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Hollywood has more than one-third of all SSL quality-certified properties in Broward County
Hollywood's SSL members account for more than one third of the 77 properties in all of Broward County that are recognized as well managed, high quality vacation alternatives with 50 rooms or less. The SSL collection is distinguished by the friendly ambiance and personal service with certification determined by an independently conducted property review process through the Florida Superior Small Lodging Association, a statewide hospitality recognition program. Since the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency's (CRA) partnership with SSL began in 2003, the number of quality certified small lodgings in Hollywood has more than doubled, going from 13 certified SSLs in 2003 to 28 certified SSLs in 2010. The partnership was initiated by the CRA in an effort to preserve the character and scale of Hollywood Beach by enhancing and improving its small town identity with regard to personal service, local ownership, sense of community and intimate scale of architecture. As the CRA works to foster private sector property improvements, the agency features only quality certified properties in its advertising initiatives and it requires lodging owner applicants seeking CRA grant funds to affiliate with quality certified programs such as SSL or AAA. The SSL program benefits both the Hollywood destination and its participating properties, said Donna Boucher, Florida Superior Small Lodging Executive Director and owner of the Manta Ray Inn, a Superior Small Lodging and White Glove Award recipient. "The City of Hollywood benefits from the SSL Program as it identifies the quality and service provided by the small properties to quality visitors that we are trying to attract to our city" Boucher said. "Having that certification increases occupancy and increases rates for small property owners, therefore making our city more desirable and profitable in the market place." "SSL is a great, great asset," said Pierre Picher, owner of two SSLs, Shell on the Beach and the Shell Motel on U.S. 1. "The inspections are very strict and they’re up to date. I like that for the challenge." "We hope to serve as an example for some of the older properties," said Wendy Thorne, co-owner of Ocean Drive Villas, a new SSL and a White Glove Award winner. Ocean Drive Villas received a grant from the Hollywood Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Hotel Improvement Program to enable the owners to completely renovate their property. Thorne added that as the former owner of another SSL beach property, "We had a lot of success being affiliated with the program." A major benefit of the SSL program is that it offers another perspective according to Karin Valentine, owner of the Angelfish Inn on Hollywood Beach. "The inspector who came out was tough, and she pointed things out. Now that I am an SSL, I look at my property differently." Hollywood's Superior Small Lodging properties are:
Angelfish Inn, 342 Buchanan St. (954-921-1099; www.angelfishinn.com) The SSL properties that received the White Glove Award for exemplary professional housekeeping practices are the Atlantic Sands, Desoto Oceanview Inn, Grenier's on the Beach, Hollywood Beach Golf Resort, Hollywood Sands Resort, Manta Ray Inn, Marine Villas, Neptune Hollywood Beach Club, Ocean Drive Villas, Ocean Inn and Quality Inn & Suites, Sea Downs, Shell Motel, Shell On The Beach Motel, and Tide Vacation Apartments. For information about tourism in Hollywood or Hollywood CRA programs, contact us at 954-924-2980 or visit us at www.visithollywood.org or www.hollywoodcra.org. # # # |
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