ROCKVILLE, Md., July 7, 2020 – Winter the Dolphin’s Beach Club is now a member of Choice Hotels International, Inc.‘s (NYSE:CHH) Ascend Hotel Collection, a global portfolio of resort, boutique and historic hotels. The marine-themed hotel is located in Clearwater Beach, Florida, where the Gulf of Mexico’s welcoming blue waters make it an ideal destination for guests seeking a beachfront stay. Named after the subject of the “Dolphin Tale” movies, the hotel provides upgraded amenities that are purposefully designed to deliver a distinct marine experience in an unforgettable setting.
“People are dreaming of travel and are eager to start exploring again, and Winter the Dolphin’s Beach Club offers everything they’ve come to expect from the Ascend brand,” said Dianne Taylor, head of brand, Ascend Hotel Collection, Choice Hotels. “We know many travelers want to enjoy the outdoors, including beaches, and the hotel’s location – on an island just off the coast of the Floridapeninsula – is the perfect setting for a tropical getaway.”
Located at 655 S. Gulfview Blvd., the five-story, 91-room Winter the Dolphin’s Beach Club is just minutes away from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The hotel features design elements that celebrate aquatic life and gives guests the opportunity to support the aquarium’s mission, with a portion of the proceeds from each room night going directly to the care, education, research and conservation of marine mammals.
“The addition of this eco-friendly hotel to Choice’s portfolio reaffirms our commitment to expanding the Ascend Hotel Collection — the largest soft-brand collection in the industry — one unique property at a time,” said Mark Shalala, senior vice president of development, upscale brands, Choice Hotels. “The strength of the Ascend brand also resonates with guests and franchisees alike as they look for dependable brands, especially in this current environment. For franchisees, Ascend hotels are backed by Choice’s industry-leading technology and robust distribution and reservation channels.”
Winter the Dolphin’s Beach Club features a live video stream of wild dolphins off the coast from the hotel, as well as sustainability measures and amenities including:
- Sea turtle-safe lighting.
- No single-use plastics.
- Special window treatments to reduce energy use while minimizing the harmful effects of sun glare.
- Dolphin tail-shaped stone jetties to protect the hotel’s inlet beach.
- An outdoor heated pool with sundeck.
- Food and beverage options at the Cabanas Beachside Bar and Grill.
Ascend hotel guests can participate in the award-winning Choice Privileges loyalty program, rated a top hotel loyalty program by both USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and U.S. News & World Report. Choice Privileges membership is free and offers fast rewards and exclusive member rates for those who book directly at www.choicehotels.com.
All Choice-branded hotels are participating in Commitment to Clean, which is the company’s global, holistic approach to supplying franchisees and their employees with the tools they need to achieve superior levels of cleanliness and address health and safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative enhances existing best practice guidance for deep cleaning, disinfecting, hygiene and social distancing. For more information on Commitment to Clean, visit https://www.choicehotels.com/about/commitment-to-clean-hotels.
