Asa Harris

Director of Sales & Marketing at Art Ovation Hotel

Born and raised in Orlando, Asa A Amber Harris remembers how her mom loved working for Hyatt Hotels. “The idea of working in hospitality always stayed in my head,” she admits. Sure enough, her first job was at George Steinbrenner’s Tampa hotel where the New York Yankees stayed during spring baseball. Among her many duties, Asa handled their travel plans. 

Asa realized that the operational side of the hotel business was a great fit when she became a sales manager for Hyatt Hotels. When she later became Vice President of the Navy League, Asa handled government and military clients for the Tampa Doubletree. “I got to meet base commanders and four-star generals. I even arranged travel for Air Force One when the President came to town.”

Asa was recruited by the Shaner Management Group to be the Director of Sales and Marketing for the new Art Ovation Hotel, an art-inspired luxury Marriott property that opened in Sarasota in 2018. Located in the heart of Sarasota just steps from the Sarasota Opera House, all 162 rooms and common areas have beautiful original artwork curated through a partnership with Ringling College of Art and Design. 

Revolving art exhibits, artists-in-residence, and performing arts in the lobby are just part of what makes the hotel so inspiring and unique. We pride ourselves on being a community home,” she says. “The hotel is driven by community events.” Asa’s also proud of how the hotel and the area are growing in diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

When Asa’s not at work or spending time with her Sarasota detective husband or her two boys, she’s out enjoying the community she’s come to love so much. “This is such an amazing place to live and work.”

Asa Harris
Director of Sales & Marketing
Art Ovation Hotel
1255 N. Palm Avenue, 
Sarasota, FL 34236
(941) 316-0808
aathomas@artovationhotel.com 
artovationhotel.com