Hospitality firm promotes from within for CEO role

Tommy Del Zoppo, a co-founder of St. Petersburg-based New Hotel Collection, has been named CEO of the company.

According to a news release, he has succeeded Alex Hodges, who remains with the company but has taken an extended medical leave. Del Zoppo previously served as chief investment officer.

New Hotel Collection owns the Cordova Inn in downtown St. Petersburg and, according to the release, has embarked on a major expansion project that will increase the property’s room count from 32 to 95 and add a restaurant and courtyard garden. It also owns hotel properties in Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores and Sevierville, Tennessee.

Prior to founding New Hotel Collection with Hodges and Ron New, Del Zoppo, the release states, held senior management positions in equity global trading at JPMorgan Chase & Co., HSBC and Citigroup Global Banking and Markets in New York. Under his leadership, the New Hotel Collection's revenues doubled from 2020 to 2021, rising to $15 million.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead New Hotel Collection as we continue the successful trajectory we maintained through the pandemic,” Del Zoppo states in the release. “We will be focused on maintaining our quality operations on the Pinellas County beaches and in Sevierville while expanding the Cordova Inn, which combines modern amenities with a look that honors the spirit of the original historic hotel.”