Today we’d like to introduce you to Dylan Gamez.
Hi Dylan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I am originally from Long Island, New York, and moved to Central Florida after being accepted to the Disney College Program. During that time, I met my husband, Barrett – I truly met my “prince Charming” at Disney World. I finished my college education in Journalism at the University of Central Florida. After working as a reporter and editor for several local publications, my career turned toward marketing. After three years as a Marketing Director for a dental laboratory, I missed the world of hospitality. It was much easier to market an experience than dental implants. In 2021, I was hired as the Marketing Manager for Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora and The Hacienda in New Port Richey. Jim and Alexandra Gunderson own both properties, and are historic. I am grateful to be in this position today because I get to work in hospitality while allowing my creativity to be showcased. The historic aspect of the hotels is also an exciting aspect of my career because there is always something new to discover or learn.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has only sometimes been a smooth road getting to where I am today. After high school, I attended several colleges to find the right fit. It wasn’t until I moved to Florida for the Disney College Program that I finally felt I found where I was supposed to be. After the College Program, I worked as a server at Walt Disney World and did several journalism internships, both paid and unpaid. It was a busy and crazy time, but I loved every moment, and it paid off. My first job in journalism was at a newspaper in The Villages. I was lucky to meet some incredible coworkers there, but the office environment was toxic due mainly to leadership. While I moved up the ranks there, I knew it was not the “end game” for me, and I wanted more. Moving into marketing allowed me to utilize skill sets I hadn’t previously had the chance to exhibit. Spending time as a server and reporter was real-life training for becoming a Marketing Director. My time at the dental laboratory helped me gain more knowledge and eventually land my position with Lakeside Inn and The Hacienda. Every step of the way, no matter how hard at the time, helped me to get to where I am today. I strongly believe in having no regrets – only lessons learned, and those lessons shaped who and where I am today.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Lakeside Inn is the oldest continuously running hotel in the state of Florida. Built-in 1883, the inn has hosted a variety of notables throughout the years, including President Calvin Coolidge and the First Lady for a month following his presidency. Nestled along Lake Dora in charming and historic Mount Dora, Lakeside Inn is a 90-room hotel with breathtaking lake views and walkability to everything in the downtown district. A gift shop and art gallery are on-site, The GateHouse, and several dining options: Tremain’s Tavern, The Beauclaire, and The Verandah. At Lakeside Inn, we specialize in making our guests feel like they have returned to simpler days and pleasures. You can always find someone reading a book in one of our rocking chairs on the verandah or enjoying a cocktail and the sunset at our Waterside Bar. We are known for being a hotel where history meets hospitality, and it keeps our guests returning year after year. What sets us apart is that we are not a chain hotel- nothing cookie-cutter about our inn, and we love it that way. You won’t find another place like Lakeside Inn anywhere in the world. We are full of history and surrounded by the natural beauty of Florida. You’d be hard-pressed to visit and feel relaxed only after some time. I am most proud of Lakeside’s Inn’s ability to create a family atmosphere for guests and our team. We all support each other as a company, which is apparent in our guest interaction because of that camaraderie. We are all genuinely enjoying what we do and the story we get to tell every day. The Hacienda is a newly acquired property in New Port Richey built in 1927. It is one of Florida’s original pink hotels and features Mediterranean architecture. The Hacienda was originally a hotel in 1927 but has been abandoned for decades. Jim and Alexandra bought the property in 2018, which opened after a years-long restoration in September 2022. Right beside the beautiful Sims Park, The Hacienda is the crown jewel of the charming downtown New Port Richey, full of historic landmarks and buildings and right beside the gorgeous Cotee River. The team at The Hacienda shows the same pride in the property as those at Lakeside Inn. Everyone employed treats the hotels as their “baby, ” which is a testament to the leadership and ownership.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory was family trips to Disney World – probably why I ended up in Central Florida.
Contact Info:
- Website: lakeside-inn.com haciendahotelnpr.com
- Instagram: @thehaciendanpr @lakesideinnmtdora
- Facebook: @thehaciendanpr @lakesideinnmtdora
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-gamez-2b561151
