Who We Are
Our Philosophy
We are inspired professionals that believe profitability is the result of deep passion, a positive culture, and effective storytelling.
Passion
When we invest in something, we don’t just put skin in the game. We put body, mind, heart, soul, and every visceral emotion on the human spectrum. Because hospitality is more than thread count and water pressure. It isn’t just skin deep. Hospitality is something you feel deep beneath the surface.Culture
Our culture is the core of our brand. It is a balance of what inspires us, how we do our work, and how we ensure our achievements are greater than any one of us. We speak to and treat our team members like family by embracing uniqueness, encouraging creativity, and empowering them to meet their professional potential.Storytelling
Stories are the vehicles that get us from one location in life to the next. Over the years, we’ve sought out opportunities that challenge us to not just develop better stories but to tell them more effectively. Stories that spark joy, provoke thought, inspire adventure, instill peace, but above all build trust. Trust builds when stories are honestly told and accurately heard. We want to hear your story. And then we want to help you tell it.
Passion
When we invest in something, we don’t just put skin in the game. We put body, mind, heart, soul, and every visceral emotion on the human spectrum. Because hospitality is more than thread count and water pressure. It isn’t just skin deep. Hospitality is something you feel deep beneath the surface.Culture
Our culture is the core of our brand. It is a balance of what inspires us, how we do our work, and how we ensure our achievements are greater than any one of us. We speak to and treat our team members like family by embracing uniqueness, encouraging creativity, and empowering them to meet their professional potential.Storytelling
Stories are the vehicles that get us from one location in life to the next. Over the years, we’ve sought out opportunities that challenge us to not just develop better stories but to tell them more effectively. Stories that spark joy, provoke thought, inspire adventure, instill peace, but above all build trust. Trust builds when stories are honestly told and accurately heard. We want to hear your story. And then we want to help you tell it.
“We want every guest’s experience to be so remarkable they pause and say, ‘This place is different.’”
Jon Weitz, Founder & President
Our Team
Our strength lies in the vision of our leadership, the diverse experiences of our team, and our history of sustained financial growth.
Leadership
Jon Weitz
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Jon Weitz and his wife Lisa started Avocet in 2006 with a vision to create a hospitality company that was dedicated to providing unique guest experiences.
Wesley Bloomfield Sang
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Wesley joined Avocet Hospitality in 2015 as Director of Marketing, and in 2019 she transitioned into a role to help further grow the Avocet portfolio.
Pietro Giardini
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Pietro has spent his entire life in the hospitality industry, his family has a hotel where he began washing dishes at the age of 10.
Kris Altman
VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING
Kris Altman joined Avocet Hospitality in 2019 with over 10 years of experience with hospitality management companies, independent and branded hotels.
Valerie Ross
VICE PRESIDENT OF REVENUE
Valerie has a background in hospitality management and comes to AH with 11 years of revenue management experience.
Amber Hultgren Topping
VICE PRESIDENT OF PEOPLE & CULTURE
With over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Amber Hultgren joined Avocet in 2019 after a previous role with Belmond.
Adam Donevant
VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
Adam is a CPA from Myrtle Beach, SC. He moved to Charleston in September 2013 to make a shift from public accounting to the hospitality industry.
Tarleton McManus
VICE PRESIDENT OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Tarleton joined Avocet in 2018 with over 20+ years of experience in hospitality operations. With stops at Tides and Vendue, he now oversees asset management for the portfolio.
Team
Caitlin Adkins
CORPORATE SALES & REVENUE MANAGER
Caitlin Adkins joined Avocet Hospitality in 2015, as a Sales Manager for Tides Folly Beach.
Dixie Hemingway
ART DIRECTOR
Dixie joined Avocet Hospitality with a variety of design experiences ranging from hospitality to political campaigns.
Anna Burgess
RECRUITMENT & RETENTION MANAGER
Anna Burgess joined Avocet Hospitality as a Human Resources Administrative Assistant in 2019. She was born and raised in Charleston.
Leah Burns
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
Leah joined Avocet Hospitality in 2007 where she is now part of the people & culture team.
Pam Sousa
PAYROLL MANAGER
Pam joined Avocet Hospitality as Payroll Manager in September 2019.
Ashley Arnoldy
DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER
Ashley joined Avocet Hospitality in 2022 as a Digital Marketing Manager. She previously held roles in digital marketing and social media strategy for the entertainment and F&B industry.
Anne Effenberger
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
Anne joined Avocet Hospitality in 2022 as a Staff Accountant. She previously held roles in accounting in the homebuilding and marina industries along with retail management operations.
Stephanie Meliti
RESERVATIONS MANAGER
Stephanie began her career with Avocet in 2021 as a Reservations Agent and has swiftly ascended through the ranks to her current role.
Kristina Shealey
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
Kristina has been a versatile member of Avocet since 2013, evolving from a real estate assistant to a valued member of the accounting team, and even contributing to the People & Culture team along the way.
Chris Baggett
CORPORATE OPERATIONS MANAGER
With over 25 years in the hospitality industry and a passion for food & beverage operations, Chris joined Avocet in 2024.
Our History
Founded in 2006, Avocet continues to evolve and grow.
Avocet Properties
Avocet Properties
Avocet Properties continues to expand its portfolio of vacation rental homes and becomes the largest vacation rental/property management company on Folly Beach.Tides Folly Beach
Avocet acquires oceanfront Holiday Inn (132 rooms) on Folly Beach. Hotel is the only full service oceanfront hotel in Charleston, SC.
Tides Folly Beach
The Vendue
Avocet acquires 66 room Vendue Inn located in historic downtown Charleston, SC.St. Barth Exclusives
St Barth Exclusives is started as a vacation rental company solely focused on providing luxury villa accommodations on the exclusive island of St. Barth in the French West Indies.
Anchorage Inn
The Vendue Renovation
The Read House
Avocet acquires the Historic Read House Hotel in Chattanooga, TN.Pier 101
Avocet acquires the restaurant space located on The Folly Beach Pier. Restaurant is completely renovated and renamed Pier 101.
The Vendue
Travel + Leisure names The Vendue “#1 Hotel in Charleston and #9 Hotel in the United States” in their World’s Best Awards.Avocet Properties
In order to focus on continued growth of the hotel portfolio, Avocet accepts an offer from Wyndham Vacation Rentals to acquire Avocet Properties – the company’s vacation rental division in Charleston.The Read House
Avocet commences $28 Million renovation to the Read House in order to restore the hotel to its former greatness and reposition the hotel as a throwback to the Roaring 20s and The Great Gatsby.
The Read House
- The Read HouseThe Read House celebrates its 150th Anniversary and is the longest continually running hotel in the southeast
- The VendueThe hotel's latest evolution reshapes the guest experience by removing the front desk and renovating its main building - 19 Vendue.
- The AdmiralAvocet acquires The Admiral Hotel located in downtown Mobile, AL.
- The Admiral HotelThe Admiral Hotel completes it's grand reimagination that resonates with punctuations of brilliance while paying homage to the city’s French-colonial roots.
- Le Moyne's ChophouseLe Moyne's Chophouse opens with much anticipation in August 2024 brining fine cuts, fresh seafood and an exquisite wine selection to downtown Mobile, AL.