Sports

Media Buying Briefing: Buyers to weigh the flexibility of digital with the Upfront’s legacy scale

NewFronts week is done, and the video ad marketplace is about to hear from the veteran TV sellers of linear, cable and streaming — with YouTube pushing itself right into the middle of proceedings. Could 2025 be the year that ad dollars shift in greater volume from the linear broadcast and cable networks to the […]

Published

3 months ago

May 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NewFronts week is done, and the video ad marketplace is about to hear from the veteran TV sellers of linear, cable and streaming — with YouTube pushing itself right into the middle of proceedings.

Could 2025 be the year that ad dollars shift in greater volume from the linear broadcast and cable networks to the more investment-flexible, cost-efficient and consumer-friendly digital video environment showcased all last week?

Several major publishers and the IAB last week presented their content wares and new ad units, while playing up brand safety as well. According to two of four media buyers Digiday spoke with, LinkedIn, of all Newfronts players, surprised the most with its presentation.

First-time NewFronts presenter LinkedIn “went more tactile and opportunistic, and data- and AI-focused vs. ‘here’s our big, splashy new content program,’” said Angela Dahir, vp of strategy & media planning at Jellyfish. “It was more tactile functionality for us that we could then take to our clients who are in that B2B space, which we have a lot of … There’s a lot of unearthed opportunity in LinkedIn.”

Another media buyer who spoke on condition of anonymity agreed that LinkedIn stood out, but even for reasons beyond B2B opportunities. “What was impressive about what they shared was just the narrative on how video on their platform is something that really impacts business decision makers,” said the buyer, who was also impressed by LinkedIn’s ability to offer data both on- and off-platform. “Business influencers, are really aiding in that, now that brands can kind of get involved with those business creators in a new way.”

But it’s the more flexible investment opportunities that could sway some marketers and their media agencies to spend among NewFronts publishers rather than the classic TV providers — certainly at a time of great economic uncertainty (tariffs, interest rates, flagging consumer sentiment stats, unpredictable government policies, etc).

“I think the benefits of cost efficiencies outweigh some of that upfront commitment and the pricing — the larger monetary commitment,” said Lindsey Freed, svp of media investment at Basis Technologies. “With more CTV streaming [and] programmatic buying, we’re seeing the rate efficiencies and the ability to target in very similar ways — it’s what the buzz is all about … The flexibility of being able to execute across that media, rather than committing a large dollar amount upfront is really where we’re going to see the shift.”

“There’s a lot of evaluation going on of media spend,” said Tucker Matheson, CEO of Markacy, who said none of his clients are actually cutting budgets — yet. “Brands in a budget pinch are … really just trying to figure out where’s my biggest bang for my buck.” To Matheson, the answer lies in applying incrementality testing to guide them to the right investment.

But there are also a number of new ad-unit opportunities being rolled out by some of the NewFronts presenters, as a means of attracting more ad dollars from brands of all size — some of which caught the eye of buyers. Some of the OEM providers like LG and Vizio showed off units including:

Home screen ads (available on smart TVs and streaming platforms);
Pause ads (which pops up when you pause content);
Screen saver ads (when the TV set or app goes idle);
Contextual overlay on content (if you’re watching a cooking show on pizza and a Pizza Hut ad pops up);
Squeeze back ads (content is made smaller, allowing the ad to run next to it);
Shoppable ads with QR codes.

“As media buyers, we’re really going to have to think about these new [habits], thinking of the consumer, what they’re doing, and tying our buys together to allow for that ease of shopping on our phone or shopping while we’re watching TV,” Basis Technologies’ Freed said.

“CTV, for sure, offers a lot more of that potential to do more complex or interactive ad formats, whether it’s shoppable or just general formats than what you can do on linear,” said Chris Rigas, vp of media at Markacy. “There’s definitely an appeal to that. It’s obviously clear that CTV is going to continue gaining market share.”

