Tavistock Development Company just announced the creation of the Tavistock Hotel Collection, where the growing portfolio of Tavistock-owned properties will be managed. Tavistock Hotel Collection properties aim to deliver one-of-a-kind experiences and exceptional services to guests. The first two properties in the collection are being built in Lake Nona, Tavistock’s master-planned community in Orlando, FL. Miami-based Arquitectonica is designing both of these buildings. The first building, the Tavistock Town Center Hotel will break ground in 2018 and is scheduled to open at the end of 2019. The second, the Tavistock Lake Nona Resort, is planned to break ground in 2018 for a 2020 opening. Both facilities will have a focus on integrating technology, architecture, and incredible customer service together to create a world-class experience.
Heading up the new division is Kit Pappas, recently appointed as vice president of hotel management. “It’s significant when an organization like Tavistock – known around the globe for its smart investments and commitment to excellence – says they want to create an innovative business opportunity in your industry,” said Pappas, a 30-year hospitality veteran. “With the formation of the Tavistock Hotel Collection, we now have an opportunity to create new brands and experiences with the same excellence, creativity and ingenuity that Tavistock is known throughout the world for, and I for one wanted to be a part of that from day one.”
The Tavistock Lake Nona Resort will be a first-of-its-kind, iconic performance resort and spa featuring one of the nation’s largest manmade crystal lagoons bringing the beach to Central Florida. Nestled between the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club and the USTA National Campus, the property will continue the community’s dedication to wellness, offering the highest level of performance and healthy living in a luxury resort setting, appealing to athletes, leisure travelers, incentive groups and families. Additional highlights of the property will include cutting-edge design, leading full-service and top-tier amenities, custom-designed guestrooms to optimize performance and the comfort of multiple guests, as well as an expansive rooftop lounge and a major fitness and spa campus.
The Tavistock Town Center Hotel will sit at the center of what will become a 3+ million square-foot destination for retail, dining and entertainment. The full-service property will feature a 16-story tower with 215 guestrooms and will be an ideal destination for leisure travelers, business professionals and style-conscious guests. Design details include a sleek exterior, grand motor court entrance, sophisticated lobby, ballroom and meeting space, as well as an 80-seat restaurant and a vibrant rooftop pool and lounge with private event capabilities.
Tavistock Hotel Collection corporate headquarters will be based in Lake Nona, alongside Tavistock’s Development’s headquarters. Pappas is responsible for leading Tavistock’s growing hotel portfolio with a focus on overseeing third-party management, guest experience, and operations. Pappas will also work alongside Tavistock’s development and operations teams to explore and drive potential opportunities to expand the portfolio’s holdings.
Prior to joining Tavistock Hotel Collection, Pappas served as chief operating officer for Capella Hotel Group, a luxury hotel development and management company with properties worldwide. He has also worked with notable hotel companies including: Tishman, Hard Rock Hotels, and The Ritz-Carlton, serving in both marketing and operational leadership roles. Pappas is a graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Business, School of Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Management.
