Happy Monday morning to you all! We have an exciting week ahead. I am dubbing this week as “Clearwater Beach Week”. For those of you located around the country and world, and debating a wonderful Florida vacation spot this winter, look no further than the beautiful beaches of Florida’s West Coast which includes Clearwater Beach.
Clearwater Beach is annually rated as one of the top 10 beaches in the world and was recently rated the #1 beach in America. The beautiful, white powder sand combined with sunsets, beach recreation, and warm gulf waters make Clearwater Beach a top tourist destination. From biking to golf to deep sea fishing and top dining and night life, Clearwater Beach has it all. Your first web stop today must be here to visit their tourism site: http://www.floridasbeach.com/
So why all the excitement around Clearwater Beach you might ask? Two weeks ago, I was invited by Russ Kimball, the General Manager of the Sheraton Sand Key Resort, to address a group of Clearwater Hoteliers and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Mr. Kimball heard about Clean the World from our dear friend Bill Pullen, who has been spreading the word about Clean the World since our beginning. After a brief phone call, Mr. Kimball put the wheels in motion for Clean the World to speak to his property and the hotels in the Clearwater Beach area to hear Clean the World’s story.
Russ Kimball is a leader in the Florida hospitality industry. He is a past chairman of the Florida Hotel and Motel Association. In 1998, he was named Florida Hotelier of the Year and has managed the Sheraton Sand Key Resort since it opened in 1976. He was even named to the Tourism Hall of Fame this past August. And after meeting him in person, I can attest to his good heartedness, professionalism and true desire to make a difference. He is the real deal!
The meeting and presentation went very well. It is so much fun telling our story to a group of individuals that understand our mission and wants to find ways to participate. The questions and excitement was excellent. In that room, it was very evident why Clearwater Beach is a top destination spot. It takes natural beauty and beach, but it really takes professionals that care about their community, their trade and have a real commitment to making meetings and vacations enjoyable for their guest. That is clearly this group of hoteliers!
And so the first property from Clearwater Beach to officially join the Clean the World program is no other than Sheraton Sand Key Resort. And what a wonderful property, whether you are looking for a great meeting resort or an awesome family vacation!
I was given a property tour by Todd, Director of Housekeeping. First off, the staff is unbelievably friendly and professional. Todd was great. And a special thanks to Marilyn who helped coordinate the entire presentation and day.
The outside pool deck, equipped with the Turtle Bar and Poolside Cafe was so inviting, and it leads right up to a 10 acre beach. Think about this- the #1 beach in America and Sheraton Sand Key has 10 acres of it! Beach volleyball nets were up and ready for action and the beach hut, full of beach toys, was buzzing with activity.
We enjoyed lunch together so I can personally attest to the great food and the meeting room we were all in was beautiful. They have 24,000 square feet of meeting space and for the third consecutive year the Sheraton Sand Key resort won the Pinnacle Award, which recognizes conference and convention centers, hotels and visitor bureaus for their commitment to hospitality excellence and customer satisfaction.
Check them out online here: http://www.sheratonsandkey.com/index.php But even better, stay with them. I plan on taking my four children there soon for a weekend getaway. I can’t wait to see their faces when they see the beach!
And the best part of that getaway will be when I tell my children about how this great and fun hotel is also doing something very important: They are helping those that are hurting here in the US and in places like Haiti. Hearing the stories that their daddy tells them about those really needing our soap in Haiti, I can see their smiles when they learn the good news.
Sheraton Sand Key Resort- Thank you for your commitment to Clean the World. Thank you for participating in our planet and life saving program. Thank you for bringing together your friends and colleagues in the Clearwater Beach area. We are forever grateful!
And thank you for kicking off Clearwater Beach Week!
