Can someone explain why Tampa Bay does not have a 4 or 5-star hotel? (Orlando: real estate market, hotels)

[planedition]

I am talking about a Ritz Carlton, a Four Seasons, a Mandarin Oriental, a Relais & Châteaux property, etc. I can only imagine that when celebs and billionaires come to town, they must be very perplexed by the lack of 4-5 star accommodations here. Where did these people stay when the Super Bowl was here?

By the way, Hiltons, Hyatts, InterContinentals, these are all "crappy" hotels by comparison to a 4 or 5 star hotel.

Before we aim to build a new St. Pete Pier or a Rays stadium in Downtown Tampa or any other big project, Tampa Bay REALLY needs to get a 4 or 5 star hotel built here.

In fact, when the GOP convention comes to town, I wonder where the heavyweights will stay. At the Doubletree????

[jambo101]

I guess those that foot the bill for building 4-5 star hotels would be looking to make money on their investments, How many stars you or i think Tampa rates is irrelevant because the people who build 4-5 star hotels dont see Tampa as a 4-5 star business proposition.
My experience with a few 5 star hotels has been in cities where people live in them and impart a lively vibrancy to the atmosphere of the city,Tampa's problem is after office hours its a ghost town with very little to do in the downtown core.
Looking at it from a business perspective would you build a $500+ a night hotel in downtown Tampa?

[stpeteguy]

I don't live in Tampa, so I don't know if they do or do not have the kind of hotel your referring too.

In Saint Petersburg you have the Don Cesar and Tradewinds which are supposed to be right up there with the best.

[jambo101]

As a former resident of St Pete its always irritated me that Tampa seems to get all the glory and attention while St Petersburg is rarely mentioned, when in reality St Pete has all the beaches bars and outdoor activities while Tampa has very little to offer a beach goers or those who like to fish.

[gypsychic]

Sarasota has the Ritz Carlton downtown. It's realllly nice!

Yeah, St. Pete has Don Cesar and also the Vinoy - isn't the Vinoy supposed to be top-notch? I think it's gorgeous. Gotta love St. Pete - it has not one but TWO "pink palaces!"

[chi_tino]

Originally Posted by planedition

I am talking about a Ritz Carlton, a Four Seasons, a Mandarin Oriental, a Relais & Châteaux property, etc. I can only imagine that when celebs and billionaires come to town, they must be very perplexed by the lack of 4-5 star accommodations here. Where did these people stay when the Super Bowl was here?

By the way, Hiltons, Hyatts, InterContinentals, these are all "crappy" hotels by comparison to a 4 or 5 star hotel.

Before we aim to build a new St. Pete Pier or a Rays stadium in Downtown Tampa or any other big project, Tampa Bay REALLY needs to get a 4 or 5 star hotel built here.

A Four Seasons was planned for downtown Tampa/Channelside at the peak of the bubble, but the idea withered along with the rest of the real estate market.

There just isn't the demand. Even the "crappier" hotels have a hard time filling the rooms when there is not a big event going on. I've scored some of the better downtown hotels (Hiltons, Hyatts, etc) for $40-50 a night on Priceline for out-of-town guests. If you can't fill a Hyatt at roadside motel prices, you definitely won't fill a Four Seasons.

[Angler]

The Vinoy and Don CeSar are both 4-star hotels.

[saltzman143]

Neither the Vinoy (a Marriott) nor the D. Cesar (a Loews) are comparable to a Ritz Carlton or a Mandarin Oriental. Not even close. They are basically Hilton-quality hotels. The last time I had a client come to town he asked me where the Ritz was (these people do not stay at Hiltons). I had to say, "Orlando."

By the way it is a myth that you have to pay 500 dollars a night to have 5 star quality. Many Ritz Carlton rooms can be had for $200. But the level of service FEELS like $500.

It's unfortunate that a metro area the size of Tampa Bay lacks these iconic luxury brands.

As an aside, I have often found that hotels in Florida in general are lacking in quality and service and are extremely worn and sometimes dirty. I have attributed this to the onslaught of tourists. But with so many tourists, you would think that there would be a 5 star hotel in this area.

[MAniacTHW]

When city leaders start treating Tampa like a big city, we might start getting big city perks. In the meantime, we have a downtown that's used for nothing but business, urban sprawl planning, next to no public transit, and no reason for anyone to want to come to Tampa.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by saltzman143

Neither the Vinoy (a Marriott) nor the D. Cesar (a Loews) are comparable to a Ritz Carlton or a Mandarin Oriental. Not even close. They are basically Hilton-quality hotels. The last time I had a client come to town he asked me where the Ritz was (these people do not stay at Hiltons). I had to say, "Orlando."

By the way it is a myth that you have to pay 500 dollars a night to have 5 star quality. Many Ritz Carlton rooms can be had for $200. But the level of service FEELS like $500.

It's unfortunate that a metro area the size of Tampa Bay lacks these iconic luxury brands.

As an aside, I have often found that hotels in Florida in general are lacking in quality and service and are extremely worn and sometimes dirty. I have attributed this to the onslaught of tourists. But with so many tourists, you would think that there would be a 5 star hotel in this area.

Then why does a little city like Sarasota have a Ritz Carlton? Seems strange, since Tampa/St. Pete is such a large metro, and Sarasota is just a teeny fraction of that population.

Here is their website - it is really nice. They have a great restaurant there, the Vernona, never eaten there (too pricey for me) but I hear it's wonderful.

Sarasota Luxury Hotel & Resort: The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota Hotel