“It’s our first footprint into Tampa, a market that we at Meyer Jabara Hotels have been focusing on and looking to bring more properties into,” said Chas Henry, SVP, business development and acquisitions, Meyer Jabara Hotels. The company focuses on the Southeast, with an emphasis on Florida.
The Hilton Garden Inn features an outdoor pool, 24-hour fitness center and multiple dining and beverage outlets, as well as conference space, a meeting room, a business center and free WiFi. Not to be overlooked there are cooked-to-order breakfasts and a breakfast buffet available daily at the hotel.
Owner Rogatien Krecek purchased the hotel 1.5 years ago. According to Henry, Krecek was looking for a management company with the foundation and principles that Meyer Jabara Hotels aspires to—very family-focused and very brand-supportive within the Hilton system.
“Literally within that first month of Meyer Jabara taking over, I saw a big change,” Krecek said. “Employee morale improved immediately. After 30 days, we could see the light at the end of the tunnel.” Within 45 days, Krecek said accounts receivable fell to 50% or less of previous levels. Accounts payable, occupancy and ADR also improved. “It was a win-win at both the property level and from an owner’s perspective,” he added.
The property recently underwent a comprehensive renovation to its guestrooms and public spaces, an investment that Henry said has repositioned the property as one of the best-in-class hotels in its market. “It’s a high-quality hotel with a strong brand behind it that we believe is going to be very well-positioned for families and business travelers alike visiting the Tampa Bay area,” he said.
Henry said that the Tampa market “continues to show strong signs of recovery post-COVID. It’s one of the best-performing markets in the U.S., and we believe strongly that it’s going to continue on that route. Tampa offers great beaches, sunny skies and a vibrant, growing downtown.”
He added, “Meyer Jabara Hotels continues to work with great ownership groups with well-located properties and strong foundational principles for third-party management across the U.S. This hotel gives us a great foundation into the Tampa Bay market and in our ever-expanding portfolio across the Southeast.”
The hotel is located close to downtown Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Downs racetrack, the Oldsmar Historical Society Museum and the Oldsmar Flea Market.
Tags: Chas Henry, Meyer Jabara Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn Tampa
