by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
When Oxford Lodging Advisory & Investment Group, LLC took ownership of what had been Jacksonville’s Adams Mark Hotel in March 2005, they brought in Hyatt Hotels to manage the property and Phil Tufano took over the general manager’s office.
Friday was his last day as general manager and his last day with Hyatt after a 22-year career.
This week, Tufano will be in Chicago looking at some possible acquisitions for Kokua Hospitality, the new property management division of Oxford Lodging.
“The company likes to buy distressed assets and turn them around like we did here at this hotel,” he said during his last few hours in the office he had worked in for two years and 45 days.
The staff at the Hyatt gave their out-going boss a hand-made souvenir of his tenure at the hotel commemorating his service.
It was notable, Tufano said, because he holds the record for general manager longevity since the first piece of chocolate was placed on a pillow in the building. Adams Mark went through nine general managers in four years before Hyatt took over the management and renovated the property.
Tufano said he is excited about the opportunity to spearhead the new division of the San Francisco-based global hotel ownership and management group because, “I’m getting in on the ground floor and will have the chance to grow the company.”
He said another benefit is he will still work out of an office at the Hyatt and his family will be able to stay in Jacksonville.
“In the past 22 years, I have worked for Hyatt at 12 locations, three as general manager. I have a 14-year-old son who has lived in seven places and a 12-year-old daughter who has lived in six. This way, it keeps me and my family here and gives us some stability.”
Being based here will also allow him to continue to serve as president of the Hotel & Motel Association, a member of the Convention center task force and on the board of the Jacksonville and the Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“Jacksonville has become our home,” said Tufano.