Omni Amelia Island promotes GM to managing director

Omni Amelia Island (Fla.) Plantation Resort appointed Mary O’Donnell to managing director of the property. O’Donnell moves into the managing director role after four years as GM at the resort. In her new role, O’Donnell will lead the resort, setting propertywide strategic goals and fostering team development.

“We’re thrilled to now have Mary O’Donnell as managing director at Omni Amelia Island. She is a true leader in the hospitality industry, especially in the Florida market,” Peter Strebel, president of Omni Hotels & Resorts, said in a statement. “Mary’s leadership, deep connection to the associates and strong history at the resort make her the natural choice to continue to take this treasured resort to the next level.”

O’Donnell joined Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort in 2014. In 2018, O’Donnell was nominated by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association for Florida’s Leading Women in Lodging. Before Omni, O’Donnell served in various hospitality leadership roles including catering, meeting and events, sales, food and beverage and operations positions. O’Donnell spent 13 years with Ritz-Carlton.

O’Donnell began her hospitality career with Hyatt, moving up the ranks to director of catering and conference services/director of food and beverage. O’Donnell attended Purdue University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in hotel management.

Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort at 39 Beach Lagoon Road in Amelia Island, Fla., is just north of Jacksonville. The resort offers 402 guestrooms and suites, more than 350 one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, 80,000 square feet of meeting space, 10 restaurants, 36 holes of championship golf, 23 tennis courts, a fitness center, a full-service spa and salon, a shopping village with 14 boutiques and numerous recreational activities.