Of course, the linear companies also offer some of these innovations too, which can’t be forgotten — just like they offer the lion’s share of sports content. But again, the buyers Digiday spoke with said sports is clearly no longer the exclusive territory of the linear giants like NBC U or Disney. With Amazon, Tubi, Hulu and others now offering professional league sports content, it’s a more even playing field than ever.

“This one has live sports and that one has live sports, and everyone’s getting connected through the pipeline,” said Jellyfish’s Dahir. “The digital marketplace is becoming now the crux of opportunity, because we have so much more access and more clients that are able to play in this video space that maybe we’re not able to in the past.”

For better or worse, that diaspora of sports content raises its own set of problems for media buyers and planners. “If I’m watching [sports] on Peacock, but through my Chromecast, I get a different ad,” noted Dahir. “This creates a very fragmented landscape for live sports … I’m curious to see if there will eventually be a step backward. Because, yes, it gives us more opportunity of getting more efficient and effective buys in live sports, especially for smaller clients and that need for efficiency. But from a rating standpoint, I wonder if there will eventually be a pushback … because there’s too many touch points that you can tag it.”

And that’s where programmatic steps in with both the offer of promise and potential for confusion. Much like three years ago, when CTV content became more available through programmatic investment, it ushered in the chance for smaller advertisers to get into TV advertising. But it also made a mess of not knowing who repped what inventory. That could happen with sports content today.

Because the fact is, there’s a bottom-line shift that is taking place across the entire video landscape: the continued increase of programmatic investment vs. direct buying.

“One theme that hit for me at the NewFronts was that personalized is premium and it’s more about the curation of content and context,” said the buyer on background. “It’s making sure that your ads are appearing within the content you wanted to appear with the audience targeting that you need. Programmatic makes that more easily possible and the workflow is way easier — when done right.”

Added Basis Technologies’ Freed: “For buyers, it’s easier because we have more control — we are able to shift budgets between deal IDs easier than we can direct buys.”

Color by numbers

Amazon may be one the fastest growing powerhouses in major media, rivaling Google and Meta for supremacy — but it does have one problem. It seems more consumers are looking into how to cancel their Amazon Prime subscriptions than any other streamer, according to a study by Sparrow, which helps consumers get money from class-action suits. Here’s the data (although it must be noted, the below stats are of people searching for how to cancel, not actual cancellations):

Amazon Prime 587,000 searches
Disney Plus 397,700 searches
Hulu 143,600 searches
Paramount Plus 139,400 searches
Peacock 106,700 searches
Netflix 93,100 searches

Takeoff & landing

WPP last week renamed its media network WPP Media from GroupM, and implemented layoffs across the three media agency names that still exist really in name only: Mindshare, Wavemaker and EssenceMediacom. The agencies will operate under one P&L.
Stagwell’s Q1 2025 results showed net revenue grew 6% over Q1 2024m while EBITDA dropped 11% on margins of 14%. But the challenger holdco also chalked up what it said is a record $130 million in new business in the quarter.
System1, a creative effectiveness platform, has joined agency collective Dawn.
Account moves: Dentsu U.K. won the NFL’s global social media business … Havas Media Network landed Olive Garden’s U.S. media business, taking over from Starcom. … Bayer reportedly put the media and creative accounts of its consumer health unit up for review. The media incumbent is EssenceMediacom, which won brewer Lion’s media business in Australia and New Zealand … MSQ and several of its agencies landed global media agency of record duties for Turtle Wax.
Personnel moves: Justin Thomas-Copeland officially took over as the new CEO of industry association 4As, replacing Marla Kaplowitz … Stagwell’s Assembly tapped Jason Lim to be its chief media officer for North America, coming over from EssenceMediacom where he was chief planning officer … Horizon Media hired Crystal Park to be its new CMO, coming over from The Weather Co., where she was vp of advertising & enterprise data marketing … Dentsu Media Americas CEO Sean Reardon is out after less than 18 months, replaced by Will Swayne … Goodway Group tapped Paul Frampton-Calero as its new CEO, moving him over from oversight of Goodway’s Overline consultancy, and replacing Jay Friedman who will stay on as an advisor … Barkley OKRP named chief creative officer Katy Hornaday to replace Jeff King as CEO, as King transitions into a founding partner role.

