The Seagate Hotel & Spa

I recently stayed at The Seagate for 13 days under circumstances I never expected. My uncle, who is also my cousin’s father, had been placed into hospice nearby, and because we had no idea how much time he had left, we checked into The Seagate without really knowing how long we would be there. For nearly two weeks, our days started very early and ended very late. We would leave the hotel each morning and spend 12 to 14 hours at hospice, returning completely emotionally and physically depleted. And there was Eddie. If you’ve stayed at The Seagate, you probably know exactly who I mean. Eddie is one of the first people you see when you enter the hotel, always greeting guests with the most incredible smile, warmth and energy. Some people may underestimate how important that role is. After these 13 days, I never will. Every night when we returned, Eddie would greet us with that huge smile and ask how our day had been. When we told him it had not been a good day because we had spent it at hospice, he never responded with an obligatory or rehearsed “I’m sorry.” He genuinely cared. You could feel it. And every morning, there he was again, wishing us a good day, a blessed day, or simply sending us off with that smile. This past Friday, my uncle and my cousin’s dad passed away. After he died, we decided we needed to go to the beach. We were devastated, numb and not thinking particularly clearly. He loved the beach, and somehow being near the ocean felt like where we needed to be. As we came downstairs, Eddie appeared and said, “Hey ladies, any interest in going to the beach? The sunset is beautiful.” We told him that was exactly where we were going. Without hesitation, Eddie said, “Well, let the shuttle take you.” We hadn’t even thought about the shuttle. We were simply going to walk. But somehow, in that moment, Eddie knew what we needed before we did. He arranged the shuttle, and off we went to the beach. It ended up being one of the most peaceful and comforting moments of an incredibly painful day. Later that evening, we were sitting in the lobby, still in shock and trying to figure out whether we should eat something. Eddie came over and asked how we were doing, and I told him that my uncle and her father had passed away. What happened next is something I will never forget. Eddie stopped. He listened. And then he shared a little about losing his own mother in hospice. As he spoke, he wiped tears from his eyes. There was nothing scripted about that moment. Nothing that felt like “customer service.” It was simply one human being recognizing the pain of another. He asked what we were doing for dinner, and I told him we honestly couldn’t figure it out. Eddie immediately said, “That’s it. I’m making a phone call.” He called a restaurant down the street, told them we were coming and even told us exactly what to order: the pasta Bolognese. At a moment when we were incapable of making even the smallest decisions, Eddie simply took care of us. That is hospitality. But more importantly, that is humanity. During our conversation, Eddie shared something else that has stayed with me. He lost his granddaughter at a very young age, and he likes to believe that while he is down here greeting people on Earth, his granddaughter is up in heaven greeting people there. I cannot think of a better way to describe Eddie. He is not simply an employee standing at the entrance of The Seagate. He is part of the heart of this hotel. He notices people. He remembers them. He sees when someone needs a smile, a kind word, a helping hand or, sometimes, simply another human being to care. Eddie comforted us during one of the most painful experiences of our lives without ever being intrusive. He gave us kindness when we needed it most, often before we even realized we needed it. Hotels can have beautiful rooms, wonderful restaurants, gorgeous beaches and every amenity imaginable. But ultimately, it is people who create the experiences guests remember. I will remember The Seagate because I will remember Eddie. To the leadership of The Seagate: please know what an extraordinary person you have representing your hotel. People like Eddie cannot be trained. That kind of empathy, warmth and genuine care comes from somewhere much deeper. Eddie, thank you for every smile, every kind word, every “have a blessed day,” the ride to the beach, the dinner recommendation, and most of all, for simply seeing us during a time when we were hurting. The Seagate is incredibly lucky to have you. And we were incredibly lucky to meet you.

It was our first trip to Florida. The hotel was beautiful and the service was amazing. Especially Eddie Negron. We were there for 21 nights and He really made our stay even better.

Excellent time, food, facilities and friendly welcoming and accommodating staff.

Beautiful location with wonderful service. Thank you Juan, Adrian and Ashley for making our 2 day experience exceptional!

My husband and I celebrated our 34th anniversary at Seagate Hotel. Every part of the experience was delightful! Property is beautiful, our room was very nicely appointed, everything was spotless; beach club was a great way to experience the Atlantic Ocean; lobby staff was highly attentive - esp Eddie - our ever present host and concierge. We will absolutely be back!