Experienced hotelier makes return to the Atlanta luxury hospitality scene
As The Hotel at Avalon builds momentum in anticipation of its grand opening in January 2018, North American Properties, Stormont Hospitality and HEI Hotels & Resorts are pleased to announce that Thomas Lind has been selected as general manager of the Autograph Collection boutique hotel at Avalon, the 86-acre “urbanburb” in Alpharetta.
Over the past 30 years, Lind has gained global experience in every aspect of the hospitality industry including development, investment, operations, branding, marketing and more, for ultra-luxury and lifestyle hotels around the world. He has guided hotel projects ranging from $50 million to $350 million, and most notably in the Atlanta market, led the openings of the GLG Grand, now the Four Seasons, and Hotel Nikko, now the Grand Hyatt.
“The Hotel at Avalon will provide an immersive experience like nothing else for visitors to the North Fulton area and quickly produce an extraordinary wave of success,” said Thomas Lind, general manager of The Hotel at Avalon. “We are pushing the envelope on designing vibrant experiences for our guests that will be tailored to their specific needs, desires and interests, and I am delighted to be a part of writing the next chapter of Avalon’s success.”
Lind is excited for his long-awaited return to Atlanta, where his family is rooted, and to be a part of such an innovative project that offers a unique opportunity for everyone involved. He was selected for the position based on his vision, expertise in creating unforgettable moments for guests, and successful background in opening luxury hotels. Lind understands the importance of remaining agile and dynamic during the decision-making process.
“Thomas has a proven track record of successfully opening highly-anticipated hotels and achieving outstanding results in the hospitality industry for some of the most iconic properties in the world and The Hotel at Avalon is privileged to have such a driven professional on board,” said Mark Toro, managing partner at NAP. “He is a tremendous leader that will inspire our team to exceed expectations for visitors of the hotel by going above and beyond to ensure that the Avalon brand leaves a lasting impression on each guest.”
The 330-key hotel will be the crown jewel of the mixed-use community, serving as a natural extension of the Avalon brand. Lind believes that the North Fulton area is a pioneering workforce market and plans to build the hotel team with a collection of the finest employees in the region. Under his leadership, the project will make history in the Atlanta hotel market and become a luxurious, tech-forward lifestyle property, aligned with NAP’s original vision for Avalon.
“Avalon is a unique place that combines retail, restaurants, office space, and residences in an intimate way. It will provide guests of The Hotel at Avalon with a plethora of amenities right at their front door and create a memorable work trip or weekend getaway backdrop filled with exciting activities for all to enjoy,” said Lind.
The $112 million Hotel at Avalon and Alpharetta Conference Center project is the result of a public-private partnership between Stormont Hospitality Group, North American Properties (NAP) and the City of Alpharetta, with additional assistance from the Development Authority of Fulton County and the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau.
For more information, visit thehotelatavalon.com and experienceavalon.com.
About The Hotel at Avalon
The Hotel at Avalon is a luxury 330-key Autograph Collection hotel anchoring Avalon, the experiential 86-acre mixed-use community in the affluent North Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, Georgia. Bringing the Autograph Collection brand’s values of vision, design and craft to life, The Hotel at Avalon joins a distinguished portfolio of more than 100 independent hotels around the world that are exactly like nothing else. Here, graceful, modern Southern hospitality is infused throughout a walkable community of shopping, dining, lodging, working, and entertaining, all in the heart of Alpharetta. Flowing from the hotel, the new Alpharetta Conference Center provides the area’s premier meetings and events destination. For more information, visit www.thehotelatavalon.com.
About Avalon
Avalon is a new experience in the timeless art of living well. In the heart of Alpharetta, this sustainably designed, 86-acre development with more than 500,000 square feet of retail, a 12-screen all premium theater, planned conference center and full-service hotel, Class A office, single-family residences and luxury rental homes infuses resort-level hospitality throughout a walkable, seamlessly connected community of shopping, dining, entertainment, living and working. It’s more than just another place to go, it’s a place to be — a hub of local art and activity that delivers the luxury of the modern South. At 2.4 million square feet and more than $1 billion, Avalon is one of the largest projects currently underway in the United States. You can find more updates on Avalon at its website, Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter profile.
About Stormont Hospitality
Stormont Hospitality Group is a full-service, turnkey developer of luxury and first-class hotels, conference centers and resort properties. Stormont Hospitality Group, based in Atlanta, has developed more than $1 billion in prominent hotel properties, including some of the most successful public/private hospitality projects in the U.S. For more information visit: www.stormonthospitality.com.
About North American Properties
Founded in 1954, North American Properties is a privately held, multi-regional real estate operating company that has acquired, developed and managed more than $5 billion of mixed-use, retail, multifamily and office properties across the United States. Headquartered in Cincinnati, with offices in Atlanta, Dallas and Fort Myers, Florida, the company has developed 19 million square feet of retail and 17,000 apartment units in 12 states. In the past three years, North American Properties has launched 36 projects totaling $1.1 billion in total capitalization. In Atlanta, North American Properties owns Avalon, Colony Square and Anthem on Ashley. For more information, please visit www.naproperties.com.
About Autograph Collection Hotels
Autograph Collection Hotels celebrates individuality by curating one-of-a-kind travel experiences at more than 100 luxury lifestyle hotels found in the world’s most desirable destinations. Exactly like nothing else, Autograph Collection properties are hand selected for their rich character and uncommon details. A personal realization of an individual founder’s vision, these hotels are defined by unique design, differentiated guest experiences and their meaningful role in locality. For more information, please visit www.autographhotels.com, and explore our social media channels on Instagram Twitter andFacebook to learn more about championing the independent spirit that is #ExactlyLikeNothingElse. Autograph Collection Hotels is proud to participate in the industry’s award-winning loyalty program, Marriott Rewards®, in which members can link accounts with Starwood Preferred Guest® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer.
About HEI Hotels & Resorts
HEI Hotels & Resorts, headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., is a leading hospitality investment firm and management company that acquires, develops, owns and operates premium select-service, full-service, upper upscale and luxury hotels and resorts throughout the United States under such well-known brand families as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG. HEI takes a holistic approach to creating value for its investors and employees by setting the highest standards across all aspects of hotel management and operation and focusing on the central principles of excellence and continuous improvement. HEI prides itself on some of the highest employee satisfaction scores in the hospitality industry, fuels local economic prosperity by investing in communities and is committed to environmental stewardship and sustainability. To learn more, visit us at www.heihotels.com
