KEY WEST, FL — January 2017 — Hotel Key West at Stock Island Marina announces Michael Hartman as Managing Director of the new build, 100-room hotel. This appointment expands his current role as General Manager of Stock Island Marina Village to include overseeing the upscale, full-service hotel, which is slated for an early 2017 opening.
Hotel Key West is entering into its final phase of construction at Stock Island Marina Village and its arrival will propel the transformation of the former industrial boatyard and fishing village into a modernized maritime epicenter and must-visit travel destination, offering the largest deep-water marina in the Florida Keys, direct ocean access, and an emerging retail and restaurant district.
As Managing Director, Hartman will continue to oversee the 220-slip, full-service, deep-water marina while leading the operations of the 100-room hotel. On the marina front, he is changing the service paradigm in marina management. In his role, he will be responsible for managing the hotel’s opening process including staffing and vendor communication, and the future daily operations, its food and beverage program and team member management.
Hartman brings more than 20 years of industry experience to the team of hospitality and branding powerhouses behind the new $38 million hotel. Born and bred on a farm in Indiana, Hartman was drawn to Key West as a young college student. Inspired by the natural beauty of the Florida Keys, he began studying sustainability and in 1996, he founded Tiamo Resorts – one of the first sustainable luxury resorts in the Caribbean. At the 11-villa boutique hotel, Hartman pioneered the idea of implementing sustainability as an upscale hospitality offering, employing a number of eco-friendly practices including the use of solar electricity and water heating, trash and waste composting, and use of 100% LED lighting. In 2009, Hartman went on to become a sustainability consultant for resorts in destinations such as Miami Beach and Costa Rica, honing his skills in the tourism industry.
Hartman was originally hired as a consultant for Hotel Key West at Stock Island Marina in 2014. For the past three years, Hartman has served as General Manager of Stock Island Marina Village, where his responsibilities included assisting in the development of the complex, overseeing daily marina operations, and working with the local Key West community on the revitalization of Stock Island.
“After experiencing Key West for the first time as a young man, I knew this destination was a treasure trove of natural beauty that needed to be appreciated and preserved,” said Hartman. “I’ve been working with Stock Island Marina Village for three years and I couldn’t be more excited to expand my role here by joining the incredible team at Hotel Key West that is working so hard to transform Stock Island into a new destination for travelers seeking a more sophisticated Keys experience.”
With the highly anticipated arrival of Hotel Key West in 2017, Stock Island has begun to experience a transformation that will elevate the standard of accommodations in Key West and attract a new generation of discerning travelers.
