ResortQuest

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ResortQuest International, Inc. is a vacation rental property management company headquartered in Fort Walton Beach, FL.

[edit] History

ResortQuest was a merger of: Abbott Resorts, Brindley & Brindley Realty, Inc. and B&B on the Beach, Inc.; Coastal Resorts Management, Inc. and Coastal Resorts Realty, L.L.C.; Collection of Fine Properties, Inc.; Hotel Corporation of the Pacific, Inc.; Houston and O’Leary Company; Howey Acquisition, Inc. and Priscilla Murphy Realty, Inc.; Maui Condo & Home Realty, Inc.; The Maury People, Inc.; Resort Property Management, Inc.; Telluride Resort Accommodations, Inc.; Trupp-Hodnett Enterprises, Inc. and THE Management Company; Whistler Chalets Limited; and First Resort Software, Inc. The company’s initial public offering closed on May 26, 1998, and headquarters were established in Memphis, TN.

In 2003, the company moved its headquarters from Memphis, TN to Destin, FL, where one of its largest operating companies was located. However, only two months after the move was completed, ResortQuest was acquired by Gaylord Entertainment. After the completion of the acquisition in November 2003, ResortQuest's headquarters were moved again, this time to Nashville, TN, where Gaylord Entertainment's corporate offices are located.

May 2007 Gaylord Entertainment announced an agreement to sell the ResortQuest Hawaii business to Interval International.

In June of 2007 Gaylord Entertainment announced the sale of the remaining ResortQuest businesses to BEI-RZT Corporation, a subsidiary of Leucadia National Corporation(NYSE: LUK). Leucadia is a diversified holding company engaged in a variety of real estate businesses.

In the months following the take over ResortQuest moved its headquarters back to its North West Florida operation. Now stationed in Fort Walton Beach call center its headquarters continues to grow bringing new jobs to the area. Its management approach going forward will be different than the past. The goal is to empower local managers so that they will have all the tools and authority they need to make decisions and effect changes locally. Something that was lacking while under the control of Gaylord Entertainment.