The Reef has developed the Spirit awards to highlight and thank our wonderful staff for providing outstanding guest service and for their excellent contribution to theReef family. The Spirit awards are given out on a monthly basis, and a special Gold Spirit Award is given to the truly outstanding employee of the month.

This month’s winners are:

• Eleanor Uykim – Reservations
• Kaseen Penn – Timeshare Sales
• Suzy Halenda – Timeshare Admin
• Shawn Dyer – Maintenance Supervisor

The GOLD SPIRIT AWARD goes to MICHELLE HAYES, (dressed as a Pirate on the right!)

Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you from theReef!

Innovation: the art of introducing something new.

theReef has always been at the forefront of innovation, especially in Grand Cayman. Even when we built the resort we were one step ahead of the game and constructed ALL beachfront suites, the only resort in Grand Cayman with all beachfront suites! WOW! theReef is also the ONLY place on Grand Cayman where you can see the infamous Barefoot Man! WOW!

You have already seen our ‘Best Beach Rate Guarantee’ where you get the Lowest Published Internet Rate for The Reef Resort, ONLY at theReef.com. If you find a lower total rate on the Internet for the same room type, dates and length of stay, contact us, we’ll match the rate, AND add a $50 Resort Credit towards drinks and dining at our renowned beach bar or our restaurant during your stay!

Now theReef resort is on another mission to be the innovator when it comes to best price guarantees. Our ‘Barefoot Beachfront Guarantee’ takes our ‘Best Beach Rate Guarantee’ one step further. Should you find a beachfront room at a full service resort anywhere in Grand Cayman during Winter 2010 for a lower price, theReef will match it. We are so confidence in this offer, we will throw in free dinner for two with entertainment by the legendry Barefoot Man, who continues to play exclusively at The Reef, his Cayman home. Our ‘Barefoot Beachfront Guarantee’ definitely has the WOW factor!

Terms & Conditions:
• Must show that room rate is lower and is bookable online at the time of reservation request
• Room must be comparable in terms of being beachfront on a natural white sand beach in a full service resort in Grand Cayman
• contact reservations@thereef.com or call 888-232-0541 for more information or to book the lowest price beachfront rooms in Grand Cayman

Our latest guarantee is our “Barefoot Beachfront Guarantee“, which can be simply summarised as :

“theReef guarantees the lowest price for a beachfront room”

Of course there are one or two conditions…it would be unfair of customers to tweak a guarantee to compare our rates to those of resorts without full service amenities or a pristine beach like ours, after all …. but our focus is to make it simple for you to plan your vacation and know you are getting the best price for a beachfront room.. and don’t we all want a beachfront room ?

I think we have hit on something, as just the other day I received an email from TravelZoo that they sent out to hoteliers to encourage them in their marketing. Now, TravelZoo are well known for their eye-catching “Top20″ ads, and in fact we were impressed with their efforts when we used them for one such effort a while back, but this latest shows how the industry is going away from being straightforward with their pricing..just as theReef is giving you a guarantee of clear and simple pricing. I know which I prefer ! So, this from TravelZoo :

“People care about the view – lead in with an attractive rate, then offer upgrades to ocean view. 34% of our audience books an alternative deal once enticed leading to a much higher room rate than what was originally promoted.”

Can you say “bait and switch” ?

I’m not picking on TravelZoo here, this is an industry trend.. just warning you as the traveller to be warned.. and to be sure in the knowledge that at theReef you are guaranteed a beachfront room.. hey, ALL our rooms are beachfront, you can’t go wrong !

Maybe we can get Byrne to visit The Reef Resort and participate in the Reefathlon, a bike friendly event that will take place this November 22. The first event was a smashing success and the second event has already attracted Peter Stetina, an up and coming cyclist with his eye on the Tour de France. Ok Byrne, you may want to come and share cycling stories with Stetina or bring a few books for a beachside book signing, as the resort is 100% beachfront.

For those interested in Byrne’s book, review it on Amazon.com and for those interested in the Reefathlon read more here; www.thereef.com/reefathlon.

Makes me want to get my bike out and go for a ride!

Well this is no surprise for the folks at The Reef Resort, for the past three years, have been touting ‘simply’ as their mantra as the resort’s guests have repeatedly expressed their idea of a perfect vacation “simple relaxation”. That’s exactly what the management team and staff have been dishing-up to all guests, and it appears to be working just fine.

The resort not only offers-up a bevy of special package; Simply All Inclusive, Junior Simple Adventure package need we go on. The resort takes “simplicity” seriously and is dedicated to making the vacation experience as simple as possible from booking, hurricane guarantees, cancellation policies and more.

Cayman cyclists are reminded that not only are we offering $1000 for breaking the open course record, but if the Cayman course record falls, the local record holder will also receive a special prize. Always seeking to motivate the top local cyclists, and by popular demand, the prize for breaking the local course record will be a) a one night VIP stay at The Reef, along with b) US$250 cash.

Peter will be staying at The Reef for the weekend on his own “beach bike break” and will take part in a relaxed and social group ride around the course at 3pm on Saturday November 21st, all Reefathlon guests and friends of cycling are invited to join in!

Check out www.reefathlon.com for event details, as well as Peter’s bio!

Perhaps one of the Cayman Islands most famous export is the Barefoot Man’s music! Widely renowned for his daring lyrics, Barefoot is the biggest B to hit the island since Blackbeard and no visit to the island is complete without taking in Barefoot and his band.

Barefoot plays exclusively at theReef every Tuesday and some Thursdays. His full schedule can be found at http://www.thereef.com/en/thingsToDo/entertainmentSchedule.html

You can email Barefoot at: GoneFishing@Barefootman.com

What I do like about what I’ve seen from viewing the trailers are the opportunities for each couple to experience activities that deviate from their normal routines. It’s fun to do something that you’ve never done, it stretches the soul and interjects creativity and of course, it’s always great buzz for cocktail parties or water cooler exchanges.

Couples go ahead and retreat, come as one or bring some couple friends, enjoy, relax, laugh and go ahead, do something out of the norm. Power snorkeling anybody?

Cyclists will race a 19-mile loop, of which 14-miles of the race are oceanfront and include a category three hill. Cyclists will enjoy jaw-dropping views of turquoise oceans, complete with breezes to keep you cool and challenged. There will also be many points-of-interest along the route, for a scenic and stimulating ride.

The Reef Resort, has successfully launched its non-motorized sports program and the Reefathlon is an extension of this program and a natural fit. Simplicity, adventure escapes, and green activities are the mantra of the resort and the Reefathlon supports this philosophy and allows guests to enjoy some of the best the island has to offer.

Visit www.thereef.com/reefathlon or call 888.714.2309 for travel details.

Picture this…barefoot on our beautiful, white sand beach with the turquoise Caribbean ocean lapping the shore, surrounded by swaying palms with the beautiful colors of tropical flowers accenting your perfect, customized wedding ceremony.

Recently, Nate and Alicia were a part of this picture and loved their wedding so much they couldn’t wait to tell us how much they enjoyed it!

“Alicia and I are still talking about our wedding, our guests loved it so much. People that went to visit the other side of the island were so happy we selected the reef as our wedding location. Your resort was so beautiful, and peaceful.  Please show this letter to everyone that worked there, even the guys that ran the water sports.  We had a blast.  Your staff is wonderful.  People looking at the pictures were amazed!!!!”

So what are you waiting for, make like Alicia and Nate and book that unique Cayman wedding!

For more information contact weddings@thereef.com