The “newest” hotel in Cocoa Beach, Florida, enjoys a long history of welcoming visitors to the Space Coast.
The city’s DoubleTree by Hilton — originally built in 1987 and extensively renovated in June 2021 — is rebranding as Hilton Garden Inn Cocoa Beach Oceanfront. The transition, official as of April 20, 2022, has been in the works since OTO Development acquired the property last September.
South Carolina-based OTO, which is part of The Johnson Group, develops, owns and operates approximately 65 hotels across the country.
“Like many travelers, we love the Hilton brand,” says Corry Oakes, CEO of OTO Development. “Therefore, when repositioning this property, we didn’t stray far. Our portfolio already includes six Hilton Garden Inns — all extremely popular — so we know how much guests appreciate HGI’s laid-back sophistication and intuitive amenities.”
The 150-key Hilton Garden Inn Cocoa Beach Oceanfront boasts ocean views from every room along with a well-equipped gym, game room and outdoor pool. There’s 11,000 square feet of flexible event space, including a ballroom spacious enough to accommodate 410 guests for seated banquets and 700 for receptions.
OTO has reimagined the food-and-beverage spaces into The Starlite Restaurant & Pool Bar. This original concept — named after Cocoa Beach’s first, astronaut-centric motel — focuses on flavorful coastal-American food, refreshing cocktails and a festive vibe. The venue serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with boozy brunches on the weekends.
“The Starlite has something for everyone, with an indoor restaurant and an Instagram-worthy pool with outdoor service,” Oakes says. “There’s also a strong catering menu to support this Hilton Garden Inn’s extensive meeting and event space.”
While the name Hilton Garden Inn Cocoa Beach Oceanfront is new, the executive team has been on-site for more than 100 collective years. General Manager Christy Galzerano has been at the helm since 2002. Hotel leadership also includes Amy McGrew, director of sales; Valerie Rutherford, assistant general manager; Missy Dorn, front office manager; Terry Rabaza, chief engineer; Teresa Javier, executive housekeeper; Robert Rogers, F&B manager; Kati Marosites, executive chef; and Maria Maksimova, catering sales manager.
“Our commitment to this hotel, and the guests who stay here, runs deep,” says Galzerano. “Whatever the name on the sign, we make sure it’s synonymous with genuine hospitality!”
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