Ed Brock is an award-winning journalist who has worked for various U.S. newspapers and magazines, including with American City & County magazine, a national publication based in Atlanta focused on city and county government issues. He is currently senior editor at Asian Hospitality magazine, the top U.S. publication for Asian American hoteliers. Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Ed began his career in journalism in the early 1990s as a reporter for a chain of weekly newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama. After a stint teaching English in Japan, Ed returned to the U.S. and moved to the Atlanta area where he returned to journalism, coming to work at Asian Hospitality in 2016.
WYNDHAM GRAND CLEARWATER Beach hotel in Clearwater Beach, Florida, owned by doctor turned hotelier Dr. Kiran Patel, has reopened after temporarily closing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Another Wyndham Hotel & Resorts property, Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, also is reopening.
Both hotels have undergone deep cleaning and are implementing new health and safety procedures to protect guests and employees following the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s “Safe Stay” initiative and Wyndham’s “Count on UsSM” recovery plan.
The measures include:
Hand sanitizer dispensers placed at key entrances and contact areas, including lobby reception areas, restaurant entrances, meeting spaces, pools, exercise areas and more.
COVID-19 safety sanitation protocol training for all employees who will follow personal protective equipment recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Public spaces and communal areas will be cleaned and disinfected multiple times per day, with an emphasis on hard non-porous surfaces such as guest elevator button panels.
Traditional room service shall be replaced with a no-contact delivery method.
Pool seating will be reconfigured to allow for at least six feet of separation between groups of guests.
Meeting and banquet arrangements shall allow for physical distancing between guests.
“We have always had incredibly rigorous cleaning standards, and we are fully committed to enhancing these further to help provide a safe and enjoyable stay for all guests,” says Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach General Manager David Yamada. “We look forward to welcoming guests back to the resort for sun and sand along our beautiful, wide strip of the Gulf shore.”
Patel of Tampa, Florida, is well-known in Florida and other parts of the world for his business success and philanthropy. He has invested in hotels in such states as Florida, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Colorado, and he and his wife, also a physician, established the Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel Family Foundation.
“Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach Resort is now open, and our team remains focused on providing a healthy and truly enjoyable experience for our guests," Patel said. "Our first weekend after reopening was strong, and we are optimistic that it’s a positive indication of the months ahead. We’re looking forward to welcoming our guests back for a relaxing retreat this summer.”
The 343-room Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach is 90 minutes from Orlando on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It contains a restaurant and two bars, the largest ballroom in Pinellas County and more than 22,000 square feet of meeting space.
The reopened Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek is located just outside of Disney World.
“Since opening in 2011, our hotel has always done an outstanding job providing our guests with an upscale, clean and comfortable stay,” said the hotel’s General Manager Robert Fohr. “Team members look forward to showing our guests that we are ready to welcome them back to our resort.”
Sonesta launched Americas Best Value Studios, an extended-stay version of ABVI.
The model targets owners seeking limited front desk and housekeeping.
The brand meets demand for longer-term, value-focused stays.
SONESTA INTERNATIONAL HOTELS Corp. launched Americas Best Value Studios by Sonesta, an extended-stay version of its franchised brand, Americas Best Value Inn. The model targets owners seeking limited front desk and housekeeping, optional fitness center and lobby market along with standard brand requirements.
The brand aims to address the growing demand for longer-term, value-driven accommodations, Sonesta said in a statement.
"Americas Best Value Studios by Sonesta represents a strategic evolution of our trusted Americas Best Value Inn brand," Keith Pierce, Sonesta’s executive vice president and president of franchise development, said. "We are expanding our offerings to directly address the increasing demand within the extended-stay segment, providing a practical solution for travelers seeking longer-term lodging at value. This new brand type allows our local franchised owner-operators to tap into a growing market while maintaining the community-focused experience that Americas Best Value Inn is known for."
ABVI has a majority presence in secondary and tertiary markets, the statement said.
The extended-stay brand’s operational model features a front desk, bi-weekly housekeeping, on-site laundry and pet-friendly accommodations, Sonesta said. Guests can also earn or redeem points through the Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program.
In August, Sonesta named Stayntouch its preferred property management system after a two-year review of its ability to support the company’s franchise model. The company operates more than 1,100 properties with more than 100,000 rooms across 13 brands on three continents.
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