Former Hilton becomes Zota Beach Resort

The Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort is so 2014. The new Zota Beach Resort will open in 2016 at the former Hilton property.

Delray Beach-based Ocean Properties Ltd. announced the new name change for its hotel at 4711 Gulf of Mexico Drive change June 25 in a press release, noting that Zota “is a native word meaning blue waters.”

“We wanted the name of the resort to reflect something unique and indigenous to the destination,” said Roy Padgett, general manager of the Zota Beach Resort. “While doing research we learned about some of the historical names for the area and thought something along those lines would be a perfect fit.”

“We wanted the name of the resort to reflect something unique and indigenous to the destination."

— Roy Padgett, general manager of the Zota Beach Resort

The company states in a press release the new logo “evokes the color palette of the island lifestyle combining ocean surf, sandy beaches and the many hues of emerald and aqua green waters that the Gulf of Mexico is renowned for, together as a beautiful representation of island elegance and relaxation.”

When complete next year, the resort will feature a new 84-room hotel tower in addition to a completely renovated 103-room hotel that still sits on the site. The project also calls for a new lobby, pool and pool area, restaurant and wine bar and “state-of-the-art meeting space.”

“The offerings at this exclusive location is one of the most highly sought after oceanfront destinations in the country,” the press release states.

In June 2014, the Hilton flag was removed from the property before construction on a new resort began.

Earlier this year, Ocean Properties Vice President Mark Walsh told the Longboat Observer the company had opted to operate the hotel independently when it opens in late 2016.

Plans Ocean Properties submitted to the town in September 2014 requested and later received 85 additional tourism units as part of the estimated $24 million project.

The Hilton project is the first applicant to take advantage of a town-wide 250 tourism unit pool that’s been waiting for applicants to apply for additional units since 2008.

The company owns more than 100 hotels, including the Resort at Longboat Key Club, which it purchased in 2012. Other area hotels it owns include Lido Beach Holiday Inn, Lido Beach Resort and Sandcastle Resort at Lido Beach.

In May, Ocean Properties paid for a mail-only ballot referendum that voters approved to allow the company the right to submit plans later this year for a new 259-room hotel and other residential condos and villas in Islandside.