DoubleTree Orlando Changes Hands, Lands New Management

By Robert Demeter

DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Airport

Orlando—The DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Airport, located just minutes away from the Orlando International Airport, is now under new ownership and management. Through an affiliate, GF Management has acquired the 353-key property and has pledged $8 million in renovations.

DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Airport features more than 15,000 square feet of flexible function space, a full-service bar and a restaurant. The hotel is situated 20 minutes from downtown Orlando, and provides easy access to a variety of retail, restaurant and entertainment options, as well as tourist attractions, including Walt Disney World®, Universal Studios and SeaWorld.

The transaction marks GF Management’s third hotel acquisition in the Orlando market in recent years. Since 2013, the company has owned and managed the Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort, as well as the Hilton Garden Inn Orlando/North Lake Mary.

Atrium

“We are very proud to add The DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Airport to our outstanding portfolio,” Vineet Nayyar, senior vice president of operations for GF Management, said in prepared remarks. “We are confident the extensive renovation we have planned, along with the implementation of our proven management systems, will elevate this hotel to a leader in the market.”

Enhancements at the hotel will take place over the next 18 months. The impactful renovation will focus on improvements to the public spaces, guest rooms, and most importantly, the overall guest experience. “We take great pride in the hotels that we own and manage,” added Jeff Kolessar, senior vice president of development and acquisitions.

Laura Byers, Director of Sales and Marketing, DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Airport

The management team also welcomes Laura Byers as director of sales and marketing at the newly acquired property. Byers has over 19 years of experience in the hospitality industry, accompanied with strong leadership skills and a dedicated work ethic.

Byers’ experience in the hospitality industry includes proactive sales, team development, market intelligence and community involvement, along with hotel transitions and renovations. Prior to joining the management team at the Double Tree by Hilton Orlando Airport, she held the associate director of sales position at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort, where she led a team of five sales and catering managers.

Photos courtesy of DoubleTree by Hilton and LinkedIn