Clearwater Beach Hotel Undergoes Renovations, Rebranding

CLEARWATER, FL — On the heels of opening the popular Clearwater Oyster Company a year ago, the Quality Inn beachfront hotel at 655 S. Gulfview Blvd. on Clearwater Beach is undergoing a complete transformation and will relaunch in the spring as the Dolphin Sands Beach Club.

Opened a year ago, the Clearwater Oyster Company seafood restaurant and oyster bar, part of the well-known Crabby Bill's Family Brands, will serve as the flagship restaurant for the Dolphin Sands Beach Club. Already ranked as one of the top restaurants in the area, Clearwater Oyster Company offers classic Florida seafood dishes with a creative twist.

Matt Loder, owner of the Original Crabby Bill’s restaurant on Indian Rocks Beach, brought his passion and knowledge to this fresh, new restaurant concept that features locally sourced, sustainable foods.

In conjunction with the well-known Tropix Tiki Bar, the Clearwater Oyster Company provides poolside and beachside service to guests of Dolphin Sands.

Tropix Tiki Bar will continue to serve light island-style fare and tropical drinks in a casual, tropical setting, including its signature Rum Runner.

The hotel will become part of Choice Hotels’ upscale Ascend Collection, which features historic boutique and one-of-a-kind hotels that reflect the cultural fabric of their communities.

Dolphin Sands Beach Club is located on the south end of Clearwater Beach next to the Hampton Inn and Suites. The five-floor beachfront hotel has 91 rooms and suites and offers guests amenities including an outdoor heated pool, sundeck, beach cabanas, private balconies, free Wi-Fi and direct access to sugar-white sand beaches.

The property is owned by Page Development Group, and will be managed by local hotel management company McKibbon Hospitality of Tampa. Sebring-based Taylor Construction is the project’s general contractor.

“We are very excited to be a part of Choice Hotels’ Ascend collection, as it gives us the flexibility to create a unique new identity for the hotel that is a perfect fit for its location on the No. 1 beach in the nation," said owner Steve Page. "We hope to create an enjoyable experience for everyone, with a special emphasis on family fun. The dolphin theme will reflect the spirit of Clearwater Beach as well as our goal to help preserve and protect our beautiful native wildlife and surroundings.”

The hotel will remain open during the renovation and will feature all new decor throughout, including the lobby, guest rooms and a new hospitality suite. Hospitality interior designers Rachel Myers and Katie Walker of the Pittsburgh-based design firm HFD collaborated with Page Development Group on the design.

“Clearwater is home to world-class sunsets, white sand Gulf coast beaches and a laid-back philosophy that time moves more slowly at the beach," said Walker. "We’ve made sure that our curated collection of furniture, finishes and accents embraces the beach lifestyle and creates a light and airy aesthetic. Artisan-inspired materials, organic patterns, warm wood tones and an oceanic-inspired color palette feel right at home in this beachfront boutique hotel.”