Direct quote

“It’s just changing the logo on the slide and saying, ‘I’m going to aggregate, and centralize all my media spend.’ And they’re going to lean heavier into principal media buying, and this allows them to make it easier for them to do that.”

— An independent media agency CEO talking about WPP’s moves around reshaping GroupM into WPP Media.

Speed reading

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Cal Poly Cross Country Announces 2025 Schedule

Cal Poly continues its season on Sept. 19 when the program takes part in the UCSB Invitational hosted by the Gauchos. The Mustangs will make their first trip outside the state on Oct. 3 when the team heads to Chicago to compete in the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational for the second straight year. On its […]

Published

1 minute ago

July 29, 2025

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On its final weekend of regular season action, Cal Poly will split the squad for the first and only time this year. The Mustangs are set to send their top runners to the NCAA Pre-Nationals meet hosted by Missouri on Oct. 18 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course, the site of this year’s NCAA Championships. The rest of the team will descend upon Baylands Regional Park on Oct. 18 to take part in the Bronco Invitational hosted by Santa Clara for the fifth consecutive season.

This year’s Big West Championship meet will be hosted by Hawai’i on Friday, Oct. 31, at Queen Kapi’olani Regional Park in Honolulu. Hawai’i, who will be joining the Mountain West Conference following the 2025-26 athletic year, is set to host the conference meet for just the third time and the first time since 2016 when the Mustangs swept the Big West team titles. The men’s 8K will start at 10 a.m. PDT with the women’s 6K to follow at 11 a.m. PDT. Last year at UC Riverside’s Ag/Ops Course, Cal Poly swept the Big West men’s and women’s team titles for the third straight year, becoming just the second school in conference history to accomplish a three-peat and first since UC Irvine in 1989-91.

The NCAA West Regional meet will take place on Friday, Nov. 14, at Haggin Oaks Golf Course in Sacramento. The last time the meet was held at that course in 2023, Cal Poly placed eighth as a team on both the men’s and women’s sides and three runners secured USTFCCCA All-West Region honors.

The 2025 NCAA Championships will be held at Missouri’s Gans Creek Cross Country Course for the first time on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Redshirt seniors Michael Chambers and Spencer Pickren, and redshirt sophomore Rory Catsimanes are among the key returners for the men. Chambers is fresh off a breakout season on the track where he won Big West titles in the men’s 5,000-meter and 3,000-meter steeplechase, and qualified for the NCAA West Preliminaries meet for the first time. Chambers took 10th at last year’s Big West Cross Country Championship to earn All-Big West honors. Catsimanes captured sixth at last year’s conference meet to secure Big West Men’s Freshman of the Year honors and was the Mustangs’ third runner to cross the finish line at the West Regional.

Redshirt senior Isabel Sanchez and junior Kelli Gaffney are set to lead the women’s team this fall. Sanchez won the Big West title in the women’s 3,000 steeplechase this spring, while Gaffney qualified for the NCAA West Prelims for the first time in the 10,000.

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World Aquatics Awards 2026 World Short-Course Championships to Beijing

World Aquatics Awards 2026 World Short-Course Championships to Beijing World Aquatics on Tuesday announced that the 2026 World Short-Course Championships will be held in Beijing. Dates have not been announced, but the short-course meet will be held in late 2026. The decision follows “a competitive bidding process and careful consideration by the World Aquatics Bureau,” […]

Published

7 minutes ago

July 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

World Aquatics Awards 2026 World Short-Course Championships to Beijing

World Aquatics on Tuesday announced that the 2026 World Short-Course Championships will be held in Beijing.

