The Man Behind the Marco Hilton

It was 40 years ago that a love affair began between a gentleman from the Bronx and a piece of property at 560 South Collier Boulevard on Marco Island. That property was a vacant lot when Mort Olshan and his then business partner began building what today is The Marco Hiton Beach Resort and Spa. Mort Olshan would pass at 99 years of age in late February of this year.

Olshan and his partner at the time built two identical projects, one here in Marco Island and the other in Destin, Florida. Both are still proudly branded as Hilton properties, with Olshan Properties continuing their ownership and management of the Marco Island property while the Destin property is under separate ownership.

Olshan’s love affair with the real estate business began as an accountant in the late 50s after graduating from City College, while beginning his real estate business after joining the New York City office of Duff and Brown, before starting his own firm of Janoff and Olshan. Shortly after that he founded Volt Information Sciences. That company would be publicly traded on the NYSE, with Olshan serving as a Director and Treasurer.

Olshan Properties President, Zachary Bornstein, describes their founder as a man who believed that his employees represented “the solid foundation of the success which the organization was built upon. They were like family to Mr. Olshan,” said Bornstein.

Although today the portfolio of the Olshan Properties encompasses over 40 commercial and residential properties, Olshan would always refer to the Marco property as his “crown jewel, said Bornstein throughout the interview. “Mr. Olshan would visit the Marco property on a regular basis and watch his children grow up there and enjoy the island. They would love to stay at one of the penthouse suites over the holidays and as time allowed,” said Bornstein.

Well-known and respected resident John Dougherty was one of the first General Managers of the Marco property before moving on to manage a group of hotels owned by the Olshan group, which included the Marco property. 

“Mr. Olshan loved this property as well as the island. He treated his employees with great respect and looked upon them as family. A great example was Mac Chaudhry, who came to us as a front desk clerk and rose to become the General Manager of the hotel after a short stay in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as the General Manager of a Marriott Courtyard. He would return to Marco after a four-year hiatus as its General Manager at the Marco Island Hilton,” said Dougherty.

Dougherty and Chaudhry both made the emotional trip up to New York City to pay their respects to Olshan and to his family, whom they had become so very close to over their many years working together.

Both  Bornstein and Dougherty spoke fondly of their relationships with Olshan and their long talks about both business and his love of sports. That love of sports brought him to become a principal owner in the New York Yankees in 2000. However, what many didn’t know was that Olshan was a gifted athlete himself as an outstanding windmill softball pitcher in his younger days while attending City College in New York City. This pitching style generated significant speed and accuracy, making Olshan effective on the mound in athletics and in the business world later in life.

The Olshan family and their business accomplishments in New York City as well as their generosity and philanthropy are well known, as they have consistently given back to all of the communities they have made their mark in, including here on Marco Island, as their hotel has always been very community oriented including the housing of emergency responders during times of need.

Today the Olshan Properties 40 some assets include hotels in Massachusetts, Ohio, New York and  Florida, in addition to numerous commercial, residential and retail properties. Marco Island has been fortunate to have been chosen to feel the Midas touch of such a visionary man and his family.