One of the advantages to living in Florida is the easy access to wildlife. Near my home there are bobcats, alligators, coyotes, smaller critters such as armadillos, turtles and tortoises, and I don’t have to travel far to see dolphins. While visiting one of my favorite local towns, I watched a fisherman pull in a hammerhead shark. Of course there is an incredible amount of bird life, including bald eagles.
One of the gentlest creatures around these parts is the manatee (aka “sea cow”) and Florida has a lot of them. They attract a lot of tourists and November 15 to March 31 is the peak season with hundreds of manatees enjoying the warm 72-degree water that emerges from underground springs. Last winter I had an opportunity to kayak among the manatees at Three Sister Springs, a wildlife refuge in Crystal River. It was an awesome experience.
“The manatees are our cash ‘cow’,” says Michael Mancke, G.M. of the Paddletail Waterfront Lodge, A Trademark Collection by Wyndham in Crystal River. I spoke with Michael this past week and he shared how his property uses its unique riverside location to put heads in beds in a vintage Florida, motel style property which includes six total buildings constructed in different eras. It was most recently a Best Western property several years ago. In 2024, the Wyndham brand was adopted.
Just Steps from the River
The Paddletail Waterfront Lodge is an ideal example of a property taking advantage of its natural location to put together packages to build occupancy. Even if your property does not have a river at its front steps, you most likely have reasonable access to a natural attraction—one worth partnering for to bring in new business.
As reported here, Paddletail Waterfront Lodge is currently offering a Manatee & Water Sports Package in conjunction with the unveiling of its newly opened Paddletail Waterfront Adventures Dive Shop. Offering the largest selection of in-house tour amenities in Crystal River, the lodge now gives travelers a streamlined way to explore the “Manatee Capital of the World” with a single, activity-packed stay.
The new package puts guests in the water for a guided manatee snorkel with expert local captains, then keeps the adventure going with a scenic boat tour and a half-day kayak rental. Pricing begins at $555 for two guests and includes: two nights at Paddletail Waterfront Lodge, guided manatee snorkel tour with wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins; scenic boat tour, and half-day kayak rental.
All tours depart from the lodge’s waterfront dock, steps from the guestrooms. Enclosed boats offer complimentary hot chocolate and coffee and towel service. Every vessel is operated by a licensed, insured, US Coast Guard-certified captain and equipped with power poles to reduce environmental impact.
After their swim, guests can warm up and reset at the new dive shop featuring hot showers, spacious private changing rooms, and professional photo and video services.
Most Travelers from Nearby, Some Travel Great Distances
Mancke told me the package is working very well and a significant number of people use it. While most visitors come from Florida and the Southeast, about 20 to 30 percent come from Europe. Traffic from China is down but there have been visitors from as far away as Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
A different company manages the manatee adventure although it is under the same ownership group as the Paddletail Waterfront Lodge. The lodge has special use permits that allow the interaction with the manatees but touching is not permitted.
“You protect what you love,” Mancke says.
Guests partaking in the package are encouraged to first watch a manatee manners video. Staff are specially trained and certified and the lodge works closely with U.S. Fish & Wildlife.
“We have a working relationship with the Save the Manatee Club,” Mancke adds.
To learn more about Manatee ecotourism, click here.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers, and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in our Green Supplier Spotlights!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes the Wednesday Green Supplier Spotlight and Thursday Green Suppliers Spotlight. Green Supplier Spotlight features just one vendor and Green Suppliers Spotlight features multiple vendors. Click here for a Green Supplier Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Both e-blasts that reach 17,588 subscribers have been built to generate quick leads. A report is sent a week after each e-blast that includes the number of e-mails sent, number of opens, and number of click-throughs. Contact Glenn Hasek at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com for more information.
Planning Advertising for 2026?
In addition to the Spotlight ads described above, Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for other advertising spots for 2026. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. The Green Lodging News website last month welcomed 55,000 different visitors and experienced 285,000 page views. Interested in receiving a 2026 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlights currently stands at 17,588. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,630 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has more than 1,200 Facebook followers.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
