Letter & Awards

The Sheraton Sand Key Resort over the years has consistently been a leader in customer service. 

The resort has repeatedly achieved the prestigious Chairman’s Club Award. This honor is measured and evaluated by J. D. Power & Associates and carries the distinction of acknowledging the highest levels of customer satisfaction achieved by Sheraton Hotels and Resorts. 

The resort’s General Manager, Russ Kimball, has not once but twice been named manager of the year by Sheraton Corporation. Further, he is a past chairman of the Florida Hotel and Motel Association, an organization that in 1998 named him as Florida Hotelier of the Year. Mr. Kimball has the rare distinction of having served the Sheraton Sand Key Resort since 1976, an unheard of tenure amongst the hotel industry.

Sheraton Sand Key Resort is Awarded Highest Scores on Multiple MPSI "BEST IN CLASS" Categories

CLEARWATER BEACH, Fla.- (April 2010) - Sheraton Sand Key Resort, in Clearwater Beach, Florida, has been awarded the highest score in many of the Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index (MPSI) "Best in Class" categories for Sheraton Properties, including best overall experience. This achievement marks an encore performance from the same accomplishment in 2007.

Sheraton Sand Key Resort’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Jack Guy, said, "It is very gratifying to see that so many of our customers feel their experience at the resort is the best anywhere. It serves to further motivate us to raise the bar with each meeting at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort."

The MPSI Program is Starwood's continuous feedback tool to measure the Meeting Planner's voice. Meeting Planners provide their opinions on the individual properties, on both a brand and division level. Starwood's brands include Sheraton, Westin, W, St. Regis, Luxury Collection and others. Participation is mandatory for every corporate property and all franchise properties over 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Meeting planners are surveyed via e-mail for events, meetings or social events with or without guest rooms. The criterion is based on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, and those surveyed provide input in a number of different areas.

The 2009 results for the Sheraton Brand North America Division were recently released, and Sheraton Sand Key Resort most frequently led the way, with top scores in a number of categories. Within the "Overall" portion of the MPSI, the property scored number one in 11 out of the 14 areas addressed. These areas include Overall Experience, Comparison to Similar Hotels, Overall Value, Likelihood to Return, Likelihood to Recommend, Overall Service — Sales, Overall Food & Beverage Experience, Overall Meeting/Function Room Experience, Post-Event Phase Overall, Overall Billing/Finance Experience and Consistency with Brand.

In the "Guest Room" portion of the MPSI, the Sheraton Sand Key scored number one in all four areas: Guest Room Reservations, Front Desk Helpfulness, Housekeeping and High Speed Internet Access. The Resort's staff earned first place in the categories of providing guests exactly what was promised, showing appreciation for business and understanding the value of the customer's account

Sheraton Sand Key's Gm Russ Kimball Named To Tourism Hall Of Fame

CLEARWATER, Fla. — (August 2009) — Russ Kimball, General Manager of the Sheraton Sand Key Resort, has been inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame, an award presented on behalf of the Florida Commission on Tourism.

The Florida Tourism Hall of Fame honors contemporary and historic figures whose vision, creativity and drive have had a major impact on the development of Florida tourism. Kimball was announced as the most recent inductee at the opening reception for Visit Florida's Governor's Conference, the state tourism board's annual state-of-the-industry conference. Kimball's recognition now stands amongst other famed tourism veterans and past recipients including Walt Disney, Henry Flagler and Governor Jeb Bush.

"You can't think of Florida tourism without thinking of Russ Kimball," said Visit St. Pete/Clearwater Executive Director DT Minich. "And I can't think of anyone—either in St. Pete/Clearwater or anywhere in the state—who deserves this recognition more than he does."

Kimball was recognized for his efforts towards driving international tourism to both to Pinellas County and the state. But not only has Kimball worked diligently to promote tourism, he has to a great extent focused on supporting his local community. In addition to his deep commitment to helping young people achieve career success in hospitality services, he has always been at hand for charitable causes and community needs.

This tourism award follows many accomplishments in Kimball's career. Trained in hotel and restaurant management in New York and at Florida State University, Kimball was commended as a "model for Florida’s hospitality efforts." Kimball's team at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort consistently earns a Top Ten ranking in guest satisfaction, and has achieved the #1 ranking for meeting planner satisfaction among all Sheraton Hotel properties in North America. In addition to these tourism triumphs, he is also named in the Florida State Dedman School of Hospitality Hall of Fame.