Island House owner announces sale of award-winning Gay Men´s Guesthouse
Key West, FL (March 14, 2014) — After 15 years helming the multiple award-winning Island House Key West and creating an undisputed leader among the world’s premier gay guesthouses, owner Jon Allen announced his richly deserved retirement. Like the other owners before him who’ve shepherded this great property since it first opened in 1976, Allen is taking his time to find the right buyers.
"I'm confident the new owner will operate it as a gay men's resort," said Allen announcing his decision to sell the property he bought in 1999 with his partner of 23 years, Martin Kay, who died in December. "It has higher [average daily room rates] and occupancy than any comparable property in Old Town. There's no good reason to change its model. It's a success."
The highly trained and professional management team and staff will remain and continue to run Island House as an all-men’s, clothing-optional resort where gay men can be themselves in a safe, comfortable environment, relax and meet other men.
"Yes, Jon is selling Island House, but it's not going away and, in fact, the reservation lines have been ringing off the hook with guests looking for an escape from their endless winter," Jeffrey Smead, Island House’s Director of Marketing said, noting that the resort was recently featured on RuPaul's Drag Race, airing on the LOGO network. He added that since “10 of the resort’s 34 rooms feature shared bathrooms, the likelihood of the property becoming mainstream are almost nonexistent. Jon’s looking forward to someday returning as a guest.”
The property appears in the MLS listings with an asking price of $13.5 million. Julie Fondriest, co-listing agent with Claude Gardner at Prudential Knight Gardner Realtors, can be reached at Prudential Knight & Gardner Realty, Key West; jfondriest@aol.com; 305-587-4208.
Last year was a big year for Island House which continues to receive accolades from guests and travel experts alike, including “Favorite LGBT Guesthouse/Resort” by the EDGE Media Awards and a coveted ManAboutWorld “2013 Editors’ Choice” award, declaring that Island House “sets the bar for all-male gay guesthouses.” On TripAdvisor Island House continues to rank near the top among the very best of specialty lodging options in town.
Book now
The Island House team wishes to underscore to its guests with a reservation that nothing will change. The team looks forward to receiving all its guests to the same welcoming resort environment that Allen and Kay created and his team maintains day in and day out. They hope you enjoy the resort’s recently implemented improvements including an expanded Happy Hour and their ever-popular “stay four nights, get three free” offer. To book a room, call the resort’s live operator/concierge 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-890-6284 or visit www.IslandHouseKeyWest.com.
About Island House Key West
The 34-room award-winning Island House Key West is the longest continuously operated gay guesthouse and a destination unto itself, with a poolside Café and Bar open 24/7, an on-site gym and spa area, two Jacuzzis, and an atmosphere allowing guests to enjoy a safe stay of their own making from mild to wild. Island House offers abundant complimentary amenities from a lively happy hour to WiFi throughout the property. Island House celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2011 and has completed over $2.5 million in transformative upgrades over the past dozen years. A live operator/concierge is available 24/7 to answer questions and book rooms.
