Picture this: the kids are having a blast in the pool and you're relaxing in a chaise lounge with a happy-hour cocktail from the Tiki Bar. Palm fronds rustle in the breeze—if you didn't know better, you'd think you were chilling out at a tropical island resort. A stay at the Holiday Inn & Suites Hotel near Busch Gardens lets you grab some downtime after a busy day navigating multiple attractions and shows at the popular Tampa park.

This isn't your grandma's Holiday Inn, either. The new hotel (opened in fall 2008) was the first Holiday Inn re-launch in the Tampa Bay market, part of a massive worldwide realignment that is seeing more than 3,300 hotels around the world undergoing high-quality updates. It's one of the biggest such undertakings in the history of the hospitality industry.

This hotel is "going green," too, as a participant in the Florida Green Lodging program, shedding the homey image for which many Holiday Inns have been known in the past. Guest

Picture this: the kids are having a blast in the pool and you're relaxing in a chaise lounge with a happy-hour cocktail from the Tiki Bar. Palm fronds rustle in the breeze—if you didn't know better, you'd think you were chilling out at a tropical island resort. A stay at the Holiday Inn & Suites Hotel near Busch Gardens lets you grab some downtime after a busy day navigating multiple attractions and shows at the popular Tampa park.

This isn't your grandma's Holiday Inn, either. The new hotel (opened in fall 2008) was the first Holiday Inn re-launch in the Tampa Bay market, part of a massive worldwide realignment that is seeing more than 3,300 hotels around the world undergoing high-quality updates. It's one of the biggest such undertakings in the history of the hospitality industry.

This hotel is "going green," too, as a participant in the Florida Green Lodging program, shedding the homey image for which many Holiday Inns have been known in the past. Guest bedding is crisp, fresh, and contemporary. And there's no guessing game about whether the bathroom shower will dribble or sting—improved showerheads offer just the pressure you prefer. In addition to guestrooms, there are also 127 two-room suites with home comforts and amenities and more space to stash luggage and toys.

The roomy, tastefully appointed Courtyard Café has a family-friendly menu and a great Kids Eat Free deal for children (12 and under) who are accompanied by an adult. When heading out for a day of sightseeing around Tampa, take advantage of the complimentary shuttle that drops guests at attractions within a two-mile radius of the hotel.