Orlando, Florida (August 7, 2018) – Aqua-Aston Hospitality, a leader in hospitality management known for its owned brands in Hawaii, the continental United States and Costa Rica, announced the appointment of Jim Franklin to the role of general manager to lead its managed Orlando properties, The Fountains at ChampionsGate and Tuscana Resort Orlando. He reports to Lesli Reynolds, senior vice president of operations, Aqua-Aston Hospitality.
Tuscana Resort Orlando by Aston and The Fountains at ChampionsGate are just moments away from Orlando’s theme parks such as Epcot®, Magic Kingdom® Park, Universal Studios Florida™ and world-class championship golf courses, including ChampionsGate Golf Club, Lake Buena Vista Golf Course and Grand Cypress Resort. At Tuscana Resort, guests enjoy spacious condominium suites with fully equipped kitchens, a beach-style pool, onsite movie theater and a poolside sports bar. At the gated Fountains at ChampionsGate resort, visitors unwind in 3- and 4-bedroom townhomes with designer kitchens, luxurious bathrooms, spacious bedrooms and master suites, an onsite swimming pool, jet spa and fitness center.
As the general manager, Franklin is principally accountable for the overall operations at The Fountains at ChampionsGate and Tuscana Resort Orlando, focusing on administration, marketing, and homeowner associations, with a heightened priority on guest services and an elevated product offering.
"Jim’s background of more than 35 years in the hospitality industry underscores his ability to drive revenue growth through implementing creative sales and marketing initiatives across a diverse portfolio of properties,” said Reynolds. “We’re very pleased to welcome Jim to our managed properties in Orlando.”
With a wealth of academic and luxury hospitality management experience, Franklin steps into this position following his time as general manager for various Starwood and Hilton Hotels, including award-winning Hilton Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, California; The Marenas Resort and Spa in Miami Beach, Florida; and most recently the Sheraton in Mahwah, New Jersey. Franklin was awarded Distinguished Hotelier by Washington State University in 2007 for his achievements in hospitality business management.
Franklin said, “I’m honored to be a part of the Aqua-Aston Hospitality family, not only for its strong focus on guests, but also because I’ll be working with the talented teams at Tuscana Resort Orlando and The Fountains at ChampionsGate, two beautiful resorts.”
