As guests' tastes change, Hyatt Regency Clearwater completes multimillion-dollar renovation
By Frances McMorris
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jan 31, 2018

The 287-room Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa has just finished an extensive, multimillion-dollar renovation to its guest rooms, meeting and event spaces, and public areas, as the resort's general manager says guest expectations are changing.

"It was time to elevate the experience," said GM Chad Eding.

Inside the guest rooms and suites, charging stations have been built into the furniture to provide more juice for multiple mobile devices, 65-inch flat screen televisions have been added, carpets have been replaced and the walls painted a serene blue and gray for an aquatic touch. Alarm clocks allow for wireless charging of phones.

The largest suites measure up to 1,800 square feet and come with two bedrooms, a walk-in closet for the master bedroom and three bathrooms. The price ranges from $750 a night to as much as $1600 per night in March and April.

The renovation, which began last July, runs the gamut - from updated interior décor and furniture, to the addition of new room types, new food and beverage options like a 24-hour market, artwork and more.

The "World of Hyatt" app allows guests to stream Netflix from their phones, and also replaces the key locks throughout the resort, allowing guests to bypass the front desk and go straight to their room. Even the lobby has been redone with new chandeliers, adding to the look.

The resort added 37 guest rooms and even the smallest ones have balconies; one-third of the rooms are suites, Eding said.

The renovation comes as Clearwater Beach has seen other properties undergo facelifts and new properties come on the scene. The Hyatt Regency is adjacent to the Wyndham Grand Resort, a $175 million project that opened nearly a year ago and offers more than 22,000-square feet of meeting space.