DAYTONA BEACH, FL – March 2019 – The DAYTONA’s executive team has announced the appointment of Michael Melendez as General Manager and Nancy Guran as Director of Sales. The duo will oversee the operations of the new 144-room property, which will open its doors next month.
Hailing from Charleston, South Carolina, and inspired by a love of working with people, Melendez began his hospitality career in 2007 at Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. Since then, he’s held managerial positions at hotel brands and properties across South Florida and the Caribbean, including French Leave Resort in Eleuthera.
Most recently, Melendez was General Manager at Playa Largo Resort & Spa in Key Largo, where he managed employee hiring and training, oversaw daily operations and overall property maintenance, and results-driven planning and budgeting. As general manager of The DAYTONA, Melendez will have similar responsibilities for overseeing daily operations and employee management while ensuring overall guest satisfaction.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the talented team at The DAYTONA as we gear up for an incredibly exciting opening,” said Melendez. “In addition to having the Daytona International Speedway in our backyard, it’s the enthusiasm of our team that will set The DAYTONA apart from other hotels in the area. We’re looking forward to delivering exceptional customer service to our visitors, while offering amenities and programming that showcase the best of what this destination has to offer.”
As Director of Sales, Guran brings an unparalleled knowledge of the market to her new role at The DAYTONA, having worked with hotel brands and individual properties across the state of Florida for more than a decade. After working as general manager at Best Western Diplomat Inn in Lakeland, Florida, Guran went on to become Director of Sales at various properties including Westgate River Ranch in Lake Wales, Florida. She was most recently Director of Sales at Shaner Hotels’ Marriot Division, where she developed and implemented comprehensive marketing plans and trained new sales teams for opening properties.
“I'm thrilled to join such a motivated team that’s taking Daytona by storm,” said Guran. “I look forward to using my skills and experience to put this new hotel on the map as not only a great option for racing enthusiasts, but for anyone seeking a modern getaway with access to Florida’s best beaches, entertainment, and other top destination attractions.”
