Yedla Management Company announced four leadership hires for the AC Hotel Huntsville Downtown in Huntsville, Ala. The 120-room property, slated to open in March, is the first AC Hotels by Marriott in Alabama.
Randy Shoe joined the hotel as GM, and Benjamin Day will serve as assistant GM. Michael Owenby signed on at the hotel as director of sales, and Bryce Marshall joined as the food-and-beverage manager.
“We are excited to have this dynamic team lead the new AC Hotel Huntsville Downtown,” Srinath Yedla, CEO of Yedla, which manages the property. “Their collective knowledge and industry experience are critical to the success of this highly-anticipated hotel.”
Before assuming the role as GM at the AC Hotel Huntsville Downtown, Shoe worked with Yedla, a Huntsville-based manager of hotels, as the GM of the SpringHill Suites Marriott Huntsville Downtown for nearly six years. His experience working with Marriott Hotels spans more than 12 years. As GM, Shoe will oversee daily operations of the 120-room AC hotel.
Day brings more than six years of experience in the hospitality industry, and most recently served as assistant GM of the Residence Inn by Marriott in Fort Myers, Fla. Day will support the GM in all areas of operations.
Owenby has more than 12 years of hotel sales experience. His Marriott brand experience includes Residence Inn by Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott and TownePlace Suites by Marriott.
As F&B manager, Marshall's responsibilities will include the AC Kitchen, the AC Lounge and events in The Gallery at Big Spring Park. His most recent background has included restaurant and banquet service in Huntsville and Salt Lake City.
The hotel was developed by Huntsville-based real estate developer Doradus Partners, in partnership with RCP Companies, and was the 10th AC Hotels location signed in the U.S., a global joint venture with Spanish hotelier Antonio Catalan. The property will be anchored by Atlanta chef and restaurateur Marc Taft’s new restaurant—The Gemini Kitchen + Cocktails, set to open in fall 2019.
Located in downtown Huntsville, the new-build property will have six levels and 120 guestrooms, as well as an AC Lounge, AC Library, AC Kitchen, co-working space and more than 3,100 feet of meeting and event space. The Gallery at Big Spring Park, which is made up of three meeting rooms named after the city’s historic mills—Lincoln, Lowe and Merrimack, can fit up to 275 guests.
AC Hotel Huntsville Downtown is the first tenant for CityCentre at Big Spring, a $100 million, mixed-use development in Huntsville’s urban core. The development includes 30,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 277 upscale apartment units and an artisanal food hall.