Epicurean’s outlets, even assisting with beverage programs for Mainsail Lodging & Development’s sister hotel openings in other cities. Lavayen is a former managing partner with South Tampa’s On Swann, where he developed the beverage program for it and another new restaurant, Oak & Ola. A former General Manager for TAPS Restaurant Bar & Lounge in Tampa, his other industry experience includes Hudson at Waterway East, JB’s on the Beach, and the Boca Raton Resort & Club. A native of Miami, Lavayen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Johnson & Wales University and is a certified specialist in wines and spirits, and a platinum level certified mixologist.

With 19 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Fatima Del Carmen was recently hired as the event manager, where she will oversee the planning and execution of Epicurean’s events. Del Carmen comes to the Epicurean team by way of Orlando, where she spent the past seven years as the Convention Sales/Services Manager for the Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista. Prior to that, she worked in the South Florida area as a catering manager with the Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Airport Hotel, and in banquet operations for The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club. Del Carmen is a graduate of Florida International University’s School of Hospitality Management, where she also received a certificate of completion for event and meeting planning.

The food-focused Epicurean Hotel features a state-of-the-art culinary classroom known as the Epicurean Theatre; Élevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar signature restaurant; EDGE Rooftop Cocktail Lounge; 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 information and reservations at the Epicurean Hotel, call (855) U-AWAKEN (829-2536) or visit EpicureanHotel.com.

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About Mainsail Lodging & Development
Mainsail Lodging & Development is an award-winning, Tampa, Florida-based company specializing in hotel, corporate furnished housing, and resort property management and development, marketing and sales. An established company with a dynamic entrepreneurial spirit, Mainsail prides itself in finding unique lodging opportunities with a purpose, and applying its passion and expertise to each project. Created by President Joe Collier with a combination of daring vision and dogged determination, Mainsail has built an impressive portfolio of top-branded properties throughout the southeastern United States and Caribbean. Each Mainsail property inspires guests with a distinct character and meticulously crafted, sophisticated style, from a private island resort, and urban culinary showplaces, to waterfront marvels, boutique southern hotels, and a historic jazz era icon. Through its Mainsail Corporate Housing and Mainsail Vacation Rentals brands, the company manages a collection of private vacation homes in Florida and corporate housing solutions across the country. To ensure long-term success and profitability, Mainsail relies on the dedication of its high-performing leadership team, a growing group of enterprising investors, and a commitment to giving back, every step of the way. MainsailHotels.com