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Spartanburg,
SC & Jacksonville, FL – February 2024 / NewsmakerAlert: The soon-to-open
AC
Hotel by Marriott in Jacksonville, Florida, has recruited an executive
leadership team with a collective half-century of comprehensive industry
experience.
OTO
Development, part of The
Johnson Group, is developing the hotel in partnership with Simon®,
a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership of premier shopping,
dining, entertainment, and mixed-use destinations. OTO will manage the
hotel, which is located within Simon’s
St. Johns Town Center in Northeast Florida.
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Hope
Jenkins is the General Manager of AC Hotel Jacksonville St. Johns Town
Center and Quentin Jones is the Director of Sales. Terrance Kinman
is the hotel’s Beverage & Food Manager.
“What
a privilege to bring this distinctive brand to Florida’s northeast coast,”
Hope
Jenkins says, noting this is the fourth AC Hotel by Marriott located
at a Simon property and the 10th within OTO’s owned and managed portfolios.
“Travelers appreciate the AC Hotel mantra to provide everything guests
need — and nothing they don’t — with equal emphasis on sophisticated style
and practical comforts.”
Jenkins
fell in love with the hospitality industry at age 14, working as an attendant
for a family entertainment center. She organized parties, painted faces,
led arts and crafts, and sang the birthday song “a little off-key,” she
admits, “and more times than I can count!”
After
studying at Mississippi State and the University of Alabama, Jenkins worked
in the nonprofit sector with a focus on senior citizens and students with
disabilities. She then moved into hotel leadership roles at full-service
and lifestyle properties managed by hospitality companies including Naples,
McNeil, and Interstate.
“I’ve
had so many wonderful opportunities,” Jenkins says, “but leading the opening
process at AC Hotel Jacksonville is the shining highlight of my career.”
Jenkins
played softball in school and now focuses her community voluntarism on
sports, serving on the board at Hard Nose Sports Academy and coaching a
girls’ travel softball team.
Quentin
Jones brings a background in luxury, full-service, and convention
hotels to his director of sales role at AC Hotel Jacksonville.
A graduate
of Howard University with a degree in English literature, Jones got his
start in hospitality as a turn-down attendant at the Mandarin Oriental
Hotel in Washington, D.C. He went on to hold sales and operations roles
of increasing responsibility at Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency,
W Hotels, and Hampton properties.
“I’ve
always thrived working in fast-paced city centers,” Jones says, “and I
know Jacksonville is ready for a brand that delivers a modern, discerning,
and harmonious guest experience.”
AC
Hotel Jacksonville will feature 118 sophisticated, modern guest rooms and
a host of amenities. Its ideal location will connect guests to 90 market-exclusive
retail brands and an array of dining options at St. Johns Town Center while
offering easy proximity to the region’s best beaches and other recreation
opportunities.
“I’m
intrigued by the AC brand’s trademark balance of form and function,” Jones
says. “One of the big differentiators here in Jacksonville will be our
fresh-air patio that includes an outdoor pool, a water feature, and yard
games to encourage camaraderie.”
Jones
is a long-time volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida.
His favorite hobby is traveling, especially internationally.
Terrance
Kinman got his first job as a 15-year-old busboy at a hotel on
the Atlantic City Boardwalk — and he’s been working in hotels, restaurants,
and country clubs ever since.
He
worked on New Jersey’s famed boardwalk for 10 years, gaining hotel experience
in everything from convention planning to guest services to food and beverage
operations. From there he moved to Florida to work in F&B and management
roles at private venues such as Jacksonville Country Club and Queen’s Harbor
Country Club before ultimately transitioning back to branded hotels.
Kinman
has earned a variety of accolades, including ClubCorp’s Rising Star Award
and multiple Hilton Garden Inn Team Member of the Month awards.
“I
love the hospitality business,” he says, “and it’s exciting to distill
my varied experiences into this dream job at AC Hotel Jacksonville. Our
AC Kitchen, AC Lounge, and catered meetings and events will feature all
the brand favorites, plus a little local flavor and flair.”
Away
from work, Kinman is an active community volunteer. He participates in
a monthly beach sweep and, along with his daughter, he walks dogs at the
Jacksonville Humane Society. Hobbies include fishing, golfing, and making
his own whiskey and wine.
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Scheduled
to open in March, AC Hotel Jacksonville St. Johns Town Center is under
development by OTO with project partners DLR
Group, architect and interior designer; and Kellogg
& Kimsey, general contractor.
The
4-story, 118-room hotel is located at 5323 Big Island Drive in Jacksonville,
Florida. For reservations and more information, visit Marriott.com/JaxAE.
Connect on social @ACHotelJacksonvilleSJTC.
To
download headshots and property renderings, please
click here.
About
AC Hotel by Marriott Jacksonville St. Johns Town Center
AC
Hotel by Marriott Jacksonville St. Johns Town Center is a 4-story hotel
comprising 118 sophisticated, modern guest rooms; an activated AC Lounge;
a fresh-air patio with an outdoor pool and game space; a well-equipped
fitness center; and 1,500-square-feet of flexible meeting space, including
a private boardroom. Guest rooms and shared spaces strike the perfect balance
of form and function, with curated artwork evoking a true sense of place.
Part of St. Johns Town Center — Northeast Florida’s premier shopping, dining,
and lifestyle destination — the hotel offers easy proximity to TPC Sawgrass,
Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and EverBank Stadium, home of the
Jacksonville Jaguars. AC Hotel Jacksonville is located at 5323 Big Island
Drive in Jacksonville, Florida. For reservations and more information,
visit Marriott.com/JaxAE.
Connect on social @ACHotelJacksonvilleSJTC.
About
OTO Development
OTO
Development, part of The
Johnson Group, is an award-winning hotel development and hospitality
management company. Founded in 2004 and partnering with the Hilton, Hyatt,
IHG, and Marriott brands, OTO’s industry leadership position is anchored
by a portfolio of excellent hotels staffed by exceptional people. The company
currently owns and/or operates approximately 66 hotels comprising more
than 10,000 room keys. OTO’s growth is focused on developing new hotels
in high-barrier-to-entry markets; purchasing and repurposing existing hotel
properties; and expanding third-party management relationships. For more
information, visit OTODevelopment.com.
OTO
Development: Facebook
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Media
Contact:
Diane
Jackson
Director
of Public Relations
&
Corporate Communications
OTO
Development
864-327-6274
LinkedIn
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