Mainsail Lodging & Development

Mainsail Lodging & Development

Lodging property management, development, and marketing

Overview

Mainsail Lodging & Development focuses on managing and developing lodging properties—hotels, apartments, and resorts—through marketing and sales to attract guests and maximize profitability. It operates by seeking unique lodging opportunities with a purpose, then managing these properties and experiences, building key relationships with customers to meet their lodging needs and deliver consistent experiences. The company differentiates itself by pursuing distinctive opportunities and emphasizing customer relationships and profitability rather than standard, one-size-fits-all management. Its goal is to create profitable lodging opportunities while providing dependable, high-quality guest experiences.

About Mainsail Lodging & Development

Simplify's Rating
Why Mainsail Lodging & Development is rated
C+
Rated C on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Consulting

Real Estate

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Tampa, Florida

Founded

1998

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Mainsail won Toro Development’s 150-room Johns Creek hotel assignment in January 2026.
  • The Cary, North Carolina project targets a $70 million build-out, showing fresh pipeline.
  • New CFO Lisa Conner and recent commercial hires strengthen controls before several openings over 2026-2028.

What critics are saying

  • Mainsail sold Epicurean in 2026, surrendering ownership upside while keeping operating burden.
  • Joe Collier said 2025 had no hotel openings, exposing execution risk until 2028 deliveries.
  • Marriott and KHP can change branding, fee terms, or reinvestment priorities after property sales.

What makes Mainsail Lodging & Development unique

  • Mainsail pairs hotel operations with development, ownership, and management across lifestyle properties.
  • Epicurean opened in 2013 as Marriott’s first ground-up Autograph Collection hotel.
  • Bern’s Steak House adjacency and curated food programming make Epicurean Tampa hard to copy.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Bereavement Leave

Professional Development Budget

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Assistant Program (EAP)

Employee Discounts

Employee Referral Bonus

Free meal for all full-service hotel employees

Company News

TPG Hotels & Resorts
Aug 7th, 2026
The Plasencia Group advises on sale of Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection, in Tampa.

The Plasencia Group advises on sale of Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection, in Tampa. The transaction was led by CEO Lou Plasencia and Managing Directors Nick Plasencia, John Plasencia, and Chris Plasencia. Tampa, Florida (August 7, 2026) - The Plasencia Group, a national boutique hospitality real estate advisory firm, represented Mainsail Lodging & Development in the sale of the Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection, in Tampa, Florida, to KHP Capital Partners. Mainsail will continue to operate the property. The transaction of the 188-key hotel was led by CEO Lou Plasencia and Managing Directors Nick Plasencia, John Plasencia, and Chris Plasencia. Mainsail opened Epicurean in 2013 as Marriott's first ground-up Autograph Collection property, quickly making it one of Tampa's most desirable hotels. As part of a project completed in 2025, Mainsail added 51 keys, including eight historic apartment-style suites, and indoor/outdoor rooftop event venues. With a curated focus on food and beverage that is largely driven by its adjacency to and relationship with the legendary Bern's Steak House, Epicurean offers a distinctive, high-end product to guests. Situated along the South Howard Avenue dining and nightlife corridor within Historic Hyde Park, one of Tampa's most established and affluent residential neighborhoods, and just a short distance from Downtown Tampa, Epicurean's location is irreplaceable. The property is walkable to Hyde Park Village, the region's most luxurious shopping and dining district, and Bayshore Boulevard, the city's iconic waterfront promenade. This location puts Epicurean Hotel in an enviable position to capture all the demand that Tampa has to offer, from sun-seeking leisure travelers, to a booming corporate sector, to a robust group segment. "Epicurean established itself as a powerhouse under the stewardship of Mainsail, and we are excited to see what KHP has in store for the property. It was a pleasure to work with both parties on this transaction," commented Nick Plasencia. "We are honored to have been part of the sale of one of the leading hotels in our hometown of Tampa, which continues to cement itself as a top lodging market nationally," John Plasencia added. The transaction continues The Plasencia Group's track record as the premier lodging investment advisor in Tampa, having completed over $1 billion in hotel sales in the market since 2021. Further, since its founding in 1993, The Plasencia Group has successfully facilitated dispositions of more than 100 Marriott-branded hotel and resort assets nationwide and, separately, over 125 properties in the State of Florida. About The Plasencia Group. The Plasencia Group is a full-service lodging investment advisory firm offering transaction services, capital markets, owner representation, and development management consulting services to its clients. The firm has advised investors on some of the most recognized hotel and resort transactions in North America since it was founded in 1993 by Chief Executive Officer Lou Plasencia. About Mainsail Lodging & Development. Mainsail Lodging & Development is an award-winning, Tampa, Florida-based company specializing in hotel, furnished housing, and resort property management and development, marketing and sales. An established company with a dynamic entrepreneurial spirit, Mainsail prides itself in finding unique lodging opportunities with a purpose and applying its passion and expertise to each project. Founded by President Joe Collier with a combination of daring vision and dogged determination, Mainsail has built an impressive portfolio of top-branded properties throughout the southeastern United States and Caribbean. Each Mainsail property inspires guests with a distinct character and meticulously crafted, sophisticated style, from a private island resort, and urban culinary showplaces, to waterfront marvels, boutique southern hotels, and a historic jazz-era icon. Stay Sojo, Mainsail's newest brand, provides short-term furnished living options across the country, while Mainsail Vacation Rentals manages a collection of private vacation homes in Florida and the Caribbean. To ensure long-term success and profitability, Mainsail relies on the dedication of its high-performing associates, a growing group of enterprising investors, and a commitment to giving back, every step of the way. MainsailHotels.com. About KHP Capital Partners. KHP Capital Partners is a real estate private equity firm focused on investments in lifestyle hotels. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, KHP invests across the United States, generating superior risk-adjusted returns by focusing on disciplined acquisition criteria and implementing value-add investment strategies that capitalize on the team's deep experience in hotel operations and development. KHP is currently investing KHP Fund VI, a $300 million discretionary equity fund, and the KHP leadership team has previously overseen the investment and management of the five prior KHP funds. Together these funds represent over $1.4 billion of equity committed to acquire and develop 47 hotels over the last 22 years. For more information, please visit www.khpcapitalpartners.com. National Presence. Local Knowledge. Exclusively Hospitality. The Plasencia Group is a national hospitality sales, investment consulting and advisory firm with offices across the country. Representative engagements. Contact The Plasencia Group. Connect with a Plasencia Group Member today and learn what The Plasencia Group can bring to your table.

