By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors-Fitness Editor
Thursday, February 16, 2012
ST. PETE BEACH — World-renowned marine artist Guy Harvey plans to rebrand the TradeWinds Sandpiper Suites with his signature sportfishing motif.
The first Guy Harvey Outpost in the United States is scheduled to open in 2013, after a $3 million renovation to the 211-room beachfront resort that begins next week. The partnership was announced at a news conference Thursday afternoon at the Miami International Boat Show.
"This is a perfect fit for us," said Keith Overton, president of the TradeWinds Island Resorts. "Guy Harvey has a tremendous fan base, and the Tampa Bay area sells more of his T-shirts than any other place in the word."
Harvey, a 56-year-old native of Jamaica, is a marine biologist whose realistic depictions of billfish garnered him an international following. His fishing T-shirts, worn by everyone from toddlers to retirees, depict the sea's top ...