Dates have not been announced, but the short-course meet will be held in late 2026. The decision follows “a competitive bidding process and careful consideration by the World Aquatics Bureau,” and the announcement comes as the world aquatic community convenes in Singapore this week for the 2025 World Championships.

The World Aquatics congress, “recognized Beijing’s demonstrated excellence in hosting previous top-level events in swimming, diving, water polo, and artistic swimming.” Beijing has already been named the host of the 24th long-course World Championships in 2029. That will be the fourth of the last five and fifth of the last seven championships to be held in Asia, including three consecutive long-course worlds under FINA president Husain Al Musallam, the first Asian leader of World Aquatics. (The current Worlds were originally awarded to Kazan, Russia, but relocated to Singapore.)

Beijing has hosted 38 World Aquatics events among 109 events in China. It is the only city to host the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2022 Winter Olympics. China has hosted the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, the 2006 Short-Course Championships in Shanghai and the 2018 Short-Course Championships in Hangzhou.

“World Aquatics is delighted that China — a proud swimming nation — and its vibrant capital, Beijing, will host the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) for the first time,” Al Musallam said in a press release. “China has a rich swimming tradition, and we are excited to return to Beijing, where we are confident the world’s best short-course swimmers will be given every opportunity to perform at their highest level. We are deeply grateful to our hosts for their commitment to aquatics and are already looking forward to 2026.”

The China Swimming Association and Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports will organize the event.

“We are thrilled and deeply honoured to host the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in 2026 in Beijing, a city with a proud Olympic history and a passion for aquatic sports,” CSA president Zhou Jihong said. “This prestigious competition brings together the world’s best swimmers, and with the remarkable number of World Records broken at the last edition, we anticipate another great spectacle. We look forward to welcoming swimming fans from around the globe and providing an unforgettable experience for all.”

China has emerged as one of the elite nations in swimming over the last several decades. China has won 12 gold medals and 28 swimming medals over the last two editions of the World Championships.

“I can’t wait to compete at the World Swimming Championships in Beijing,” said Pan Zhanle, the world record-holder in the men’s 100 freestyle. “The atmosphere and energy of short-course racing, combined with the intensity of a championship event, will create an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience. With so many records falling at the 2024 short-course Worlds, I aim to add my name to that list in 2026 in front of my home fans. Hearing that this prestigious event is coming to China in 2026 is exciting, and I know the fans will bring amazing support.”

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USTFCCCA Announces Academic Awards for Track & Field

Story Links NEW ORLEANS – All-Academic Athletes and Teams for the 2025 NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Track & Field seasons were announced on July 21 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Awarded to all nominated student-athletes who meet ALL the following criteria: […]

Published

21 minutes ago

July 29, 2025

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NEW ORLEANS – All-Academic Athletes and Teams for the 2025 NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Track & Field seasons were announced on July 21 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Awarded to all nominated student-athletes who meet ALL the following criteria:

Cumulative team GPA of all student-athletes who used a season of eligibility must be at least a 3.10 on a 4.0 scale through the most recent semester/quarter, computed by the following method:
1. Total the cumulative number of semester hours or quarter hours earned for all student-athletes who used a season of eligibility, including the most recent grading period;
2. Total the cumulative number of quality points (GPA multiplied by the number of credit hours) earned by all student-athletes who used a season of eligibility, including the most recent grading period;
3. Divide the cumulative number of quality points earned by the cumulative number of semester or quarter hours earned.
4. Institutions utilizing a different GPA scale than 4.0 then must convert the GPA to a 4.0 scale using the standard conversion method [GPA/Scale x 4.0]. Data must be certifiable by the institution’s registrar.

Graduate students must take all undergraduate plus graduate coursework into account.

