Allegiant Travel Company has named Ryan O’Byrne vice president of sales and marketing for Sunseeker Resorts.
O’Byrne’s core responsibility will be establishing and driving all aspects of sales for the new Sunseeker Resorts Charlotte Harbor in Florida, as well as developing a marketing strategy for Sunseeker Resorts, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company.
A hospitality sales veteran with nearly 15 years in the industry, O’Byrne has worked in major destination cities such as New York, Chicago and Houston. He joins the company from Highgate in Dallas, where he served as vice president of sales for the hospitality management company.
O’Byrne brings a range of experience to Sunseeker, from building and opening hotels to remodeling and rebranding existing resorts. He previously served as corporate director of global sales for Omni Hotels & Resorts. He also worked as the director of sales and marketing for the Park Central Hotel in New York and the director of sales at the InterContinental Hotel New York Times Square. O’Byrne spent several years with Hiltons of Chicago hotels, which includes Palmer House, Hilton Chicago, The Drake, Conrad Chicago, Hilton O’Hare Airport, and Embassy Suites Lakefront.
His background will be a valuable asset to the team and the company, says Micah Richins, executive vice president and COO of Sunseeker Resorts.
“Sunseeker Resorts is the next evolution for Allegiant Travel Company,” Richins says. “Ryan understands that we are building more than just a hotel, we are building a destination unlike any other in the area. We are confident that he will be able to leverage the database available from the airline to help establish Sunseeker as a top destination. Ryan has the kind of experience that will help us create a resort that sets the bar in Southwest Florida.”
Allegiant in 2017 announced plans for Sunseeker Resorts, including its inaugural development – a one-of-a-kind hotel/extended stay resort in Charlotte Harbor, on Florida's Gulf Coast. The project marks an important step in Allegiant's evolution as a travel company, offering customers more opportunity for leisure experiences.
The initial phase of the resort will feature approximately 500 hotel rooms, more than 180 extended stay suites, meeting and conference space, as well as a variety of restaurants, bars and retail outlets along a scenic harbor walk.
Construction is anticipated to be complete in 18 to 24 months.
O’Byrne will assemble a team to market Sunseeker Resorts and build brand awareness among the business community and leisure travelers.
“I’m looking forward to creating something that Southwest Florida hasn’t seen yet,” O’Byrne says. “While our mission is to establish Sunseeker as a premier destination, supporting and contributing to the growth of the Charlotte Harbor area business community is a priority for us, too.”
Located near the Punta Gorda Airport (PGD), a base of operations for Allegiant Air which served more than 1.5 million passengers in 2018, Sunseeker Resorts Charlotte Harbor will be the largest and most unique resort in the region. The project will have a deep and lasting impact on Florida’s economy, bringing hundreds of construction jobs, and more than 800 permanent jobs in and around the resort. Sunseeker is anticipated to spark an increase of 300,000 visitors annually to the area.
In addition to its service to Punta Gorda, Allegiant currently operates flights from nearby St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) and Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) – all within a two-hour drive of Charlotte Harbor. In total, Allegiant currently moves nearly 8 million leisure travelers in and out of Florida every year. This nexus between air transportation and hospitality will afford easy access to the resort location, while capitalizing on the direct-to-customer sales model which has been Allegiant’s hallmark in its success as an industry-leading, low-cost airline with a unique focus on leisure travel.
Further information, such as projected construction dates, will be shared when available. Initial renderings of the property (including video) are available here: http://ow.ly/j9ts30eF6lo.
