JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Joe Hindsley, general manager of Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, has announced his retirement after 40 years of working for the company.
“It has been a great honor and privilege to have worked for this outstanding company for more than four decades, in 13 hotels, and 11 markets,” says Hindsley. “I leave knowing that the team at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront will enjoy continued success because of their outstanding service culture, as well as their commitment to excellence to the hotel, its guests, and the entire Jacksonville community.”
“We are forever grateful to Joe for his tireless dedication and leadership during his accomplished 40-year Hyatt career,” says Pete Sears, group president – Americas for Hyatt Hotels Corporation. “From his start as a corporate management trainee at Hyatt Regency Minneapolis to completing his career as general manager at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, Joe’s impact has been felt far and wide. He embodies Hyatt’s service culture and purpose of care by setting the highest example among his colleagues and we will miss Joe dearly.”
Under Hindsley’s recent leadership at the property, he managed the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and secured a mission contract with the United States Marine Corps resulting in a $26 million economic impact for the City of Jacksonville when tourist numbers were down. Hindsley also oversaw a multi-million-dollar renovation of the meeting and event spaces, accommodating and enticing more events and tourism to Jacksonville. He helped revitalize the city’s riverfront by supporting the demolition of the abandoned Berkman Plaza 2 Tower, facilitating the growth of the museum campus, and stimulating tourism to the city’s historical sites. In addition, Hindsley supported the preservation of the maritime heritage in Jacksonville by helping to relocate the USS Orleck, one of the most decorated naval ships since WWII, to its permanent home in the newly founded museum district moored near the Jacksonville Naval Museum. In the past year, Hindsley and his team have returned the property to pre-pandemic business levels, thus positively impacting the city and the business community.
“Joe Hindsley’s service on the Duval County Tourist Development Council (TDC) was priceless. His expertise and experience in the hospitality industry added greatly to the ability of the TDC to be strategic in a time as we have never experienced as we exited the pandemic. Joe will be missed but we wish him well as he enters this much-deserved retirement,” says Carol Stowers Brock, TDC executive director.
“As the leader of Visit Jacksonville, I was able to work a lot with Joe, often both as the general manager of the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront and as a TDC member. Joe was a true professional and I’ll never forget the calming influence he had coming out of the pandemic at the Hyatt,” says Michael Corrigan, president and CEO of Visit Jacksonville. “Joe always provided wonderful industry guidance. His willingness to serve, whether as an industry leader in our community or on our TDC, was always apparent. He was always willing to share his experience and knowledge to help our local community grow. When you have the largest hotel in our community supporting your everyday efforts, it certainly makes my job easier. He is a wonderful industry leader and really helped to educate other area hoteliers and businesses.”
He began his career as a corporate management trainee at Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. He served as a food and beverage director at properties including Hyatt Regency Alicante in California, Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, Hyatt Regency Columbus, and Hyatt Regency Dallas Fort Worth Airport. He was promoted to general manager in 1997 and has overseen hotels including Hyatt Regency Lisle in Illinois, Hyatt Regency St. Louis at Union Station, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch, Hyatt Regency Hill Country, and Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.
