Weekly Update Newsletter
             February 19, 2014 
Greetings!


It has been an exciting week of TV and magazine coverage for Clearwater Beach and our Beach Chamber. Last week many of us met with the producers of Out and About Southwest Florida. The 30 minute TV Travel show airs on Sunday mornings at 11:30 am on ABC News Channel 7 in Naples, Marco Island and Ft. Myers. There were 13 different businesses and Chamber members that were featured for this show, including the Beach Chamber, this past Sunday. Here is a link to the Chamber segment and the entire show will be listed on our website within in a few days.

 

Click here to view the video! 

 

This week we were visited by Rita Cook, Editor-in-Chief of the Insider Mag a Traveler's Magazine and Guillaume de Vaudrey, International Editor-at-Large. They were here courtesy of Imagine Global and covered the Sea-Blues festival over the weekend. But while they were here they soaked up the flavor of Clearwater Beach. I had lunch with them hosted by Cooters Restaurant & Bar and enjoyed the interview with them very much. They easily understood why Clearwater Beach is such a popular destination for people all over the world. I remain excited to see their coverage of us.


                                                               Crabby Shrimp Dip at Cooters Restaurant & Bar  

 

Sunny Regards,  

 

Darlene Kole

 


 
Feb. 22-23rd: 
 East End Big Shot  
Volleyball Tournament

Feb. 21-March 9th:  

The Florida Strawberry Festival

Feb. 25th:
Ribbon Cutting Shephard's Beach Resort 

Feb. 27th:
 
Chamber Mingle at  
Sharmaine's Salon & Day Spa
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
 is open!

 The Chamber would like to remind everyone that the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is now open 7 days a week 9:00 am - 6:00 pm! Be sure to stop on by and say hello to Winter and her new movie star friend Hope!


Feb. 21
:
 One Direction:This Is Us
Feb. 22:
 Good Ol' Freda
Feb. 28:
 Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs

*4-8 pm
weather permitting*

Stop! Parking time!
 
Be sure to visit our websites home page for some great information about beach parking and where to go. (Click the pic.)
It's A Great Week To
Take A Class!

Recently named "Best Museum"  
By St. Pete/ Clearwater's
Best of Competition 
 

The Beach Chamber has NEW social media travel pages!
A big thank you to
Ann Farrell with
Pink A Marketing Inc. 
Please be sure to like and follow our new Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/VisitClearwaterBeachFlorida

 and Twitter account: 

https://twitter.com/VisitCLWBeachFL


 St.Pete/Clearwater has published the second edition of it's beautiful  destination  "Gulf To Bay" magazine. In addition to select results from this year's "Best of" competition, naming Clearwater Beach Best Beach, the magazine features articles on the area's growing craft beer scene and foodie indulgences and more! 

  Click here to read the best of list  

The Travelodge on Clearwater Beach has a new name! It will now be known as
Seaside Inn & Suites.

Kathy Mittler
E-mail
Website
General Manager
Front Desk: (727) 446-8305
401 S. Gulfview Blvd
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
What's On The
President's Plate? 

For more
President's Plate pictures 

Friends of the Rec Center 
& Library Annual Meeting

Monday, Feb. 24th 
10:00 am

The Clearwater Beach Recreation Center
69 Bay Esplanade
 
Meeting Agenda:
Refreshments
Enjoy Shell Crafters' Creations
Adopting the updated By-Laws
Elect 2014 Board of Directors

*Door Prizes

Pickleball demonstration and
play time following meeting
rotary emblem
The Rotary Cub Of Clearwater Beach

February 20, 2014
12:15-1:30 PM
Board Meeting 
& Assembly

Meeting Location
Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach
Resort & Spa
 
To Learn More

Welcome Our 
Newest Member!


SPORTS LINKS



 
 
 
 
 
 
The Beach Chamber is 
proud to have formed an Elite Partnership with:
 Clearwater Gas System.   
They sponsor ALL of our events.Thank you Clearwater
Gas System!
 
for details on
environmentally-friendly
natural gas energy
for appliances,
water heating, cooking
and pool/spa heating.   


 
Greenlight Pinellas is a community conversation about transportation
in Pinellas County. 
 

Get Involved

Click below to learn more about 

Greenlight Pinellas:

  

The Plan

Events

Ask a Question

Your Stories 


For more information please
 visit their website



Concierge Comics

features actual guest occurrences as related by Gary Hidu, Lead Concierge and Les Clefs d'Or USA Society Member at Hyatt Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa.

