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Developer adds Beachcomber Resort to growing portfolio
“We are intrigued by the potential synergy between The Beachcomber and Hilton Garden Inn.”
A South Carolina hotel company is making another major bet on St. Pete Beach tourism. OTO Development announced this week it has acquired The Beachcomber Resort, the longtime beachfront hotel home to Jimmy B’s Beach Bar, one of the area’s busiest live music venues. The deal closed May 4.
The acquisition gives OTO Development five hotels across the Tampa Bay region and strengthens the company’s footprint along Gulf Boulevard, where it already owns the neighboring Hilton Garden Inn St. Pete Beach.
“This is an exciting addition to OTO’s growing portfolio in the Tampa-St. Pete market,” CEO Rob Rain said in a prepared statement. “The Beachcomber complements our nearby properties, positioning us to meet continued demand from the millions of tourists who visit St. Pete Beach each year.”
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Preston Reid with Hodges Ward Elliot brokered the transaction.
Built in 1956, the Beachcomber sits on four beachfront acres at 6200 Gulf Blvd. and includes 102 guest rooms, two outdoor pools, direct beach access and more than 2,000 square feet of meeting space. But for many locals and visitors, the property is best known for Jimmy B’s, the open-air beach bar that regularly draws packed crowds for live music and sunset views.
OTO executives hinted that the company sees opportunity in operating the Beachcomber alongside the adjacent Hilton Garden Inn property.
“We are intrigued by the potential synergy between The Beachcomber and Hilton Garden Inn,” Rain said, noting the neighboring resorts are home to two of St. Pete Beach’s busiest beachfront bars.
The purchase continues OTO’s steady expansion in Tampa Bay. The company already owns the AC Hotel in downtown St. Petersburg, the Hampton Inn & Suites in Ybor City, the DoubleTree Beach Resort in North Redington Beach and the Hilton Garden Inn next door to the Beachcomber.
Altogether, the company now operates 681 hotel rooms in the local market. Founded in 2004, OTO Development is part of The Johnson Group, a privately held company based in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Over the past two decades, OTO has grown into a major hospitality owner and operator, partnering with brands including Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt and IHG.
The company now owns or operates 55 hotels nationwide totaling nearly 9,000 rooms. While OTO built much of its portfolio through branded select-service hotels, the company has increasingly expanded into leisure and resort properties, particularly in high-demand coastal destinations.
That strategy aligns with continued growth in Florida tourism and ongoing demand for beachfront accommodations along the Gulf Coast. St. Pete Beach remains one of the region’s strongest tourism draws, attracting millions of visitors annually and supporting a hospitality market where beachfront redevelopment opportunities remain limited.
The Beachcomber acquisition upholds legacy beachfront properties that can benefit from operational upgrades, shared amenities and long-term tourism growth.
For now, OTO says the resort will continue operating as The Beachcomber. Jimmy B’s also remains a centerpiece of the property.