Awarded to all nominated student-athletes who meet ALL the following criteria:

Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale through the most recently completed grading period. Institutions utilizing a different GPA scale must convert the GPA to a 4.0 scale using the standard conversion method [GPA/Scale x 4.0]. Data must be certifiable by the institution’s registrar.

Meet one of the following athletic criteria:
1. Must have finished the season among the top 50 individuals as listed on the descending order lists on TFRRS. In addition, any athletes not among the top 50, but who participated at the Indoor OR Outdoor National Championships, are eligible.
2. Must have competed as a member of one of the top 35 relay teams as listed on the descending order list on TFRRS. In addition, any athletes not among the top 35 relay teams, but who participated in the relay at the Indoor OR Outdoor National Championships, are eligible. Finally, any competing relay team member on an expanded descending order list to include 35 institutions (1 relay team per institution) is eligible.

Graduate students must take all undergraduate plus graduate coursework into account.

The men’s team obtained a cumulative GPA of 3.4, while the women earned a 3.64.

Individually, 12 women were honored with this distinction and one student-athlete from the men’s program made the list.

Ben Buffone

Exercise Science

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Bellos delighted to be back on court for Euros in Germany

Javier and Joaquin Bello are delighted to be making their long-awaited return to action for this week’s CEV EuroBeachVolley 2025 in Dusseldörf – but are not placing too many expectations on themselves after such a long lay-off. The England pair have put in excellent performances at their previous two Euros competitions, finishing fifth in 2023 […]

Published

27 minutes ago

July 29, 2025

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The England pair have put in excellent performances at their previous two Euros competitions, finishing fifth in 2023 in Austria and ninth the Netherlands just under 12 months ago.

But a knee injury to Javier means the brothers have not taken to the court in tandem since April at the Elite 16 event in Saquarema, Brazil.

It means that while they go in as number six seeds, they will be hampered by the disadvantage of having no match practice ahead of facing what is a seriously tough level of competition.

Nevertheless, the siblings are just pleased to be out on the sand in Germany after three months of being unable to compete.

“The injury related to overuse that is quite common for beach volleyball players, associated with repetitive jumps and sharp changes of direction,” said Javier.

“It was in Saquarema at the beginning of April when the level of pain would not allow me to continue. The challenge has been to return for this European Championships.

“I’m not 100%, but far enough along the road to recovery to play. It has been a difficult process and we’re not done yet, but starting to see the other side and excited for the opportunity to play.”

Joaquin added: “I am very pleased to be back competing with Javier. I have had some really positive experiences while he’s been out injured, mostly playing King of the Court and National Tours with my younger brother and other partners, while Javier was focusing on his recovery.

“It does make it harder to prepare having not competed for so long, yes, but we have prepared for this event as best as we could, keeping in mind Javier’s need to gradually come back to full jumping and full speed.

“I feel really good physically and will be ready to support him and lead our team.”

Javier admits it has been strange to be sidelined for so long, having played so regularly as they began their meteoric risen up the rankings.

However, he says the down time has given the brothers chance to take stock of their progress.

“This week marks nine years since we started competing internationally, over 96 tournaments together… It shows how lucky I am to be injured for the first time for this long,” he said.

“I broke a small bone in my hand in 2022, but that was a lot quicker to recover from. There is never a good time to get injured, but it’s a little better that we have this problem at the beginning of this Olympic cycle.

“We have to think long-term, and being out for a little while has been helping me develop in different ways, so we try to focus on that.

“Germany is a really good place to make our return as it is a great host for sports events and a great place to play.

“The organisation is always impeccable, with fans filling the stadiums to cheer for their teams and that’s something that what we enjoy and look forward to.”

Pool F has been labelled the Pool of Death by some, given the strength of teams who will join the Bellos.

Their first opponents, Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler, won the Olympic silver medal for Germany in Paris last summer, while the Nerherlands’ Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot have claimed three Elite 16 podium places in 2025 and were part of their nation’s team which finished runners-up to Norway at the recent CEV Beach Volley Nations Cup 2025.

