Flamingo Resort's new GM ushers in a summer of fun and excitement!
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Over the past decade, Tim Calandrino made a name for himself in the Central Florida community as resort and events manager at Parliament House Orlando and manager of its timeshare, The Gardens. During his tenure, he helped to organize nearly 100 concerts featuring a diverse range of recording artists and other celebrities. Then, a few months ago, he made the jump from Orlando to the Bay area, so he could be closer to his elderly mother, who, like Tim, also transplanted from Long Island. In the process, he started a new job, as general manager at the Flamingo Resort in St. Petersburg. In the three months since he has started work at the Flamingo, he has instituted a number of
changes, many of which are minor and cosmetic, but others are major and hope to capitalize on the Flamingo's convenient location in Tampa Bay and the business's relationship with the Tampa Bay LGBT community. American Idol stars Blake Lewis and Elliott Yamin performed at St. Pete Pride, and the good news is that more of your favorite entertainment acts will be coming your way. It's all part of a plan to drum up more local business: for Tampa Bay residents, come on over and party! For Orlando residents, have a staycation at the Flamingo!
Hotspots Central Exclusive:
Tim Calandrino talked to me
by mike halterman
recently and told me some of his immediate plans for the Flamingo and what he thinks is in the cards for the St. Petersburgresortinthefuture.
With your experience in resort management, how did you view the Flamingo before you worked there, and what plans did you have for it once you started working there?
The only plan I really had coming into this job was to make the resort a destination, a place where everyone has to go. I didn't really have any preconceived notions before I arrived. For the first two months after I arrived, I observed a lot and then started to make small changes, like to the housekeeping, to the restaurant, to the rooms. Finally, we debuted a new stage, and that was my first big change. I