Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach Set To Open Jan. 24 On America's No. 1 Beach

As St. Pete/Clearwater obliterates tourism records, hotel developers are seizing the moment as 1,000 new rooms came online in 2016, and another 1,000 rooms are set to open in 2017. Here's a rundown of the projects:

• Wyndham Grand Resort (pictured), Clearwater Beach, Opens January 24 | When it opens in February, the high-end Wyndham Grand will be the second biggest on Clearwater Beach: 343 luxuriously appointed guest rooms; spectacular waterfront vistas; waterside bar and restaurant; 22,000-square feet of flexible meeting space.
• Fenway Hotel, Opens October 2017 | The 1920's-era building, a Dunedin icon, returns to its original role as a hotel. Developer Mainsail Lodging is transforming the Mediterranean-style, waterfront building into a member of the Marriott International Autograph Collection. The reincarnated Fenway, which will feature a strong historical influence, is on pace to open in October 2017.
• Hyatt Place, Downtown St. Pete, Opens late 2017 | A hotel in what will become St. Pete's tallest building (41 stories) will feature 175 rooms, making up 13 stories in the mixed-use development dubbed One St. Petersburg. The complex will also feature 253 condominium units in the heart of downtown.
• Opal Sands Resort, Clearwater Beach, Opened 2016 | Ocean Properties' stunning new luxury resort with a sleek, mid-century vibe and a gently curving façade fronting the Gulf of Mexico, brings another world-class option to Clearwater Beach---and a new level of sophistication to the entire Gulf Coast. All 230 guest rooms boast unobstructed views o the Gulf's emerald waters, and 17,000 square feet of waterfront meeting space.
• Treasure Island Beach Resort, Opened 2016 | This luxury property includes 77 one-and two-bedroom suites, all offering a view of the Gulf, with kitchens and porch or balcony. It gives the “middle beaches” of St. Pete/Clearwater a luxury product that hasn't existed until now. It's also part of the same OPAL Collection as the Opal Sands.
• Allure Suites Hotel-Beachfront Resort, St. Pete Beach, Opens 2017 | Local owners are renovating and rebranding Plaza Beach Hotel into an independent condo-hotel, expanding from 39 to 66 units. This product will consist mostly of two-bedroom suites, as well as some one-bedroom units.
• Postcard Inn, St. Pete Beach | The 196-room, chic hotel underwent a major facelift that included renovating pool-side rooms, gutting a restaurant and rebranding it Boathouse Kitchen & Bar, adding new meeting space and other improvements. Now owned by Ocean Properties.
• Beach House Suites by the Loews Don CeSar, St. Pete Beach | The 70-room sister-property of the Loews Don CeSar less than a mile to the north got all-new one-and two-bedroom suites to the tune of $7.8 million.

TripAdvisor Names Clearwater Beach Best Beach In United States, 20th In World

TripAdvisor named that the world-famous white sand Clearwater Beach was No. 1 in its annual list of the 25 Best Beaches in America. That distinction also made it the only beach in the U.S. on its list of the 25 Best Beaches in the World at No. 20.

Not far behind was St. Pete Beach at No. 4 in the U.S. making the St. Pete/Clearwater the only Florida destination with two beaches in the Top 10.

The annual list is voted on by members of the world's largest online travel community. Winners are determined based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and averaged ratings gathered over a 12-month period. 
Dali Museum Welcomes Frida Kahlo In Exclusive Exhibit Through April 2017

The Dali Museum continues to solidify its standing as a cultural touchstone for the destination by presenting an ongoing slate of special exhibitions to augment the remarkable permanent collection of art by the legendary Spanish surrealist.

Running through April is the first solo exhibit of Frida Kahlo in Florida. Kaho, one of the 20th Century's most renowned artists, is showcased with a collection of 15 paintings, a series of drawings and personal photographs. The exhibit even extends outdoors, where a collection of flowers and plants representative of Kahlo's own garden grace the grounds of the Dali's Avant-Garden. The exhibit runs through April 17, 2017.

Farther out, The Dali will also be hosting a Dali-Duchamp exhibit from February 2018-April 2018.

Other notable happenings:

• Starting in September 2017, Iceland Air will now fly direct from Reykjavik, Iceland, to Tampa International Airport twice a week. The flight connects with more than 25 other destinations in Europe, including Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London and Paris.
• Furthering its mission of rescue, rehab and release, Clearwater Marine Aquarium is just began an expansion, which will allow the marine hospital to care for more injured marine life, including sea turtles and dolphins. Clearwater Marine Aquarium is home to “Winter” the tailless dolphin, who starred in two Dolphin Tale movies.
• The Chihuly Collection, a museum-style gallery showcasing the work of superstar glass artist Dale Chihuly, reopens in a new, larger space in downtown St. Pete on Oct. 14. The collection, which was the first permanent exhibit in the world for Chihuly , will now include a stunning sculpture garden, which is set to open in January.
• On the heels of The Huffington Post putting St. Pete on its list of Best Street Art Cities, the city's own mural festival added another 20-plus murals, pushing the street art total to more than 70. Visitors can get a glimpse of some of them and hear the stories behind them with a tour every Saturday morning.
• Florida's Best New Restaurant didn't come from Miami or Orlando in 2016. The Mill, offering breezily upscale “home-cooked, hand-crafted” fare in the heart of downtown St. Pete's buzzing Central Avenue, took home Florida Trend's top honor this year. The Mill is one of many new restaurants leading the way for a culinary renaissance in St. Pete.
• With Florida's oldest craft brewery, Dunedin, it's only fitting that St. Pete/Clearwater boast the biggest craft beer scene in the state. Now more than 30 craft breweries call home to the area, dotting the map throughout the destination. To celebrate, VSPC is becoming the first destination to ever exhibit as a brewery at the Great American Beer Fest in Denver in October.