Pink Shell Beach Resort finalist for Lee County Industry Appreciation Awards
Turtle lighting project nears completion
The Horizon Council, Horizon Foundation and Lee County Economic Development Office announced the Pink Shell Beach Resort as a finalist for Lee County’s 30th Anniversary of Industry Appreciation Awards.
The resort was one of three finalists for large business of the year. The other finalists are Christopher Alan Homes and Lee County Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Bill Waichulis, general manager of the Pink Shell Beach Resort, said “the team is very proud of the nomination with Horizon Council. We have been through a lot with Hurricane Charley, the housing crash, BP Oil Spill, red tide, covid, and now the biggest challenge Hurricane Ian, and through all these disasters the team was able to shift and continue to grow the business. I am very proud of our team.”
A month before Hurricane Ian, the resort announced a $7.4 million renovation project for all its rooms. The hotel is nearing completion of its renovations as it also rebuilds its restaurants and poolside bar. That work is expected to be completed later this fall.
The hotel also is nearing completion of its turtle light project. By the end of October, Waichulis said the hotel expects to have all of its windows installed with 15% tint, going above and beyond what the state recommends as well as above the level required by the town.
The degree of tint installed means guests won’t have to close their blinds during turtle season. Waichulis said the tint doesn’t affect the way guests can view through their windows either. It saves the hotel time and money making sure all blinds are closed at night during turtle season or having to call up a room to ask them to close their blinds.
“We have completed 70% of the resort to date,” Waichulis said of the window tinting and room renovations. “We will also have all lighting at the resort turtle compliant.”
The resort accepted a $130,000 grant from the Sea Turtle Conservancy to retrofit all of its outdoor lighting with turtle-friendly fixtures that will not disturb or disorientate nesting sea turtles or their hatchlings.
The Industry Appreciation Awards celebrate Lee County businesses that drive the local economy, employ the workforce and shape their industries. The winners will be announced at the Industry Appreciation Awards luncheon on Oct. 27.
Other Finalists include:
Small Business of the Year: LSI Companies, Inc., Pushing the Envelope and Tech in a Flash
Diversity in Business Award: Advanced Hurricane Technology, Jesi Cason Photography and TLC Marketing & Creative Services
Innovative Technology Award: HF scientific, a Watts Brand, Spigot Inc. and Timilon Corporation
Manufacturer of the Year: Architectural Metal Flashings, B&I Contractors and Botanical Brewing Co.
Nonprofit Partnership Award: City Tavern/Family Initiative, Matter Brothers Furniture/United Way of Lee County and ReVital Development Group/Lee County Housing Authority
The Oct. 27 event will take place at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center at 1375 Monroe St. in Fort Myers. Networking begins at 10 a.m. and the program will start at 11 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. For more information on the event, visit IndustryAppreciationAwards.com.