St. Pete-Clearwater welcomes back visitors to the Sunshine City following historic hurricanes.
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater is proud to be welcoming visitors to the Sunshine City once again following two once-in-a-century storms. Known for its award-winning beaches, bustling local restaurants, and a thriving arts and culture scene, St. Pete-Clearwater remains a top Florida destination for travellers from the UK.
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which made landfall in Florida just two weeks apart, the resilient St. Pete-Clearwater community has united to rebuild and restore. Thanks to the dedication of local business, government, emergency services and volunteers, the area has bounced back quicker than anticipated. All power across Pinellas County has been restored, and the majority of accommodations, attractions and restaurants are open and welcoming guests.
Currently, 77% of the destination’s hotels are open, including properties in Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach, which are favorites among UK visitors.
“St. Pete-Clearwater was certainly affected by Helene and Milton; however, the impact was not as severe as initially expected, allowing us to recover much faster than predicted,” said Brian Lowack, President & CEO at Visit St. Pete-Clearwater.
“Popular attractions including the St. Pete Pier, Dali Museum, and Clearwater Marine Aquarium are all open, and restaurants, cafes and bars throughout the county are serving guests as normal. We are looking forward to hosting some incredible events in the next few weeks including the SHINE Mural Festival and the Annika LPGA Golf Tournament.
“While much of the destination has been able to re-open quickly, some of our beach communities saw historic levels of storm surge during Hurricane Helene, and therefore need a little bit more time to fully recover. However, with 35 miles of beautiful Gulf Coast beachfront, there’s plenty of pristine beach ready for visitors to enjoy.
“With each new day, the sun rises on our community, highlighting our unmatchable energy and indomitable spirit. We are Still Shining and we’re happy to be welcoming visitors back to our slice of paradise.”
Tampa International Airport, which receives daily flights from London with both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, is open. Visit St. Pete-Clearwater recommends that visitors speak directly to their booking providers and hotels for the latest advice and information about the area.
To see the destination Still Shining for yourself, check out the live webcams of Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach here.
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For further press information please contact:
Charlotte Wright | Peter Gregory
Rooster.
T: +44 (0)203 440 8930
E: [email protected]
About Visit St. Pete-Clearwater:
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater (VisitSPC) is the official destination marketing organisation of Pinellas County in Florida and covers 24 municipalities in the area. The region is located on the peninsula on Florida’s west coast, bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the west and Tampa Bay to the east.
The area offers 35 miles of award-winning white-sandy beaches, exotic nature trails, culture and arts. It is home to independent restaurants, boutique shops and a unique craft beer trail running from Tarpon Springs to Treasure Island showcasing 40+ local breweries’ fresh artisanal beer. Both Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach have consistently been listed among the top 5 beaches in America, in the annual TripAdvisor Readers’ Choice Awards.
Boasting the largest collection of Dali artwork outside of Spain in the Dali Museum, the county has a significant art scene, with walking mural tours, regular exhibitions and the impressive Chihuly Collection of hand-blown glass sculptures.
The destination is popular amongst families, couples and groups wanting a memorable beach holiday experience.
Tampa International Airport (just 30 minutes from St. Pete-Clearwater) can be reached from London with both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways.
To learn more about St. Pete-Clearwater, visit: www.visitstpeteclearwater.com
