FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 30, 2020) – Luminary Hotel & Co., the 243-room hotel that will light up downtown Fort Myers in late 2020, announced today three new additions to the hotel’s executive team, including Tom Albrecht, Director of Sales; Rhonda Decherd, Director of Catering & Convention Services; and Lesley Miller, Area Director of Human Resources.
“The team we’re forming at Luminary Hotel & Co. is truly exceptional,” said Bob Megazzini, General Manager. “Our employees are at the heart of our guest experience and we look forward to seeing these talented executives lead our team to continued growth and success.”
Director of Sales Tom Albrecht will handle training and supervision of the sales team. Albrecht has more than 30 years of sales experience in convention center, hotel and public assembly facilities, working with such organizations as the Detroit Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau (DMCVB), the Cobo Center, and most recently Detroit Marriott, where he was responsible for selling the 1,328-room hotel to national and state associations. As the former Director of Sales at Cobo Center, he doubled the number of annual major event bookings within his first three years. Albrecht completed his undergraduate studies at City College in New York.
Rhonda Decherd has been appointed Director of Catering & Convention Services to oversee the catering sales and event team while maximizing event revenues, convention services efficiencies, and the overall guest experience. Prior to joining Luminary Hotel & Co., Decherd was Director of Catering and Conferences at South Seas Island Resort in Captiva, Florida. She also worked as Event Services Manager at the City of Fort Myers Harborside Event Center for five years, which Luminary Hotel is now managing and recently rebranded. Decherd obtained her bachelor’s degree in Resort & Hospitality Management from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers.
Luminary’s new Area Director of Human Resources Lesley Miller will oversee HR strategy for both the Luminary Hotel and Innovation Hotel in Naples, as the two prepare to recruit, hire and train more than 250 employees, many from Fort Myers and the surrounding area. An accomplished human resources executive, Miller brings more than 20 years of hospitality industry experience, including her most recent position as Director of Human Resources for Carillon Miami Wellness Resort. She was also instrumental in the successful opening of the Acqualina Resort & Spa and The Mandarin Oriental, two of Miami’s most notable 5-star properties. Miller earned her degree in Hospitality Management at Florida International University.
Luminary Hotel & Co. will be home to the signature Silver King Ocean Brasserie, as well as the Beacon Social Drinkery rooftop lounge, The Workshop culinary theater, an indoor and outdoor fitness facility, Ella Mae's Diner and retail space at street level and a spacious pool area on the fourth floor overlooking the Caloosahatchee. The 12-story hotel will also offer more than 8,000 square feet of function space and will be connected to the neighboring Harborside Event Center. Adjacent to the property is Centennial Park, where a new bandshell will be constructed, along with a new waterfront restaurant and retail outfitter, Oxbow Bar & Grill, which will be located in the city-owned pier building. The Luminary Hotel will be a part of the prestigious Autograph Collection® of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR), and is expected to be the first Autograph hotel in the Fort Myers-Naples area.
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About Mainsail Lodging & Development LLC
Mainsail Lodging & Development is a Tampa-based hospitality company that develops and operates lodging products in the Southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean. Their property portfolio includes four 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; Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club (WaterlineResort.com) on Anna Maria Island, Florida; and the historic Fenway Hotel (FenwayHotel.com) in Dunedin, Florida; as well as Mainsail Beach Inn (MainsailBeachInn.com), a boutique beachfront hotel on Anna Maria Island, Florida and The Karol Hotel (TheKarolHotel.com), the first Tribute Portfolio hotel in Pinellas County, Florida. The company also operates corporate housing throughout the Southeast under its Mainsail Corporate Housing brand, as well as exclusively managing the Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee markets for Oakwood Worldwide® under both its ExecuStay® (ExecuStay.com) and Oakwood® (Oakwood.com) brands. Mainsail Lodging also manages a portfolio of private vacation homes through its Mainsail Vacation Rentals (MainsailVR.com) offered on Homes & Villas by Marriott International. Additional future projects include Luminary Hotel & Co. (LuminaryHotel.com) in Fort Myers, Florida; Epicurean Atlanta Midtown; an Autograph Collection hotel in Roswell, Georgia; a 128-room Residence Inn in conjunction with an indoor sports complex in Pasco County, Florida; and a historic boutique hotel in Macon, Georgia. 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 such as the Epic Chef Showdown. Learn more at MainsailHotels.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 of 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