Ignite Your Inner Artist With the Renaissance Vinoy and Dale Chihuly

ST. PETERSBURG, FL--(Marketwire - Mar 4, 2013) - The Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, is pleased to present a Chihuly-inspired weekend in St. Petersburg, March 8-10, 2013. To celebrate the artist's return, the Renaissance Vinoy provides Chihuly fans with an opportunity to enjoy an artful retreat with the IGNITE YOUR INNER ARTIST package in St. Petersburg, starting at $354*/night. Guests gain access to an exclusive Dale Chihuly lecture and book signing, receive a copy of the artist's newest book "Chihuly Silvered," indulge in dinner for two each night at the Vinoy's signature restaurant, and are one of the first to view a new temporary installation by the artist at the Chihuly Collection.

IGNITE YOUR INNER ARTIST
Starting at $354*/night, March 8-10, 2013

• Upgraded Bay View Guest Room
• Copy of Chihuly Silvered Book
• Two Tickets to the Chihuly Collection and The Morean Arts Center Glass Studio & Hot Shop
• Access to Chihuly Lecture/Book Signing
• Free Valet Parking
• Dinner for Two Each Evening from Marchand's 1925 Classic Dining Menu ($19.25)

A personal copy of Dale Chihuly's newest book, Chihuly Silvered, will greet guests upon arrival. Having the book personalized couldn't be easier as Dale Chihuly presents a lecture on Saturday, March 9 from 1-2 p.m. in the Renaissance Vinoy Palm Court Ballroom followed by a book signing in the Plaza Ballroom from 2-3 p.m. To top off the Chihuly inspired weekend, resort goers can walk across the street to experience a new temporary installation by the artist at the Chihuly Collection as well as have the opportunity to visit the Morean Arts Center Glass Studio & Hot Shop to watch resident glass artists create one-of-a kind works.

Guests experience the feeling of their own personal retreat at the Renaissance Vinoy in upgraded bay view rooms with luxurious amenities such as pillow top mattresses, Frette linens and evening turn-down service. At the resort's award-winning restaurant, Marchand's Bar & Grill, art enthusiasts enjoy nightly meals for two from the Classic Dining menu, featuring three-courses of delights from crispy pork belly and harrisa lamb shank to dark chocolate waffles with salted caramel gelato and white chocolate ganache.

Originally opened on New Year's Eve in 1925 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club is the only historic luxury resort on Florida's west coast that boasts a private 72-slip marina, 18-hole private St. Petersburg golf course, 12-court tennis complex and 5,000 sq. ft. fitness center. The seven-story hotel is ideally situated along the water in downtown St. Petersburg overlooking Tampa Bay. Recently renovated, the lounge-like lobby blends modern elegance with Mediterranean Revival architecture featuring bold colors and artwork by world renowned artist Dale Chihuly and artist Renee Dinauer. Updates have been made to all 361 guestrooms, and with more than 61,000 sq. ft. of indoor/outdoor event space, five restaurants, a salon and day spa and amenities that cater to leisure and business travelers, the hotel is St. Petersburg's premier AAA Four Diamond resort.

For more information or to book IGNITE YOUR INNER ARTIST, please visit http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tpasr-vinoy-renaissance-st-petersburg-resort-and-golf-club/ or call 1-888-303-4430.

*Offer subject to availability. Restrictions and blackout dates may apply. Promo code CUE must be referenced at time of reservation.

About Dale Chihuly
Born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, Dale Chihuly was introduced to glass while studying interior design at the University of Washington. After graduating in 1965, Chihuly enrolled in the first glass program in the country, at the University of Wisconsin. He continued his studies at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he later established the glass program and taught for more than a decade. In 1968, after receiving a Fulbright Fellowship, he went to work at the Venini glass factory in Venice. There he observed the team approach to blowing glass, which is critical to the way he works today. Chihuly is renowned for his ambitious architectural installations around the world, in historic cities, public museums and gardens. Ninety-seven exhibitions in seven countries have presented artworks by the artist during the last decade, which have been enjoyed by more than 10 million visitors. Chihuly is credited with revolutionizing the Studio Glass movement and elevating the medium of glass from the realm of craft to fine art. For more information, visit www.Chihuly.com. 

About The Morean Arts Center
With roots dating back to 1917 as the Art Club of St. Petersburg, the Morean Arts Center focuses on an innovative, community-oriented approach to art and art education. The mission of the Center is to connect people with art through innovative, community-oriented art and art education to contribute to the economic development of the region. Several years ago, board members and supporters articulated an extraordinary vision: to bring a permanent collection of the art of Dale Chihuly to St. Petersburg to enrich the arts community. The vision is now a reality with the Chihuly Collection presented by the Morean Arts Center. The Chihuly Collection is a stunning, permanent collection of world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly's unique artwork in a magnificent 10,000 sq. ft. setting designed by award-winning architect Albert Alfonso. The experience is complemented by an entertaining and informative video presentation in the theater and a retail store with a wide variety of Chihuly merchandise. But, the vision extends beyond the Chihuly Collection. The Glass Studio & Hot Shop at the Morean provides working space for glass artists, comfortable audience seating to watch glass blowing in action, and teaching facilities for studio classes and workshops. There is even an opportunity for a personal glass-blowing experience and visitors can purchase original glass art created by local and regional artists in the Hot Shop retail store. For more information, visit www.moreanartscenter.org. 

About RENAISSANCE HOTELS
RENAISSANCE HOTELS is an upscale brand with more than 150 properties in 34 countries that speaks to passionate travelers in search of authentic local discoveries when traveling for business or leisure. Renaissance Hotels has recently welcomed several new "gems" to its global collection -- the historic 5-star St. Pancras Renaissance in London, the exotic Renaissance Sanya Resort and Spa in burgeoning China, the urban boutique Renaissance Atlanta Midtown and the sexy Renaissance Sao Paulo.. These hotels join a rich portfolio defined by distinctive and well-known icons such as the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC, the Eden Roc Miami Beach Resort & Spa, and the Renaissance Paris Vendome Hotel. To make reservations and for more information about Renaissance Hotels, visit www.renaissancehotels.com. Follow Renaissance on www.twitter.com/RenHotels, Facebook.com/RenaissanceHotels and the Rlife Blog at TheRenaissanceLife.com.

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