ST. PETE-CLEARWATER, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2025) – Visit St. Pete-Clearwater announced today that the destination was named a winner in Good Housekeeping's 2026 Travel Awards. The full list of awards can be found on goodhousekeeping.com/travel2026.

St. Pete-Clearwater's sugar white sands and emerald waters continue to garner attention, further solidifying the destination as the home to America's Favorite Beaches. Adding to its extensive list of accolades, the destination was recognized in Good Housekeeping's 2026 Travel Awards as one of the country's top Beach Escapes, lauding the popular visitor getaway for seamlessly blending its stunning sunny shoreline with a vibrant, world-class city vacation experience.

This latest accolade for St. Pete-Clearwater is the newest in a long line of significant recognitions for the destination's outstanding hospitality partners in 2025. The area's hotels and resorts have been consistently celebrated for exceptional service, amenities, and overall experience. Additional highlights for hospitality partners in St. Pete-Clearwater include:

The JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa has been recognized as a MICHELIN-recommended hotel for 2025, perfectly pairing with the St. Pete-Clearwater's culinary inclusion in the Florida MICHELIN Guide.  

Travel + Leisure World's Best 2025 Awards recognized multiple properties in the Best Florida Resorts category, including the Sandpearl Resort (#8), Opal Sands Resort (#14), and the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection (#15).

Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards 2025 placement of the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa (#1) and the JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa (#2) as the "Top 15 Resorts in Florida." St. Pete Beach's The Don CeSar was named #9 in the "Top 10 Hotels in Florida."

The Don CeSar also received recognition from Southern Living as the #2 property in the South's Best Classic Hotels 2025 and was included in the USA Today 10Best Reader's Choice Awards for Best Hotel Fitness Center.

Further cementing its legendary status, The Don CeSar was featured in Oprah Daily's special Holiday 2025 edition for 30 Beach Resorts That Will Reset Your Mind and Body, recognized as "Best for Multigenerational Groups," while the property's General Manager, Barbara Readey, was named to Hotel Management's 2025 GMs to Watch list. The "Pink Palace" was also listed among Travel + Leisure's Florida's Most Romantic Getaway Destinations for Couples.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) highlighted leadership excellence, with two of five of its prestigious 2025 General Managers of the Year Awards going to:

David Giaco, General Manager, Dolphin Sands Clearwater Beach (Select-Service Property)

Seth McDaniels, General Manager, Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach (Resort Property)

"Receiving the Good Houseskeeping award serves as yet another source of inspiration for visitors looking for their home away from home in our slice of paradise,” said Brian Lowack, President/CEO for Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. “Beyond the validation and prestige of these awards, it is also a celebration of the superior visitor experiences that the destination has become known for."

The destination's remarkable collection of accolades throughout 2025 underlines the wide array of unique accommodation options available for visitors. For more information about the destination, including attractions and outdoor attractions, as well as award-winning beaches, culinary scene, hotels and resorts, visit VisitSPC.com.

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About Visit. St. Pete-Clearwater

Nestled on a sun-soaked peninsula on Florida's west coast, separating the Gulf Coast from Tampa Bay, St. Pete-Clearwater is the gateway to world-class cultural experiences along with 35 miles of award-winning white-sand beaches annually ranked among the world's best. Immerse yourself in our picturesque sunsets & go beyond the beaches to explore our unique cultural heritage, interactive art exhibits, sporting & recreational activities, a culinary scene serving an innovatively delicious dining experience, & great local shopping. St. Pete-Clearwater is your only destination with spectacular beaches complimented by world-renowned museums, family fun & endless sunshine.  To learn more about St. Pete-Clearwater, visit VisitStPeteClearwater.com.

Media Contacts:
Jason Latimer, Jason.Latimer@VisitSPC.com, 727-386-3783
Eddie Delgado, Eddie.Delgado@VisitSPC.com, 727-415-1337