• Veteran Food and Beverage Executive to Lead Culinary Operations Across Resort’s Dining Venues

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (July 13, 2026) – SkyBeach Resort, the 113-room beachfront hotel located on the southern tip of St. Petersburg, Florida, proudly announces the appointment of Erich Michael as director of food and beverage. In this role, Michael will oversee all catering, culinary and beverage operations across the resort, including LUMA, the new Mediterranean-inspired restaurant overlooking the marina, and SkyBar + Grille, the two-story beachfront bar and restaurant known for its creative cocktails and sweeping views of Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. He will also lead the expansion of the resort’s culinary programming through seasonal events, waterfront activations and community partnerships.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Erich to the SkyBeach team,” said Allie Singer, vice president of commercial strategy and asset management at Willner Realty & Development Co. (WRDC), owner of SkyBeach Resort. “His impressive hospitality background, operational expertise and passion for developing talented teams make him the ideal leader to elevate our food and beverage program while creating memorable dining experiences for both our resort guests and the local community.”

Michael brings nearly 30 years of hospitality leadership experience spanning restaurants, resorts and multi-unit food and beverage operations. Most recently, he served as senior food and beverage operations manager for Manthey Hospitality, where he oversaw food and beverage operations for the company’s dining cruises and waterfront venues throughout the Tampa Bay region. Prior to that, he served as assistant director of food and beverage at The Ritz-Carlton and held various executive leadership and ownership roles overseeing high-volume restaurant operations. He considers mentoring hospitality professionals—and seeing many former team members go on to become industry leaders—among his proudest accomplishments.

At SkyBeach Resort, Michael’s vision is to further establish the property as one of the region’s premier waterfront dining destinations by enhancing its culinary offerings while strengthening connections with the local community. 

“For me, great hospitality starts with a passionate team and a commitment to creating memorable guest experiences,” said Michael. “I’m looking forward to collaborating with the talented team at SkyBeach Resort to build on its strong foundation and continue growing its reputation as one of the area’s premier waterfront dining destinations.”