FEATURE ST. PETERSBURG/ CLEARWATER
Salvador Dali – the 2,140 pieces making it the largest on display outside of Spain – as well as displaying other artists’ work. That follows the July 2010 opening
of a permanent $6-million exhibition of works by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly in a gallery near St. Pete’s Bay front. The destination’s hotel inventory continues to grow. The 250-room Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa opened in February. It will form the centrepiece of Beach Walk, a new $30-million revitalisation project featuring a half-mile pathway lined by shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. Future projects include a proposed
high-speed train planned to link Orlando with nearby Tampa by 2015.
TRADE FOCUS St. Petersburg and Clearwater are stepping up their efforts to woo British holidaymakers. Tourism chiefs are undertaking initiatives with agents to highlight the fact that it makes a perfect twin-centre combination with Orlando’s theme parks. An online agents’ training programme
with Travel Uni, with prizes on offer until October, is underpinning a trade marketing campaign that will run into the autumn. The aim is to boost awareness of its
award-winning beaches and the many cultural and other attractions.
TOUR ISM TALK VENESSA ALEXANDER UK AND SCANDINAVIA DIRECTOR, ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER CVB “We are approaching 2011 with cautious optimism. With our strong cultural offering set to expand, beautiful white-sand beaches like Clearwater Beach, a vibrant calendar of year-round festivals and events and the opportunity to twin a visit here with Orlando area theme parks just 90 minutes away, we hope to continue to attract increasing numbers of UK visitors in 2011 and beyond. The global economy appears to be stabilising and we are confident that this, coupled with major new developments and events, will ensure that St Pete/Clearwater remains a top destination for travellers to Florida.”
WHE R E TO BOOK IT JETSAVE
0871 664 0293
www.jetsave.com A budget seven-night break at the
three-star plus Sirata Beach Resort in St Petersburg costs £699pp for departures on November 25 2010, saving £100pp on the standard price and including room-only accommodation, flights to Tampa with British Airways and car hire.
PREMIER HOLIDAYS 08444 937 444
www.trade.premierholidays.co.uk A week’s room-only stay at the five-star, waterfront Sand Pearl Resort in Clearwater cost from £1,095pp in October and November 2010, including British Airways Tampa flights and eight days car hire.
VIRGIN HOLIDAYS
0844 557 4011
www.vhols4agents.co.uk Seven nights, room-only at the
Tradewinds Sandpiper in St Petersburg costs from £969pp in May 2011, including Virgin Atlantic flights to Orlando from Gatwick or Manchester and a hire car.
KUONI
01306 747008
www.agents.kuoni.co.uk Seven nights on a room-only basis at The Don Cesar Beach Resort, A Loews Hotel, in St Petersburg costs from £1,129pp, including BA flights to Tampa, in November.
WHO F LIE S THER E British Airways (0844 493 0787; www.
ba.com) operates direct services from Gatwick to Tampa. Several airlines also operate direct and indirect flights to Orlando International and Orlando Sanford airports. •
The area is Florida’s
sunniest, with 361 sunny days a year, and holds the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive days of sunshine - 768 in 1967-1969
Among award-winning
beaches are Caladesi Island’s, reached by ferry from Dunedin
Jetsave’s Suzanne Harvey
highlights its great-value beachfront hotels
Local amenities suit
everyone from families to couples, Harvey adds
Premier Holidays’ Heidi
Blades suggests stressing the area’s diversity, from its beaches to culture such as St Pete’s Dali Museum
Rejuvenated in recent years,
St. Petersburg now offers many top-class hotels, bars and upscale restaurants
Anglers can fish for their
supper by catching a rare snook. Just one fish can be caught per person per day during the six-month season, and you have to catch it to eat it. You cannot buy or sell it
Top golf courses include the
venerable Belleview Biltmore and world-class Innisbrook Resort’s quartet
Go wild by kayaking
through mangroves or hiking trails in parks and nature reserves
Enjoy stunning sunsets on a
cruise or with entertainment at the nightly Sunset Celebration at Clearwater’s Pier 60
www.sellinglonghaul.com • September 2010 43
TOP SELLING TIPS...
St. Petersburg and Clearwater are just 90 minutes from Orlando
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