Talented Swiss pair Yves Haussener and Julian Friedli make up the quartet of teams, but the Bellos concentration for the moment in solely on their first match against the home favourites tomorrow evening.

Joaquin said: “This year we are seeded much higher than in the previous editions, but with so many great teams competing, we know there will not be any easy games for anyone.

“Our first match will be against the silver medallists in Paris and home team, so our main focus is on them for now.

“The rest of the pool, and the whole tournament, is full of experienced teams and, as we always say, everyone knows how to play, so we have to focus on each game and take it step by step.”

Javier added: “After two great events in 2023 and 2024, this tournament has become really special for us.

“With my injury, we are just grateful and excited to be here again to play against some of the top teams in the world, with the support of our whole family who have come all the way again to cheer for us.”

While the Bellos have pushed hard to reach their target of being back for the Euros, their schedule that immediately follows depends on how they fare.

Another key aim for the rest of the season is to secure a place at the FIVB World Championships 2025 in Australia in November.

“This is the first big tournament after a few months of not competing and it will depend on how well Javier’s knee responds,” said Joaquin.

“All being well, we will play next week the Challenge event in Baden (Austria) and then straight to Montreal (Canada) for the Elite16, where we will start from the Main Draw.

“There will be three more tournaments at this level (one in Germany and two in Brazil) before the qualification period for the World Championships closes, and that is what we will be aiming for.”

You can watch the brothers progress on EuroVolley TV (subscription only) and also watch out for updates across Volleyball England’s social media channels.

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Beijing to host 2026 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m)

SWIMMING TILT. World Aquatics president Husain Al Musallam announces Beijing as host of the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m), at the General Congress in Singapore on Tuesday (July 29, 2025). The Congress is taking place alongside the World Aquatics Championship and World Aquatics Masters Championships. (Photo courtesy of World Aquatics) MANILA – China’s capital […]

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1 hour ago

July 29, 2025

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<p><strong>SWIMMING TILT.</strong> World Aquatics president Husain Al Musallam announces Beijing as host of the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m), at the General Congress in Singapore on Tuesday (July 29, 2025). The Congress is taking place alongside the World Aquatics Championship and World Aquatics Masters Championships. <em>(Photo courtesy of World Aquatics)</em></p> — **SWIMMING TILT.** World Aquatics president Husain Al Musallam announces Beijing as host of the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m), at the General Congress in Singapore on Tuesday (July 29, 2025). The Congress is taking place alongside the World Aquatics Championship and World Aquatics Masters Championships. *(Photo courtesy of World Aquatics)*

MANILA – China’s capital city of Beijing will host the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) next year.

More than 1,000 athletes from over 200 countries and regions are expected to join the six-day event, to be held in China for the third time. The 2006 edition took place in Shanghai and the 2018 edition in Hangzhou.

The announcement was made during the World Aquatics General Congress being held alongside the World Aquatics Championship and World Aquatics Masters Championships in Singapore.

Beijing has demonstrated excellence in hosting top-level competitions. It is the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games – in 2008 and 2022, respectively.

Beijing is also set to host the World Aquatics Championships in 2029.

“We are thrilled and deeply honored to host the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in 2026 in Beijing, a city with a proud Olympic history and a passion for aquatic sports,” China Swimming Association president Zhou Jihong said in a press statement on the World Aquatics official website Tuesday.

“This prestigious competition brings together the world’s best swimmers, and with the remarkable number of World Records broken at the last edition, we anticipate another great spectacle. We look forward to welcoming swimming fans from around the globe and providing an unforgettable experience for all.”

China has hosted 109 World Aquatics events, including the 2011 World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai.

“I can’t wait to compete at the World Swimming Championships in Beijing,” said Pan Zhanle, the World and Olympic champion and men’s 100m freestyle long-course world record-holder.

