Pinellas County’s First Tribute Portfolio Hotel Now Open
TAMPA, Fla. (February 6, 2020) – At a ribbon cutting ceremony today, Tampa-based Mainsail Lodging & Development officially announced the opening of The Karol Hotel (2675 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, Florida).
Centrally located in beautiful Feather Sound between Clearwater, St. Pete and Tampa, The Karol features 123 guest rooms and suites; the signature K Club Bar & Bistro; Vantage Rooftop Bar overlooking Tampa Bay, which is expected to open the end of February; a combined 7,340 square feet of event space, including a ballroom and executive conference rooms; and an outside pool and fitness center. The first member of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio to open in Pinellas County, Florida, The Karol Hotel is named for and inspired by Karol Kelly Bullard, “Miss Karol K,” wife of Fred Bullard, CEO of The Bullard Group, developer and owner of the property.
“Our vision for The Karol Hotel has become a reality, with a spectacular finished product that beautifully captures the spirit of hotel owners Fred and Karol Bullard,” said Adam Duffey, General Manager of The Karol Hotel. “We’re grateful for all the tremendous work and support behind the project, allowing us to introduce the crown jewel of Feather Sound.”
Celebrating the serendipity that first brought Karol and Fred Bullard together, The Karol embodies the couples’ timeless personality and style, Florida roots, and unique story. A towering tribute to Miss Karol K, the hotel’s design and décor are a stylish reflection of her remarkable life – from her early days as Miss Florida and Florida’s first “weather woman” to her current role as community activist and philanthropist.
The new boutique hotel’s guest rooms and suites are dressed in a rich and pleasing palette of white marble, tawny beige, gray, and bold accents of clear Florida sky blue carpet with an abstracted feather motif. Calm and soothing, each room is infused with a quiet intimacy and adorned with heirloom-quality furnishings that were hand-selected by Fred and Karol, along with the latest technology for guest comfort and connectivity. Their eclectic personalities shine through in bronze and black accents of lighting, mirrors and artwork.
Guests of The Karol Hotel have ample options to explore their culinary curiosity – from a signature restaurant and lobby bar, to a rooftop bar overlooking Tampa Bay. Located on the first floor of the hotel right off the lobby, K Club Bar & Bistro features New American cuisine and crafted cocktails inspired by the fresh flavors of the Florida coast and travels of the Bullard’s. Inspired by Fred’s love of storytelling, the K Club Bar captures the ethos of his favorite place, New York’s Polo Bar, while weaving in his personal touches and famous tales. K Club Bistro is open for breakfast (Monday - Friday 7 to 11 a.m.), lunch (Monday - Friday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.), dinner (Sunday - Thursday 5 to 10 p.m., Friday - Saturday 5 to 11 p.m.) and brunch (Saturday - Sunday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.). K Club Bar is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Making its debut the end of February, the hotel’s Vantage Rooftop Bar is unlike any other in the area. Sipping cocktails in climate-controlled comfort, guests can enjoy light bites 12 stories high, while taking in stunning views of downtown Tampa and more.
The Karol Hotel is located just 12 minutes from St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), and 20 minutes from Tampa International Airport (TPA). Reservations for The Karol Hotel can be made directly on the hotel’s website, TheKarolHotel.com, or through Marriott.com/TPATC.
For more information on The Karol Hotel, visit TheKarolHotel.com.
About Mainsail Lodging & Development LLC
Mainsail Lodging & Development is a Tampa-based hospitality company that develops and operates lodging products in the Southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean. Their property portfolio includes four Autograph Collection hotels: Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina (ScrubIsland.com), a private island resort in the British Virgin Islands; the boutique, food-focused Epicurean Hotel (EpicureanHotel.com) in Tampa, Florida; Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club (WaterlineResort.com) on Anna Maria Island, Florida; and the historic Fenway Hotel (FenwayHotel.com) in Dunedin, Florida; as well as Mainsail Beach Inn (MainsailBeachInn.com), a boutique beachfront hotel on Anna Maria Island, Florida and The Karol Hotel (TheKarolHotel.com), the first Tribute Portfolio hotel in Pinellas County, Florida. The company also operates corporate housing throughout the Southeast under its Mainsail Corporate Housing brand, as well as exclusively managing the Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee markets for Oakwood Worldwide® under both its ExecuStay® (ExecuStay.com) and Oakwood® (Oakwood.com) brands. Mainsail Lodging also manages a portfolio of private vacation homes through its Mainsail Vacation Rentals (MainsailVR.com) offered on Homes & Villas by Marriott International. Additional future projects include Luminary Hotel & Co. (LuminaryHotel.com) in Fort Myers, Florida; Epicurean Atlanta Midtown; an Autograph Collection hotel in Roswell, Georgia; a 128-room Residence Inn in conjunction with an indoor sports complex in Pasco County, Florida; and a historic boutique hotel in Macon, Georgia. Mainsail Lodging’s corporate charity is Feeding Tampa Bay, the largest food rescue and distribution organization in the community. Mainsail actively supports the cause through a variety of employee and guest programs ranging from packing and sorting at the warehouse, to annual events such as the Epic Chef Showdown. Learn more at MainsailHotels.com
About Tribute Portfolio
Tribute Portfolio is a growing global family of characterful, independent hotels drawn together by their passion for captivating design and their drive to create vibrant social scenes for guests and locals alike. With 30 hotels open and growing, Tribute Portfolio has struck a chord with those who seek out independent experiences and crave a connection with the community when traveling. From boutique resorts like Inn at Rancho Santa Fe in California and urban hotels such as The Vagabond Club in Singapore, to hotels in indie-spirited locales like Noelle in Nashville and The Slaak in Rotterdam, each Tribute Portfolio hotel celebrates its individuality offering travelers a fresh, often colorful, perspective. Stay with character and stay connected: Instagram, Facebook and twitter. Tribute Portfolio is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the new name of Marriott’s travel program replacing Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz- Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG). The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including earning points toward free hotel stays and nights toward Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.
Nori Guevara | Account Manager
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