MBA
Feb 24th, 2026
New York, Seattle, other hotels appoint sales, marketing leaders

New York, Seattle, other hotels appoint sales, marketing leaders. Hotels in urban hubs across the country have appointed sales and marketing leaders in recent weeks. Here are some names to know. Table of Contents Fenway Hotel. Mainsail Lodging & Development has appointed Shawna Ash director of sales at the historic Fenway Hotel in Dunedin, Fla. Ash has more than four years of experience with Mainsail Lodging & Development. Most recently, she was senior catering sales manager at Fenway's sister property, Epicurean Atlanta. Her tenure with Mainsail also includes roles at The Karol Hotel, where she held positions in catering sales and event management. Before joining Mainsail, Ash worked as an event manager at the W Fort Lauderdale and as a charter sales associate with Dream Yacht Charter. She was director of community engagement for the Wedding Industry Professionals Association in Atlanta and has additional professional experience with Visit Florida, as well as with InterContinental Hotels Group in Dublin, Ireland. Hotel Trinity Austin. White Lodging has appointed Christina Hanvey director of sales and marketing for Hotel Trinity, part of Marriott's Autograph Collection in Austin, Texas. Hanvey and her team also support three of White Lodging's other Austin properties, the Westin Austin Downtown, Aloft Austin Downtown and Element Austin Downtown. Hanvey joined White Lodging in 2025 after successful sales leadership roles at The LINE Hotel Group, Omni Austin and Hotel Van Zandt. Hotel Vin, Rogers. Heather Fox has joined the upcoming Hotel Vin, Rogers in northwest Arkansas as director of sales. She has nearly 20 years of hospitality leadership and regional market expertise. Previously, Fox led efforts at Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas and Rogers Convention Center as area director of sales and marketing, supporting major conferences, conventions and high-impact community gatherings throughout the region. Hyatt Regency Lake Washington. Hyatt Regency Lake Washington at Seattle's Southport has appointed Tayna Zasada as director of sales, marketing and events. Zasada began her career as a special events intern with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee before transitioning into hospitality as a sales-and-marketing coordinator at the Hard Rock Café. Zasada joined Hyatt as a group and business travel sales manager at Hyatt Place Minneapolis before relocating to Dallas. She worked as a manager on the sales team at Hyatt Regency Dallas, followed by a promotion to Hyatt Regency DFW where she was an associate director of sales. In Seattle, she was promoted to area associate director of sales for the Hyatt Seattle Collection, overseeing sales and marketing programs for Grand Hyatt Seattle, Hyatt Regency Seattle and Olive 8. Most recently, Zasada was director of sales at Grand Hyatt Seattle. Kimpton Era Midtown New York. Geraldine Burgos will be director of sales for the upcoming Kimpton Era Midtown New York, slated to open in March. Burgos has worked at numerous New York City properties, and led teams across a portfolio of 16 hotels.

