Changes coming to Travelodge, but the Swigwam lives on

The Travelodge in St. Pete Beach will emerge from a remodeling with a new look, name and restaurant selection on Oct. 15, says B.R. Guest Restaurants, which manages the property for hotel magnate Barry Sternlicht's Starwood Capital Group. The 196-room property at 6300 Gulf Blvd. will become the Postcard Inn on the Beach. The restaurant will be transformed into Wildwood BBQ and Burgers and the Swigwam, a tin-roof beach bar since the 1970s, will get a new menu as Bill's Beach Bar and Burgers. "About all we're doing to the Swigwam is cleaning it up, but the rest of the hotel is being completely redone," said Stephen Hanson, B.R. Guest president. Both restaurants have siblings in Hanson's collection of 16 eateries in New York City, Chicago and Las Vegas. Postcard Inn will be marketed as "affordable" lodging with rack rates of $99 off season, $189 peak season.