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Published: January 22, 2009
The Westin chain opened its latest hotel Thursday, just in time to cater to guests coming into town for a certain well-known sporting event.
"It was our intention if at all possible to be open in time for Super Bowl," said Ron Alicandro, general manager of the new Westin at Rocky Point. "However, we wanted to make sure we opened correctly; that was our No. 1 priority.''
At 16-stories, the hotel is easy to spot. It has 255 rooms, a dozen of which are suites. Along with waterfront views of Old Tampa Bay, the hotel has a private beach, a Starbucks and a "smart'' mini-bar that is connected to the hotel inventory system, among other amenities.
The hotel is a prototype for the hotel chain, designed to offer the amenities of a Westin in a smaller package.
By the time it opened Thursday, it had a 70 percent occupancy rate for Super Bowl weekend, Alicandro said.
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