by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
At 2:30 Tuesday afternoon, Omni Hotel General Manager Scott Stuckey was sitting at his desk composing what he described as one of the most difficult communications he ever had to share with his staff.
It began, “I have some exciting but tough news to share.”
Stuckey is leaving Jacksonville this weekend for the general manager’s job at Omni’s newest property, Bedford Springs Resort. The property is located on 2,200 acres in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains. It’s home to a 30,000 square-foot hot springs spa and a restored 18-hole golf course. The resort was one of America’s society gathering places in the 1850s and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. After being closed for 20 years, it reopened in July, 2007 following a $120 million restoration. It’s Omni Hotels’ newest branded property and Stuckey said it’s the job of a lifetime.
“When I was going to college to learn hospitality management, to be the general manager of a property like Bedford Springs was my dream.
“But it will be very difficult to say goodbye to Jacksonville. My family and I have fallen in love with the city,” he said.
Stuckey is also making phone calls to several organizations to inform them of his departure. He served as president of the North Florida Hotel & Lodging Association, chairman of Visit Jacksonville and also served on the boards of directors of the Jacksonville Hospitality Association and Downtown Vision, Inc.
“I have met so many great people while I’ve been in Jacksonville and have developed many wonderful professional and personal relationships. But in the hotel industry, when an opportunity like this comes along you don’t turn it down,” said Stuckey.
Omni has not indicated who will replace Stuckey as general manager or when.
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