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Here's a look at Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort's $20M renovation
By Frances McMorris
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jun 14, 2017

The Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa has just unveiled its newly completed $20 million renovation.

The nine-story resort has refurbished guest rooms, interior upgrades, two new pools and a new restaurant. The exterior of the building, along with balconies and railings, are newly painted and the interior has been upgraded with solid wood flooring and carpeted hallways.

The Spotted Donkey, a Mexican cantina and tequila bar, is the resort's new 162-seat restaurant.

Each of the 418 guest rooms and suites were fully renovated to include new air conditioning units, wall coverings, phones, case goods, soft goods, patio furniture and 50-inch televisions. New carpeting and a tile foyer were also added. Additionally, each guest room had a complete bathroom makeover including replacing tubs with glass-enclosed showers.

The renovation comes as Pinellas County has seen a slew of hotel deals in the past year that is attracting tourists and in turn, reaping revenue from the bed tax. For example, under development is a J.W. Marriott hotel, a luxury brand of Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott International Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR). Construction is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Existing dining outlets at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa, owned by Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HLT), were also redone. New wood flooring and a built-in buffet were added to the Carambola Restaurant. Coasters Lounge was expanded to include a U-shaped bar with 30 stools, communal tables and casual seating with views of the Gulf of Mexico.

A large zero-entry pool as well as an oversized infinity pool were put in with tropical pavers around them. Both pools are family friendly and heated year-round. The Hibiscus Spa, which opened last summer, is located on the lobby level of the hotel and has eight oversized treatment rooms, with some offering a gulf view. The 2,500-square-foot spa is the only one on Clearwater Beach with a Vichy shower and one that provides hair and airbrush makeup services.

Here are some other recent hotel deals and renovations in the Tampa Bay area:

In March, a hotel real estate investment trust paid $214 million to acquire the iconic Don CeSar on St. Pete Beach and its sister property. A corporate entity tied to Bethesda, Maryland-based Host Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: HST) paid $214 million for the 277-room Don CeSar and the 70-room Beach House Suites by Don CeSar.

A Texas group bought the Sirata Beach Resort and Conference Center in early February, and the Sands Motel on Treasure Island was sold by its original owner from the 1940s for $5.25 million at the beginning of the year.

In January, the Wyndham Grand Resort on Clearwater Beach opened. The $175 million project now offers more than 22,000 square feet of meeting space - the largest in the county.

More than six months ago, a Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Clearwater Beach opened with 91 guest rooms for the mid-priced market.

Last year, the Opal Sands Resort, a 230 guest room property, which includes 36 suites, opened on Clearwater Beach. Opal Sands is owned and managed by Ocean Properties Ltd. & Affiliates, a privately-held hotel management and development company.

In February 2016, the 250-room Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa, which is part of Hyatt Hotels Corp. (NYSE: H), sold for a reported $120.5 million.

Frances is a reporter for the Tampa Bay Business Journal.