 

The Shaun O'Reilly Family were visiting from Ireland and, like most of their fair-skinned countrymen, were not accustomed to our strong tropical Florida sunshine.  The girls took great precaution to lather up with sunscreen before heading outdoors, but Mr. O'Reilly felt he was macho enough to go without.   After 6 hours of frolicking on Clearwater Beach, they packed up and came inside the Hyatt.  When they walked by the concierge desk, I commented that Shaun looked red as a boiled lobster, at which point he realized he might have over-done himself and sheepishly admitted "his goose was cooked".  Having once endured a similar burn, I sympathized with him and later left the hotel for Walgreens to buy 8 twin-packs of St. Ives Swiss Formula Aloe Vera Shampoo & Conditioner.  I delivered the product up to his room where I related to him my past experience of spending the night in a tub full of the cool, green aloe shampoo.  Well the next morning on his way by for breakfast, his skin was noticeably relaxed and he was extremely appreciative.  Mrs. O'Reilly quipped that while lying prone in the tub, he looked like a mandarin orange in a bowl of green jello!

 

Gary Hidu 
Chef Concierge, Member Les Clefs d' Or USA

 

Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach 2012 Associate of the Year

HYATT REGENCY CLEARWATER BEACH RESORT & SPA

 
Social
Media
Links


facebook-logo






  

Tourism Video    
 

 

Beach Chamber Staff: 

Darlene Kole  

President/CEO

Liz LaJoy

Office Manager

Ann Locke

Special Events  

Jessica Howe

Administrative Assistant 

 

Office Volunteers: 

 John Cagle  

 

Office Interns:  

Mathilde Skrzyniarz

Mathilde Castets

Helene Marque 


Maria
Maria 
    Beach Chamber Mascot

2014 Executive Officers 

Eric Waltz   

Chairman of the Board

Louie Stavropoulos

Vice Chairman

Carol Mears

Secretary 

Jason Gibertoni

Treasurer 

Darlene Kole
 President/CEO


 

Surf Style Visitor Center

 
 

Donna Dennis 

Manager  

Kathy Murray 

 Concierge 

 

Donna also does "House Calls"
to businesses that have groups of people wanting to learn more about our beautiful piece of paradise.
She puts together welcome bags filled with all kinds of useful information for our visitors.

   

 

 Visitor Center Volunteers:    

Nancy Gardinier 

Ed Patch  

Christie Hanna

Pat Kangas
Connie Maynard
Lynne Dagg  

 

Tell Your Guests Our Visitor Center's Sell tickets for:   

Jolley Trolley logo

    

   

The Beach Chamber sells discounted  

Busch Gardens half day tickets too!    


  Chamber logo 

333 So. Gulfview Blvd.
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
 (727) 447-7600


The Clearwater Beach Chamber  
  invites you to our February Mingle!    
 
Sharmaine's Salon and Day Spa
483 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater Beach

Come Network!
February 27, 2014 
5-7PM 
 
Hors d'oeuvres & Wine 
10 Minute Chair Massages 
Polish Changes 
Make-up Touch Ups
   
Cost 
$10 Members (pre-pay)
$15 Members (at the door)  
$18 Non-Members


Click Here To RSVP!  





Join us for Shephard's Beach Resort Ribbon Cutting & Room Tours!
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
5:30-7:30 PM
WARNING: Spring Break is coming to Clearwater Beach!
We need your brochures! 

Spring Break is just around the corner and we are running low on our brochures! Give us call and we can coordinate receiving/pick up of your brochures.  
Call Jessica at 727-447-7600 or e-mail  
Welcome To Florida, Alaska!

We are so thrilled to be able to say that Tampa International Airport, starting on June 20th, will now have non-stop flights from Seattle to Tampa on Alaska Airlines! The service announcement is expected to benefit the Tampa Bay region's business development, leisure-related travel and discretionary trips. To read more about this wonderful expansion to our
area
click here.


 WELCOME BACK JESSICA!

We are thrilled to announce that Jessica Howe is back working for our Beach Chamber again.  Her busy school schedule now permits her to return to us full time.  Please join us in welcoming Jessica back.  We missed her!!  
Get To Know Helene!

My name is Helene and I am 18 years old. I am a French second year student in business at the University of Bordeaux and interning in the Sales and Catering Department at the Sandpearl Resort. I will graduate at the end of this year, but plan to continue my studies abroad next year to get a bachelor degree.

 

About my out of school activities, I have been horseback riding since I was 11 years at a competition level and also on the swim team at my University.

 

My internship in Clearwater Beach has been a great opportunity to improve my knowledge in business and so far I have been enjoying it a lot by going to the beach or visiting the county.

Thank You!
 

The Clearwater Beach Chamber was host, along with Visit St. Pete/Clearwater for a Lunch & Learn with guest speakers Melissa Medley, Chief Marketing Officer & Senior VP for Enterprise Florida, Inc., David Downing, Deputy Director VSPC and Ana Fernandiz, Director of Latin America VSPC. Many thanks goes out to Rhonda Sanborn, Hospitality & Education Director for VSPC, for coordinating this powerful speaker and establishing the meeting place at the EpiCenter, home to VSPC headquarters. All Pinellas County Chamber members were invited and over 100 in attendance learned of Florida's aggressive plan about inviting and drawing more business to our Sunshine State.