Tampa Bay Business & Wealth
Nov 25th, 2025
Tampa hotels launch Plates with Purpose to fight food insecurity

Tampa hotels launch Plates with Purpose to fight food insecurity. Mainsail Lodging & Development is launching a new initiative called "Plates with Purpose" to help families facing food insecurity during the holidays. From Dec. 2 to Dec. 9, restaurants inside five Mainsail hotels will donate the equivalent of up to five meals for every entrée sold. The meals will go directly to food bank partners in each city. The initiative comes as food banks report high demand, reduced supplies and rising food prices. Mainsail leaders say they designed the program to be simple for guests to join while creating a meaningful boost for families heading into the busiest time of the year. Participating hotels include Epicurean Hotel, Fenway Hotel, Luminary Hotel & Co., Trilith Guesthouse and Epicurean Atlanta. Partners include Feeding Tampa Bay, Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida and the Atlanta Community Food Bank. What happened. Mainsail launched Plates with Purpose to support local families who are struggling to afford holiday meals. Each restaurant entrée sold will convert to several meals donated to the selected food bank in that hotel's market. Restaurants participating include Élevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar, HEW Parlor & Chophouse, Oxbow Bar & Grill, Prologue Dining & Drinks and Reverence. QR codes will also be displayed throughout each hotel so guests can donate directly if they choose. Mainsail leaders say the effort is a direct response to the strain food banks are seeing. The company will announce the total number of meals donated on Dec. 12. What this means for you. For Tampa Bay residents, this program brings fresh support to Feeding Tampa Bay at a time when many families are stretched thin. For hotel guests, dining out is an easy way to give back. For the hospitality industry, it shows how hotels can leverage their kitchens and foot traffic to meet real community needs. With Mainsail properties in multiple cities, the impact will extend across Florida and Georgia. Plates with Purpose turns dining into a simple way to support families in need. By linking every entrée to several meals, Mainsail hopes to provide thousands of meals during one of the year's most challenging times.

Intelligence360 News
Aug 8th, 2024
Mainsail Lodging & Development To Spend $70,000,000.00 To Expand Into New Space In Cary North Carolina.

Mainsail Lodging Development to spend $70,000,000.00 to expand into new space in Cary North Carolina. Mainsail Lodging Development to spend $70,000,000.00 to expand into new space in Cary North Carolina.Cary, North Carolina — According to state and local development sources, Mainsail Lodging Development plans to invest $70,000,000.00 to build out new space in Cary. The company plans to occupy the new space in Cary, on or about March 1, 2027. According to the company website Mainsail Lodging Development is a Tampa, Florida based company that specializes in hotel, apartment and resort property management and development, marketing and sales. Mainsail prides itself in searching for unique lodging opportunities with a purpose. Our properties and experiences are varied, but our commitment to excellence is always the same

Hotel Business
Feb 2nd, 2024
Mainsail Adds Corporate Team Members

Mainsail Lodging & Development has expanded its executive leadership team with the appointment of Lisa Conner as CFO, alongside four other executives in pivotal roles.“We are thrilled to welcome these industry professionals to our corporate team,” said Joe Collier, president/founder, Mainsail Lodging & Development. “Their collective expertise will be instrumental in moving Mainsail forward. I’m confident this strategic investment in leadership will further strengthen our position as a leader in the hospitality industry and deliver unparalleled value to our stakeholders.”Conner spent more than 10 years working with the Big Four global accounting firms PwC and KPMG as senior manager, Audit, and more than 15 years in M&A with private equity, public and privately held companies. She was also an advisory consultant with RGP, Steven Douglas and Tampa Bay CPA Consulting. She will oversee Mainsail’s finances, project accounting and hotel operational accounting, working closely with senior leadership to identify opportunities to grow the company’s core domestic businesses.Ben Miele has joined the company as director of accounting, bringing more than 30 years of accounting, tax and audit experience to the team. In his most recent role, he served as director, accounting for clients of a large global accounting and consulting firm

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