Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Opens in Flagler Beach

If you’re looking for a new beachside hangout, the Compass Hotel by Margaritaville has 100 options ready and waiting.

The new hotel, located at 111 S. Daytona Ave., opened its doors May 21 and is operated by Ormond Beach-based Elite Hospitality doing business as Sun Partners LLC under a licensing agreement with Margaritaville Holdings.

Elite also owns and operates the Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn at Daytona Beach International Airport, the Best Western International Speedway Hotel in Daytona Beach, the Courtyard by Marriott, Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden Inn in St. Augustine Beach, and the Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn at Jacksonville Airport. The company also owns two other Margaritaville Holdings licensed businesses in Jacksonville Beach, the 202-room Margaritaville Beach Hotel and the LandShark Bar & Grill restaurant.

Manoj Bhoola is the CEO of Elite Hospitality and managing partner of Sun Partners LLC and recently spoke with EVOLVE News publisher Howard Holley about the company and the Flagler Beach property.

Calling the Flagler County hotel “the jewel,” Bhoola said he was attracted to the beachside town after passing through it on the way to Jacksonville from St. Augustine with his family.

“It reminded me of a diamond in the rough,” he said. “It needed something different – something that truly belonged.”

Bhoola said Elite decided to develop a Margaritaville property because it is more than a place to stay on vacation.

“When my wife and I travel, we look for unforgettable experiences,” he said. “Margaritaville doesn’t just offer a hotel stay, it creates a lifestyle.”

While the new destination will offer visitors an immersive experience at the beach, the additional 100 rooms are also expected to have an impact on Flagler County’s tourism development efforts.

“The opening of new hotel in Flagler Beach will help the city attract a broader demographic of visitors and likely new investors to help service those guests,” said Flagler County Tourism Director Amy Lukasik. “Tourism is the city’s main economic driver so adding this type of product will also trickle down to the other tourism businesses in the community which will help the city’s tax base.”

Lukasik said with the new hotel, the county boasts 1,108 hotel rooms, including the Hammock Beach Resort. And it won’t be the last new destination in the county.

“We look forward to adding additional hotels with the future development of the westward expansion to include a regional sports complex, an outdoor entertainment experience and family friendly recreational opportunities,” she said.