Bill Marriott: will spend "lots" of money improving Vinoy; and new JW in Clearwater
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Programs: Marriott lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum
Posts: 5,469
Bill Marriott: will spend "lots" of money improving Vinoy; and new JW in Clearwater
#2
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: TPA/SRQ
Programs: Hyatt Explorer, Marriott Titanium, AA Plat Pro, UA Silver, Avis Plus, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,692
Yes but, Will he chase the ghosts away?
I'm curious to see just where they put the JW. They just built a nice CY in I think it's Madeira beach. Close to the ocean but actually not that close
I'm curious to see just where they put the JW. They just built a nice CY in I think it's Madeira beach. Close to the ocean but actually not that close
#3
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: TPA
Programs: AAdvantage 2 million, Marriott Gold
Posts: 960
What is there to improve at the Vinoy?
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Programs: Marriott lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum
Posts: 5,469
#5
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: PHL, DFW & FLL/PBI
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Platinum, IHG Spire, National Exec Elite, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 192
#7
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 821
Space is extremely limited in Clearwater especially on the beach area. It certainly won't be on Sand Key which is just south of Clearwater beach because all the homes and large condo buildings. There're a TON of expensive homes all over the area. It might be a better idea on St Pete beach to compete with the Don Caesar.
#8
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Marietta, GA
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold, Delta Million Miler, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 43
The article says Clearwater, not Clearwater Beach - although there are a number of spots along Clearwater Beach that would be perfect for a smaller hotel (article has it under 200 rooms including 35 condos). Hopefully, they would NOT consider downtown Clearwater which has been taken over by the Scientologists who have "chased" the tourists away. Perhaps they are looking at something on the east side of Clearwater right on Tampa Bay. It will be interesting to see where they locate!
#9
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 553
The Vinoy is very nice. However, there are some areas for improvement--the elevator lobbies and hallways to the east wing of the main building are dated and could be updated/cleaned up. IIRC the garage elevator lobby there was a wood-paneled 70s relic. The main way to get between the wing and lobby/restaurant there was a set of stairs, so access could be improved there as well.
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,007
http://www.tampabay.com/news/busines...future/2265173
Excerpts:
"On a visit to the Tampa Bay area last month, Marriott International chairman J.W. "Bill'' Marriott Jr. told the Tampa Bay Times that he had reviewed plans for such a hotel in Clearwater. And now a developer says he has been in close contact with the company about building a 202-room gulf-view hotel on the site of what is now the Wyndham Garden Clearwater Beach.
The Wyndham's owner, Uday Lele, discussed his plans this week following speculation about where a JW Marriott would go and who would build it. Lele said he and architect Oscar Benavides met with the 84-year-old Marriott in January for what was supposed to be a five-minute meeting but ran for nearly half an hour.
After looking at the plans, Lele recalled, "(Marriott) said 'Thank you for trusting us with your property.' ''
Lele said the proposed hotel would have 166 regular rooms and 36 condos individually owned but rented through Marriott. Owners could spend up to a month at a time in their units and would split the rents with Marriott.
The condos, with one to three bedrooms, would serve as suites for the hotel, Lele said.
All rooms would have views of the hotel's 300-foot private beach that faces Sand Key, just across a nearby bridge, but that also looks toward the Gulf of Mexico. Because of a southwest jog the coastline takes in the area, guests could stand on the beach and watch the sun rise in the morning and set in the evening.
If the Marriott deal is finalized, the 110-room hotel now on the site would cease its affiliation with Wyndham in the next few months and be knocked down by year's end, Lele said."
Cheers.
Excerpts:
"On a visit to the Tampa Bay area last month, Marriott International chairman J.W. "Bill'' Marriott Jr. told the Tampa Bay Times that he had reviewed plans for such a hotel in Clearwater. And now a developer says he has been in close contact with the company about building a 202-room gulf-view hotel on the site of what is now the Wyndham Garden Clearwater Beach.
The Wyndham's owner, Uday Lele, discussed his plans this week following speculation about where a JW Marriott would go and who would build it. Lele said he and architect Oscar Benavides met with the 84-year-old Marriott in January for what was supposed to be a five-minute meeting but ran for nearly half an hour.
After looking at the plans, Lele recalled, "(Marriott) said 'Thank you for trusting us with your property.' ''
Lele said the proposed hotel would have 166 regular rooms and 36 condos individually owned but rented through Marriott. Owners could spend up to a month at a time in their units and would split the rents with Marriott.
The condos, with one to three bedrooms, would serve as suites for the hotel, Lele said.
All rooms would have views of the hotel's 300-foot private beach that faces Sand Key, just across a nearby bridge, but that also looks toward the Gulf of Mexico. Because of a southwest jog the coastline takes in the area, guests could stand on the beach and watch the sun rise in the morning and set in the evening.
If the Marriott deal is finalized, the 110-room hotel now on the site would cease its affiliation with Wyndham in the next few months and be knocked down by year's end, Lele said."
Cheers.
#11
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Diamond; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,807
And if you take that bridge onto Sand Key, and pass Sand Key Park, you're at the "Clearwater Beach Marriott Suites on Sand Key" all of a half mile away...
#13
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Diamond; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,807
Because of the buyout? Good point. I wonder whether Marriott might choose to make some $ by divesting one of them, but to whom? Fairmont? Hilton, Hyatt, and Holiday Inn are all just north of them already.
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,334
OMNI Hotels? They seem to be growing in the USA, for instance the Westin in Providence RI was reflagged as an OMNI within the last few years.
#15
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,691
Marrott most likely doesn't own it to profit from a sale.
As a wise FT'er once schooled me here a few months ago, hotels don't only compete with other chains, they compete with ALL hotels in the area, affiliated or not.
FWIW, I've stayed at this Sheraton a few times on points, its very nice, love the color of brick they used around the pool.
PS how ridiculous is "Lele said he and architect Oscar Benavides met with the 84-year-old Marriott in January for what was supposed to be a five-minute meeting but ran for nearly half an hour."
It takes over 5 minutes to take off jackets, shake hands and make introductory small talk..