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Naples,
FL & Spartanburg, SC – November 2023 / NewsmakerAlert: The
soon-to-open AC Hotel
by Marriott in Naples, Florida, has recruited an executive
leadership team that blends dynamic brand experience with deep community
connections.
OTO
Development, part of The
Johnson Group, is developing and will manage AC Hotel by Marriott Naples
5th Avenue, which is slated to open mid-December 2023.
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L-to-R: Douglas Gaquer
(F & B Director), Jacob Kucinski (GM) and Kimberly Hilty (DOS)
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Jacob
Kucinski is General Manager of the new AC Hotel in Naples and Kimberly
Hilty is Director of Sales. Douglas Gaquer is Food & Beverage
Director with oversight of Limón, the hotel’s signature rooftop
restaurant and bar.
“Bringing
this new hotel to the heart of Old Naples is truly a highlight of my career,”
says Kucinski, whose industry accolades include JHM Hotels’ Rookie of the
Year and OTO Development’s Service Champion of the Year. “I’ve worked within
the AC Hotels brand for the past six years — I love its distinctive aesthetic,
which is absolutely ideal for this destination. The design marries European
sophistication to the spirit of Southwest Florida, with local and regional
artwork lending a definite sense of place.”
A decade
of hospitality success led Kucinski to his current role at Naples’ newest
lifestyle hotel. He previously served as general manager of AC Hotel Spartanburg
in Upstate South Carolina, where his team consistently ranked in the Top
3 in guest satisfaction scores across the entire AC Hotels brand.
“The
AC motto is to provide guests with everything they need — and nothing they
don’t — and today’s travelers appreciate that,” Kucinski says. “Form balances
perfectly with function here; the style is sleek but there are so many
practical comforts, too.”
Away
from the hotel, Kucinski spends as much time as possible at the beach.
He also loves checking out new restaurants and consuming all forms of media.
An advocate of community service, he recently became treasurer of the Naples
Design District.
Kimberly
Hilty brings more than 20 years of hospitality sales and marketing savvy
— as well as solid connections within the Naples community — to her role
leading the sales effort at the new AC Hotel.
A graduate
of Penn State University, Hilty began her career at a convention hotel
in downtown Philadelphia. Her company sent her to Naples on a task force
assignment … and she never left.
“I
fell instantly in love with Southwest Florida,” Hilty says, “and ever since,
it’s been my privilege to help visitors feel the same way.”
After
adopting Naples as her hometown, Hilty went on to open four hotels in the
city — Inn on Fifth and three Marriott properties — and she’s eager to
evolve this depth and breadth of experience at the highly anticipated AC
Hotel.
“I’m
so excited to bring this destination hotel to life,” she says.
Out
of the office, Hilty can typically be found either on the golf course or
on the Gulf. A former collegiate swimmer, she still enjoys athletic challenges
such as triathlons, open water swims, and cycling events.
Douglas
Gaquer brings 16 results-driven years in the corporate restaurant space
to his role as opening director of food and beverage at Limón. In
addition to management positions with Brinker International and Darden
Inc., he has worked in boutique hotels, an ideal combination of experience
for his current moment.
“I’ve
always been passionate about delivering exceptional service and exceeding
expectations,” says Gaquer, whose previous venue twice earned honors as
Tampa Bay’s Best Rooftop Dining as chosen by readers of Tampa
(Florida) magazine. “The opportunity to do so in Naples, the epicenter
of upscale dining in Southwest Florida, is truly intriguing.”
Limon’s
menu is based on Mediterranean traditions with a modern twist, Gaquer says,
and he looks forward to creating a unique culinary experience for visitors
and locals alike.
“This
rooftop space is designed for everyone who loves interesting dishes and
drinks,” he says.
Outside
the professional kitchen, Gaquer consistently volunteers with soup kitchens
and other programs that address food insecurity. His community service
also includes mentoring aspiring athletes and supporting sports initiatives
for people living with disabilities. A fitness enthusiast with a passion
for healthy cooking, he is an avid kiteboarder and runner with a particular
affinity for half-marathons.
Scheduled
to open in December 2023, the three-story, 150-room AC Hotel Naples
5th Avenue is located at 455 12th St. South in the heart of Naples, Florida.
It’s the hospitality component of Naples Square, a mixed-use development
master-planned by Wheelock Street
Capital and The Ronto Group which
also comprises nearly 300 luxury condominium units, multiple restaurants,
and a 350-seat performing arts complex.
OTO
Development project partners for AC Hotel Naples 5th Avenue include MHK
Architecture & Planning, architect; DLR
Group, interior designer; DeAngelis
Diamond, general contractor; and Kevin
Barry Art Advisory, art curator.
About
AC Hotel by Marriott Naples 5th Avenue
AC
Hotel Naples 5th Avenue is a three-story hotel comprising 150 sleek,
modern guest rooms; an activated lobby and ground-floor café; a
rooftop pool; a well-equipped fitness center; and 2,500-square-feet of
flexible meeting space. Limón, a signature rooftop restaurant and
bar, specializes in Mediterranean traditions with a modern twist, with
seating both inside and out. Guest rooms and shared spaces strike the perfect
balance of form and function, with curated artwork evoking a true sense
of place. Part of the Naples Square mixed-use development, AC Hotel Naples
5th Avenue is located at 455 12th Street South in the heart of Naples,
Florida. For reservations and more information, visit ACHotelNaples5thAvenue.com.
Connect on social @ACHotelNaples5thAvenue
and @LimonRooftopNaples.
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 management contracts with clients ranging from
publicly traded REITs to private equity firms to high-net-worth individuals.
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
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