Top Left: Ana Fernandez, Latin America Director VSPC, Top Right: Melissa Medley, Enterprise Florida Inc. Center: Pinellas County Chambers CEO's Darlene Kole, Clearwater Beach; Melissa Medley, Enterprise Florida, Inc.; Susan Peterson, Safety Harbor; Jerry Custin, Upper Tampa Bay Regional; Connie Davis, Greater Palm Harbor Area; Lynn Wargo, Dunedin; Chris Steinocher, St Petersburg; Sue Thomas, Tarpon Springs  Bottom Left: David Downing, Deputy Director VSPC Bottom Center: Darlene Kole, Melissa Medley, Rhonda Sanborn. Bottom Right: Rhonda Sanborn. 

From Donna's Corner of 
the Beach....

I've heard people say that the columns they like best are those about funny or unusual things that happen at the Visitor Center, so here goes the 2014 edition.
  • A visitor asked for a map, coupons and a Visitors Guide. Then he said, "That's great. Can I have a hug too?" I did give him a hug and he then announced he'd have a great day now! Just doing my job....
  • Another staffer was confronted with a woman who kept saying, "Give me a match." The staffer explained that there weren't any here, but she could get some at Walgreens. That answer obviously wasn't sufficient; the woman came back twice more insisting we give her a match. Obviously she needed her nicotine fix. Oh well...we can't please them all!
  • A woman walked up and said, "Where are we?" Now that's a big question! I kept my response local, however.
  • A young man asked, "Do you have any Duck tape so I can fix my flipflops?" His friend pointed out that they were about 10' from the $1 flipflop rack. I do actually have packing tape at the VC for putting up posters, but no duct tape....
  • "Is there an Indian restaurant nearby?" No, but there is one on 19 North. Would that be successful here? I've heard that a Coney Island is coming and we still need a taco stand...just sayin'.
  • "I've locked my keys in the car." We called AAA but they suggested a locksmith, so we reached a local locksmith who was able to come out and handle the problem. We really do try to be helpful!
  • One gentleman asked about local Happy Hours. I gave him some information, and then he said, "What time do you get off work? Will you join me for Happy Hour at Crabby's?" Now I love Crabby's but that was an invitation I simply had to resist.
  • And a big thank you to Florida Free Rides. Several people got drenched in a sudden rainfall and I told them to call FFR and get picked up at the back door of Surf Style on Coronado. The visitors were very appreciative!


That's the latest from here! Keep sending those visitors in!

With sand between my toes,

Donna

Clearwater Marine Aquarium's FREE
Making Waves: An Evening with Experts
 "Dolphin Tale 2 - That's a wrap!"
 
Thursday, February 20th

6:00pm: Welcome and refreshments, provided by Costco

6:30 - 7:30pm: Joe Malo, CMA Manager of Video Productions,
 will provide a wrap-up of Dolphin Tale 2 filming and an update on CMA's resident animals and recent patients

7:30 - 8pm: Q & A Session 

Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Bright House Theater
249 Windward Passage, Clearwater Beach

ENTER FOR A CHANCE
 
TO WIN  
A 3-NIGHT STAY AT
SHEPHARD'S BEACH RESORT
on CLEARWATER BEACH

 BY Following  @MyClearwate
Enter By  March 19, 2014
 
Be sure to head to  
The ClearwaterBeach Chamber 
of Commerce's office
for the chance to grab new sunglasses! 
Located at 333 S. Gulfview Blvd

Be A Part Of The March
Things To Do Around Here Issue!


A unique book to our local Clearwater Beach area. The
Things To Do Around Here magazine was created for local Clearwater Beach business owners and tourists!

 Winner of the 2013 Small Business of the Year Award by the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce.



 Deadline: Friday, February 21, 2014    

  Contact Kim Ward
Phone: (727) 474-6396
Cell:  (813) 784-5822  
 

 
PIER 60 SUGAR SAND FESTIVAL

April 4-13, 2014

Located south of Pier 60
 
This year's theme,
"Iconic Hollywood Movies"
featuring iconic movie characters & scenes

 

Admission 

$8 Adults

$4 Students

$5 Seniors (55+)  

$5 Military, Police and Firefighters

Children 5 & under are FREE when accompanied by a paying adult

  

visit the Facebook Page and on Twitter 

Festival Information: (727) 449-1036 

2 FREE tickets Opening Day!! 

Phillies vs. Toronto Blue Jays
1:00 pm Wednesday

February 26, 2014

 

Display  

"Welcome Back Phillies"

on your Marquee

and receive
2 FREE TICKETS!

 

Just email a photo of the marquee & the name of who 

will be picking the tickets up

to Doug Kemp  [email protected]

no later than Friday, February 21st

 

Tickets will be available for pick up with a Photo ID at the  

Will Call/Player Pass Window at the West Gate ticket office

 


Get Ready For... 

May 12-18, 2014

Check the website frequently to see which restaurants have signed up to participate 

Clearwater Beach Taste Fest
May 9th from 5:30-8:30pm

Presenting Sponsor:

 


 

        

 





Call us and we'll be glad to pick up your items!
(727) 447-7600
 
*Discounts not valid on holidays*