CLEARWATER BEACH, FLA.—Page Development Group and Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) have opened Clearwater Beach’s newest family-and-eco-friendly hotel, Winter the Dolphin’s Beach Club.
Sitting on America’s No. 1 beach, this dolphin and marine life themed hotel features the inspiring dolphin made famous by the Dolphin Tale movies and its star, Winter. Part of the Ascend Hotel Collection portfolio by Choice Hotels, Winter the Dolphin’s Beach Club comes to life after an extensive renovation and rehaul of an existing Choice hotel with a focus on sustainability and conservation.
“We are beyond excited to open this hotel to guests and offer them a very special experience that ties in with the mission of Clearwater Marine Aquarium,” said Page Development Group President Steve Page.
The 91-room beachfront hotel boasts an outdoor pool with beach cabana rentals, as well as two on-site restaurants, Cabanas Coastal Grill and Cabanas Beachside, serving up fresh seafood, American fare, and specialty cocktails, providing ample opportunities for guests to relax and connect. After a long day in the warm Florida sunshine, guests can retreat to their room and enjoy all the comforts of home, including complimentary WiFi, a refrigerator, and microwave, as well as a Keurig coffee maker and in-room coffee.
First CMA-Certified Hotel
As part of Page Development’s Group passion for environmental protection and commitment to sustainable practices, Winter the Dolphin’s Beach Club is the first CMA-certified hotel with measures to protect marine life including sea turtle safe lighting, the elimination of single-use plastics, and special window treatments to reduce energy use while minimizing the harmful effects of sun glare off of the Gulf of Mexico.
“We’re so excited to invite guests to see Winter at our facility and then have them stay in this fabulous and environmentally friendly, Winter and marine life themed hotel,” said CMA CEO, Frank Dame. “We’re confident that families will be attracted by the newness of the hotel, its commitment to sustainability, and the unique learning opportunities of immersive marine life education.”
Not only will guests feel good about the sustainability of their stay at Winter the Dolphin’s Beach Club, but they will also be contributing to Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s nonprofit mission. A portion of proceeds from each room night will go directly to the care, education, rescue, research, and rehabilitation of marine mammals through the work of CMA. Additionally, hotel guests will receive VIP access to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and educational opportunities at the hotel by CMA staff members. A live feed of Winter and her best friend, Hope, will also be available at the hotel along with a market stocked with CMA retail items.
Winter the Dolphin’s Beach Club is managed by Tampa-based McKibbon Hospitality, with hospitality veteran Adam Winning recently appointed as the hotel’s General Manager. Winning brings more than a decade of hospitality and leadership experience to the role, having most recently served as the General Manager of Aloft Jacksonville Airport.
