H ISTORIC HOSPITALITY In Tampa Bay

By Ronda M. Parag

Be a tourist in your own hometown and discover, or perhaps even rediscover, some favorites places to stay, eat, or even, play. The Tampa Bay area is home to two classic and beloved properties that have undergone renovation and transformation in the last several years. The Don CeSar Hotel on St. Petersburg Beach is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year, and completed a remodel and transformation that was finished in 2021. The Vinoy® St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club in downtown St. Pete boasts iconic waterfront views and is located within walking distance to great restaurants, museums and nightlife, and has been undergoing renovations to bring grandeur back to the iconic hotel. The Vinoy renovations should be complete later this year.

The Vinoy® St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club

Originally opened on New Year’s Eve in 1925 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Vinoy® St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club is the only historic luxury resort on Florida’s west coast that boasts 13.5 acres of idyllic waterfront property, a private 72-slip marina, 18-hole golf course on the exclusive Snell Isle, tennis complex and fitness center. Known for its signature pink façade, Mediterranean Revival style and old-Florida hospitality, the 362-room resort is emerging from a thoughtful renovation and rebrand, joining Marriott’s renowned Autograph Collection. feeling of a luxe vacation no matter where you are,” says Sunni Spencer, Founder. “With the opening of my latest location in the lobby of The Vinoy, I’m curating a premier shopping experience that captures the true essence of luxury travel.”

The iconic pink hotel blends modern elegance with Mediterranean Revival architecture in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, with over 60,000 square feet of spectacular indoor/outdoor event space, innovative restaurants and a day spa. Recently, local boutique Sunni Spencer opened in the Vinoy lobby area to provide shoppers with a selection of contemporary labels including Cult Gaia, LoveShackFancy, James Perse and Stoney Clover Lane, along with exclusive totes from Poolside Bags that are custom-made for The Vinoy. “My brand is inspired by my travels across the world and expressing the carefree

The new, sophisticated aesthetic reflects The Vinoy’s timeless glamour and tips its hat to a longstanding legacy. The Vinoy offers a combination of elegant rooms and suites that have undergone updates with new wood flooring, streamlined crown molding, and dramatic fixtures that create a sense of relaxed luxury. The bathrooms in most room types will also have walk-in marble showers.

The ballrooms were the first spaces to be unveiled as part of the resort’s comprehensive renovation that also includes the legendary veranda, porte

[continued from page 50] cochère, main lobby, guest rooms, spa, and restaurants. The Vinoy’s transformation will shine new light on the resort as a grande dame of Floridian hospitality.

If walls could talk, The Vinoy’s would have endless stories to share thanks to a rich history that includes hosting U.S. presidents, celebrities and athletes, and even serving as military housing in the 1940s.

The Don CeSar Hotel

For a relaxing and peaceful beach getaway, head to The Don CeSar Hotel, also known as the Pink Palace® on St. Pete Beach. Opened at the height of the Great Gatsby era in 1928, The Don CeSar is celebrating its 95th Anniversary this year.

The revamped Vinoy pool terrace will exude old Florida glamour, with stylish cabanas, bespoke sun loungers and a new pool restaurant and bar adding to the existing Paul’s Landing, making it an enticing area within the resort to relax and soak up the sun.

The National Historic Landmark hotel is reminiscent of a Mediterraneanstyle castle with 277 guest rooms, including 36 luxurious suites. The guest room décor incorporate a beach-inspired design using elements such as wicker, whitewashed headboards and airy and blush tones reflective of the hotel facade’s signature pink.

Bar & Lookout and the Lobby Bar at the hotel’s epicenter. The hotel also has two deluxe heated pools, 22,000 sq. ft. of indoor function space, more than 16,000 sq. ft. of creative outdoor space, a fullservice Spa Oceana, fitness center, The Don Boutiques retail experience and access to beach rentals and water sports on the hotel’s private stretch of beach. The Beacon Pool Bar & Lookout has a rooftop deck offering a great perch to watch the nightly sunsets and enjoy a beach-inspired cocktail.

The Vinoy® Resort & Golf Club has recently been named the top hotel in St. Petersburg by U.S. News & World Report. The Vinoy is a Gold Badge winner for 2023 having placed in the top 10 percent of all ranked luxury hotels in the country. This accolade comes ahead of the historic resort’s ongoing renovations, which will establish a new, sophisticated aesthetic that will reflect The Vinoy’s timeless glamor and tips its hat to a longstanding legacy.

Set upon the white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, the hotel offers six restaurants and lounges: the award-winning Maritana, Society Table, Uncle Andy’s Market, The Rowe Bar, Beacon Pool

The Don CeSar recently partnered with the local brewery, The Green Bench to create a special beer, Pink Palace Daze, to celebrate The Don’s 95th Anniversary. This tropical hazy IPA has notes of passion fruit, guava, mango and citrus, the perfect beverage for the summer!

Choosing between the bustling heart of downtown St. Pete or the sun-soaked St. Pete Beach, either of these grand, historic hotel are waiting to welcome you with refreshed and reimagined spaces for your next staycation. M

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR RESERVATIONS:

The Vinoy® St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club: Call 727.894.1000 or visit www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/tpasr-the-vinoy-renaissance-st-petersburg-resort-and-golf-club

The Don CeSar Hotel: Call 844.338.1501 or visit www.doncesar.com