MARC BAUER BIOGRAPHY

In a time when many in the hospitality industry have forgotten the “service” aspect of the trade in favor of expedience and profit, Marc Bauer, general manager of Hotel Duval — a style icon and the first and only boutique hotel in Tallahassee — has remained true to this root of the industry while elevating service to a whole new level. Utilizing a unique management style and a deep passion for both service and quality, Bauer has taken pride in providing an exceptional guest experience while also directing impressive growth at each of the properties in his portfolio.

“Throughout my years in the hospitality industry, I have learned that above everything, guests deserve impeccable service and personal attention to detail during their stay,” Bauer said. “My team at Hotel Duval truly understands the importance of the guest experience and does a fantastic job of sharing our beautiful property and the welcoming spirit of Tallahassee with each of our guests.”

Bauer’s 22 years in the hospitality industry have included extensive experience in upscale boutique hotels and resorts throughout the country. As vice president of operations/sales and marketing for Coral Hospitality, Bauer was responsible for the entire Coral Hospitality portfolio, consisting of 10 hotels and resorts. In the role of managing director at Brasstown Valley Resort in Blue Ridge Mountains, Georgia, he acted as corporate liaison to orchestrate the 503-acre mountain golf resort’s successful transition to a Coral Hospitality property. As general manager at the Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine, Florida, he coordinated day-to-day operations while improving revenues, growth and inspection scores. Having also overseen several property developments, including the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, as well as renovations and conversions including the Vero Beach Hotel and Club/Palm Court Resort in Vero Beach, Florida, an extraordinary customer experience has remained a key focus along with property success in terms of profitability.

Though his positions and responsibilities have varied throughout his years in the service industry, Bauer remains committed to an outstanding guest experience from arrival to departure to return visit, the cornerstone on which his management philosophy and overall persona exist.

“One could say that I backed into this industry by accident. In my first position as a bellman, I discovered a passion to serve that I never knew existed,” he said. “I still see every opportunity to serve our guests as a privilege.”

In addition to his attention to detail within his hotels and resorts, Bauer has shown commitment to the communities in which his properties have been located, and currently serves as president of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Tallahassee Chapter, chairman of the Leon County Tourist Development Council, state and local board member of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, chairperson of the Visit Tallahassee Advertising Committee, fundraising captain for the Florida State Seminole Boosters, board of trustees member for the Biletnekoff Award, member of the Visit Tallahassee Grant Committee and grant panelist for the Council on Culture and Arts.

Bauer also volunteers for the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities, Florida State University Dedman School of Hospitality and the Tallahassee Museum. Bauer has been honored as a nominee for the Bill Duggar “Ethics in Business” award, and has received the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s “2011 Small Business of the Year Award” for Hotel Duval’s business accomplishments and community involvement.

At Hotel Duval, Bauer guided the landmark property through a $16 million renovation, repositioning, rebranding and reopening. The property now offers an experience unparalleled in the Tallahassee market, and Bauer played a key role in all stages of property redevelopment, authoring the operating model from the ground up to serve as a template for future brand growth. Shortly after Hotel Duval’s grand opening, he successfully led the property through the process for inclusion in the Marriott brand’s prestigious Autograph Collection. Bauer’s attention to detail and service in relation to the customer experience is evident at Hotel Duval, which offers guests an unequaled concierge service, extensive meeting facilities, on-property dining options, and the only rooftop lounge of its kind from Atlanta to South Beach. The property has been deemed an instant success as the market leader in average daily rate, revenue per available room and occupancy, generating in excess of $9 million in revenue in its first year.

With 117 rooms and suites, all offering experiences that heighten each of the five senses, Hotel Duval is adorned in European boutique décor with an artistic ambience. The hotel ornament is contemporary, yet comfortable, providing down-to-earth atmosphere with a contrasting backdrop of the historical landmark. Each floor at Hotel Duval has a unique personality designed to affect mood and purpose of stay via color and scent options. With distinctive design, amenities and approachable luxury, Hotel Duval brings spirited energy to Florida’s capital.

Home to Shula’s 347 Grill, a sports-style steakhouse that flows seamlessly with the vibe and décor of the property, Hotel Duval’s signature restaurant presents options of gourmet salads, fresh fish and exclusive Premium Black Angus Beef Burgers and Shula Cut Steaks. Hosting a street-level café, LeRoc, which features Starbucks coffee and locally grown and sourced food is open for breakfast and lunch. As the only rooftop bar of its kind from Atlanta to South Beach, Level 8 combines chic and desirable with upscale sophistication creating a vibrant social scene. Level 8’s “see and be seen” environment creates the perfect place in Tallahassee for sunset watching with lush private seating vignettes.

Hotel Duval is a part of the Autograph Collection, an ensemble of high-personality and boldly independent hotels, each carefully selected for its distinctiveness, style and synchronicity with unique travel interests.