Anthony Lazzara

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  www.lodgingmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Pu - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/1/2006    Last Visited: 7/25/2009  

  Anthony Lazzara, general manager of the Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront Hotel in Melbourne, Fla., says reducing"flying missiles" is critical in preparing for an approaching tropical system. Another is sealing the hotel, sandbagging it if necessary, and moving sensitive equipment, like computers, to higher floors.
  
  Like the Crowne Plaza Hotel in West Palm Beach, the Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront Hotel sustained significant damage from hurricanes Frances and Gene in September 2004 and will be reopening on July 14, Lazzara says."Frances shut us down-Gene finished us off," he says."Frances was such a slow-moving storm, this area was pelted for an extended period of time."
  
  Like other Florida hotels built before Hurricane Andrew, new renovation work done to the Hilton had to conform to the state's new building codes. Lazzara says studs for the hotel were placed closer together, windows used a more impact-resistant glass and the structure employs a light-gauge steel framework for added strength."All of this is addressed by the current code, making the hotel a much stronger structure," he says.
  
  He also says that given the possibility for water and moisture penetration, certain areas of the hotel have a knock-down finish, making them more mildew-resistant.

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  Business - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/30/2006    Last Visited: 7/30/2006  

  For Anthony Lazzara, general manager of the Doubletree Guest Suites Melbourne Beach Oceanfront, north of Indialantic, it's good to have any business at all.
  
  After being closed 22 months because of damage caused by Hurricane Frances, he is happy to go back to guest services, instead of going over building plans with contractors.The hotel reopened Thursday.
  
  "We anticipate that it will be slower than normal for us, too, but that will give us time to ramp up and get ready for our first year," Lazzara said.

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  Business - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 9/1/2006    Last Visited: 9/2/2006  

  Anthony Lazzara, general manager of the Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront Resort and The Doubletree Guest Suites Melbourne Beach Oceanfront, said Labor Day bookings were not as good as initially expected, but group bookings were going to pull him through.
  
  "People are scared from the weather.We had several cancellations.But, on the positive note, we have youth sports teams here and, fortunately, they didn't stay away," Lazzara said."We were hoping for occupancy numbers around 90 percent.

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  Business - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/27/2006    Last Visited: 7/27/2006  

  It cost more than $15 million to renovate and upgrade the hotel, according to General Manager Anthony Lazzara.The hotel was last open to the public as the Quality Suites, north of Indialantic.
  
  "We're extremely excited," Lazzara said.

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  Business - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/19/2006    Last Visited: 7/19/2006  

  To open the 118-room Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront and its sister hotel to the south, the 207-room Doubletree Guest Suites Melbourne Beach Oceanfront, Anthony Lazzara, general manager of both properties, has had many challenges.
  
  "When you're rebuilding and renovating, you have issues that arise that can't be foreseen in the planning phase," he said.
  
  "For example, at the Doubletree, we had to have a hood built in the kitchen.Or, as we were working, we'd run into an issue we didn't anticipate, and we'd have a delay.Mostly, the types of things that would delay us would be companies having to resend flooring or wallpaper because the product had a color variation and that's unacceptable."
  
  Lazzara is putting the finishing touches on both hotels, which are expected to open simultaneously.
  
  "We're still working on putting flooring in on the first level at both hotels," he said."And we're putting the finishing touches on cabling at the Hilton."
  
  After that, Lazzara plans to get staff into the hotel for hands-on training.
  
  While there are 120 employees hired for the hotels, there are still a few key positions open and, in January, the hotels will add 20 to 30 more employees, Lazzara said.
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  Lazzara said the hotels will be quite different in appearance than they were before.
  
  "The uniforms of the food and beverage staff at the Doubletree will complement the pool area," he said."It's all centered on an island theme, and it's different.At the Hilton, we'll be more 'bistro' style."
  
  Lazzara said room rates at the Doubletree will be in the $150-a-night range in the off-season, and about $250 a night during peak season.
  
  At the Hilton, the rates will run about $175 a night off-season and about $300 a night in season.
  
  The hotels have been constructed to hurricane code, with higher-gauge steel and higher-impact glass, Lazzara said.
  
  There has been one challenge that has been tougher than them all, Lazzara said.
  
  "For the corporate business travelers, those people who work for Harris and Northrop Grumman, for example, they'll be here as soon as we open," Lazzara said.

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  Business - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 5/25/2006    Last Visited: 5/25/2006  

  Anthony Lazzara, general manager for both hotels, declined to comment on the acquisition.
  
  Lazzara arrived here to take on the general manager role forboth hotels in August 2004.He has been overseeing the reconstruction of both hotels.

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  Business - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/4/2006    Last Visited: 4/4/2006  

  The 207-room Melbourne Suites Beach Resort and the 118-room Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront Resort, both north of Indialantic, have undergone about $40 million in renovations since they were damaged by hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, according to Anthony Lazzara, general manager of both properties.
  
  June is a relatively slow period for local tourism, so Lazzara said he will target the reunion business to help boost occupancy at the hotels, which are operated by Cleveland-based Boykin Lodging.
  
  Lazzara arrived in Brevard from North Carolina as the general manager of both properties in August 2004, then experienced the hurricanes, their aftermath and the rebuilding of the properties.
  
  "The good thing is, I've learned a lot about what goes into rebuilding a hotel," Lazzara said."But I really miss working with people.That's why I went into this business."
  
  For January and February, hotel bookings in Brevard County have been off 10 percent to 15 percent, compared with year-earlier figures, some local hoteliers have reported.
  
  While spring break season brings a windfall for most local businesses and hotels, Lazzara's properties won't be open through the spring tourism season.
  
  So he's banking on reunion customers coming during the hot summer.
  
  "Now is the time they're planning for summer," Lazzara said.

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  Business - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 1/21/2006    Last Visited: 1/21/2006  

  "But we're aiming for May," said Anthony Lazzara, general manager of both hotels.
  
  The cost of the renovations at the two hotels is about $40 million total, he said.
  
  When the hotels reopen, room rates will be higher than what they were when the hotels closed, Lazzara said.
  
  "The prices will depend on what the market will bear," he said.

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  Business - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/6/2005    Last Visited: 4/6/2005  

  Anthony Lazzara, the newly named general manager of The Melbourne Suites Beach Resort Hotel and another Boykin-owned property, the Hilton Melbourne Beach Resort, said the resort condo trend is growing and serves a special need in Florida.
  
  "While the hurricanes were not the sole reason for this particular conversion, they helped push the idea along," he said.

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  Business - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 8/27/2005    Last Visited: 8/27/2005  

  Anthony Lazzara, general manager for both the Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront Resort and the Melbourne Suites Beach Resort, said the two hotels are proceeding ahead.
  
  The Melbourne Suites Beach Resort is expected to be converted to condominiums, and plans for the interior are yet to be determined, Lazzara said.
  
  The Hilton, however, is going full-steam ahead with upgrades, including larger televisions in the rooms, new furnishings and light fixtures, more molding and "furnishings that are more conducive to South Florida," Lazzara said.
  
  The Hilton will offer a trademark bath amenity program, and Lazzara said the pool area, including the pool bar, decking and landscaping, will be upgraded.
  
  He is expecting the hotels to be open by April 1, and remodeling costs to run around $30 million to $40 million for both properties.

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