“The atmosphere and energy of short-course racing, combined with the intensity of a championship event, will create an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience. With so many records falling at the 2024 short-course Worlds, I aim to add my name to that list in 2026 in front of my home fans. Hearing that this prestigious event is coming to China in 2026 is exciting, and I know the fans will bring amazing support.”

World Aquatics is the international governing body for aquatic sports. It supervises six aquatic sports – swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving. (PNA)

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WEEKENDER: Hilton Head – Charlotte Parent

Published

2 hours ago

July 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

For Charlotte families wanting a beach weekend that doesn’t involve airport security or hours of “are we there yet?,” Hilton Head Island is an ideal summer getaway. The 12-mile-long island is about 20 miles northeast of Savannah and home to an array of wildlife, including alligators, loggerhead sea turtles, manatees, and dolphins. Unlike many popular (read: crowded) coastal spots, Hilton Head’s beaches are spacious and super walkable with hard-packed sand that’s perfect for biking, stroller-pushing, or a leisurely walk. The island’s only independent hotel, The Beach House, is home to the legendary Tiki Hut, where guests and locals can enjoy live music and time of day. It’s a four-hour drive from Charlotte, making it a great place to take the family for one last blast of summer.

The Beach House is home to the legendary Tiki Hut.

STAY

The Beach House has all the essentials: ocean views, a pool, bike rentals, a sand volleyball court, and three onsite dining options. Pet-friendly rooms and suites have nautical decor, flat-screens, and minifridges; many are equipped with pull-out sofas and bunk beds for the little ones. A 2024 renovation added an updated pool deck with private cabanas with TVs, a year-round temperature-controlled pool, hot tub, and food and drink service. The hotel is just steps from Coligny Plaza, which has more than 60 shops and restaurants.

Private cabanas have TVs and food and drink service.

Coligny Plaza is walking distance from The Beach House.

EAT
Start the day with coffee, pastries, or an acai bowl at Sweet Al’s, the hotel’s onsite bakery and cafe. (The flagship location is in Coligny Plaza.) Enjoy a sit-down breakfast, lunch, or dinner at The Porch, or order at the counter and have it delivered to your poolside cabana. Dinner at Tiki Hut is mandatory. This beachfront bar is part surf shack, part restaurant, and part live music venue. Sip frozen drinks by the firepits and toast to absolutely nothing while the kids run wild. If you venture over to Coligny Plaza, stop by Frozen Moo for gi-normous ice cream cones that drip down your hands, arms…and maybe even your shoes if you’re not fast enough.

The Porch Southern Kitchen & Bar serves kid favorites like grilled cheese, burgers, and chicken tenders.

Tiki Hut serves an array of frozen adult beverages.

The Frozen Moo serves 90+ flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sherbet.

PLAY
Reserve some bikes and pick them up at Lil Tiki (next to the Tiki Hut) and explore 60 miles of paved bike paths. If you make it to the Harbour Town Lighthouse, climb to the top and see panoramic views of the island. Rent a kayak, paddleboard, or jet ski through H2O Sports and get out on the water, or hit up Lawton Stables, where the kiddos can feed goats and pet ponies. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. each night throughout the summer, catch kid-centric musical performances at Coligny Center Stage.

The Beach House offers bike rentals for adults and children.

The island has 60 miles of paved bike paths to explore.

Each night throughout the summer, Coligny Center Stage hosts kid-centric musical performances.

PUT THE BEACH TO BED

Every Wednesday night during turtle nesting season (typically from May to October), The Beach House hosts a family-friendly sustainability initiative called “Put the Beach to Bed.” Prepare the beach for nesting sea turtles by filling in holes, knocking down sand castles, and removing items left behind. After the sweep, volunteers can enjoy a complimentary Loggerhead Lemonade (cocktail or mocktail) and live music at Tiki Hut. The event starts at 6:45 p.m. and lasts until 8 p.m. Volunteers meet at the big blue Adirondack Chair in front of Tiki Hut.

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