Spotlight On: Barbara Readey, General Manager, The Don CeSar Resort I Beach House Suites
July 2025 — In an interview with Invest:, Barbara Readey, general manager of both The Don CeSar Resort and Beach House Suites, discussed The Don CeSar’s restoration, trends in hospitality and travel. “Customers in today’s world want a very local experience. They want their story to be unique to the venue they visited,” she said.
What makes the St. Pete and Tampa Bay region an ideal location for the hotel?
The St. Pete area is fantastic. It’s got an awesome blend of culture and outdoor activities as well as culinary excellence. All that aligns perfectly with The Don CeSar’s luxury experience. There are a lot of opportunities for our resort here. While we host many corporate events, we are a popular wedding destination and also appeal to leisure travel because of our pristine beaches. We appeal to both business and leisure — “bleisure.”
What have been the key recent highlights for the Don CeSar?
We just turned 97 years young, and of course, our new building is all restored. The entire ground level is new. We have a brand new courtyard, landscaping, beach chairs, and much more. There have been lots of upgrades in terms of efficiency and amenities for our guests.
The Don CeSar is an iconic resort and historic landmark with nearly a century of hospitality excellence. We’re fondly known as the Pink Palace here on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
What are the leading trends in the travel and hospitality sectors?
In the travel industry, there’s a lot more multigenerational travel, as well as young travelers who prioritize experiences over material luxury. There’s demand for adventure, localized experiences, and the memories that you get from a unique destination like the Don CeSar. We do see a lot more young luxury travelers, and there is a propensity for more technology. For example, we have mobile check-in and mobile concierge service, which appeal to the younger generation.
Another focus is on wellness. Our spa is upgrading its product line and focusing more on wellness and meditation. We also offer 62 group fitness classes a week out of our fitness center, so we are really focusing on the whole person.
What notable partnerships or initiatives have contributed to the hotel’s recent success?
At The Don CeSar, we like to partner and collaborate with locals. In our food and beverage area, for example, we partner with Green Bench Brewing.
The partnership I’m most proud of, however, is with the Transitional Students of Pinellas County. These are high-school students graduating with special needs, and they need assistance transitioning into work life. We train 10 or 12 students each semester, and they get to work at The Don CeSar and learn how to be safe, how to work in a team, and how to organize. It’s very fulfilling.
Tying into the vibrant cultural and arts scene in the St. Pete area, we have a resident artist. Her name is Patricia Derderian. She’s a visual artist. Her art is displayed in our lobby, and we sell some of her retail items in our gift shop.
How is the hotel taking advantage of new technologies and innovations?
Technology is an integral part of the guest experience at The Don CeSar. We offer contactless check-in, mobile check-in, and mobile concierge services. We have an AI-driven problem-resolution process. If you call with an opportunity, our AI interprets what you are saying and deploys the resolution to the appropriate department. We also have enhanced digital marketing and booking tools that streamline the customer’s journey.
What is the hotel’s strategy regarding eco-friendly practices?
We do have expanded eco-friendly practices, including waste reduction and water conservation, not to mention energy-efficient systems. We’re all about reduce, reuse & recycle.
Are there any expansions or renovations in the pipeline?
In 2026, we’ll be debuting a new Royal Ballroom. It will be 7,800 square feet, and we’ll be offering enhanced amenities and meeting capabilities. We’re very excited to launch this waterfront ballroom.
What is your overview of the hospitality business now?
Business demand is growing, and we do anticipate hosting more groups and group room nights in the coming years. There’s increased demand for our wedding venue because the secret’s out — we’re a nice little slice of paradise, and it’s a private beach all to yourself. We do see higher occupancies in the coming years.
What are you most proud of about your property?
The Don CeSar is a market leader. Personally, I take pride in the customer experience and our ratings on TripAdvisor, as well as our team member engagement to make sure we’re offering a culture that is fulfilling for our team members.
Have you noticed a shift in terms of what clients are demanding in recent years?
Customers in today’s world want a very local experience. They want their story to be unique to the venue they visited, which is why St. Pete Beach in particular is so attractive.
How do you attract and retain talent?
People have a choice in terms of where they work because the unemployment rate is low. That said, they’re always going to be attracted to an iconic building like The Don CeSar, and once they get in our doors, they find that the culture and our core values align with their own. After being closed for six months due to Hurricane Helene, several departments had 100% return rate. That’s unheard of in our industry.
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