Waterfront hotel overhaul gets new leader

Chicago-based Oxford Capital Group, in its ongoing transformation of the waterfront Bay Harbor Best Western hotel in Rocky Point to the Bay Harbor Hotel, has named two new executives.

Crystal Rivera, a 16-year hotel veteran, was appointed general manager. She was previously director of sales and marketing at the Aloft Tampa Downtown, according to a statement. In addition to Rivera, Adam Nesbitt, formerly the business travel and corporate group sales manager at the Tampa Marriott Westshore, was named sales director.

“It is an absolute pleasure to be part of such an amazing property,” Rivera says in a release. “The transformation is definitely livening the property into an upscale, lifestyle hotel. We are positive that the upgrades made within both the hotel and Beach Restaurant will create repeat visitors — both with out of town guests and the local Tampa community.”

Oxford Capital Group paid $34.5 million for the former Bay Harbor Best Western in a deal that closed October 2015. The investment firm bought the hotel, once known for Hogan's Beach, a bar and restaurant that operated there through a licensing agreement with celebrity/wrestler Hulk Hogan, from area investor Ben Mallah. The purchase is Oxford Capital's first deal in Florida.

Renovations and expansions, according to the release, include new balcony railings; 15 new rooms by end of November; a new fitness center; all new ballrooms; and a new lobby.