Cayman Time - blog closed, now at http://blog.thereef.com/

The End of an Era

2009-02-26T18:20:00.003-05:00

The Reef Resorts blog has now moved to its new location: http://blog.thereef.com/

All of you Reef Blog fans are sure to love the new layout and design of this blog. We will certainly keep you updated on all the latest news here at The Reef and in The Cayman Islands.

Until we meet again on the new blog Ill let John Lennon and Paul McCartney sign us off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QShSmpI0r9k

Over and Out.

Top Ten Dive Site in the Caribbean

2009-02-10T18:06:00.007-05:00

Is blogging about another blog considered laziness or just praise among peers?

Anyway, our good friends at Orbitz.com have recently posted on their own travel blog a section detailing the Top Ten Dive Sites in the Caribbean. Rated #1 on their list is The Cayman Islands with The Reef Resort being highlighted due to our location away from the hustle and bustle of SMB. (Seven Mile Beach for those not in the know).

It seems our little secret in East End is getting out.

WaterSpout

2009-02-04T14:10:00.003-05:00

This amazing footage is of a waterspout just off the coast here in East End.

Images from January 09

2009-01-28T09:47:00.011-05:00

The month of January has flown by already and below are some pics of what has been going on this month.

Last week our daily fish feeding attracted alot of guests who were excited to see the Tarpons, chubs, grunts and other fish that come around the dock expecting bread.

The next picture is an image of a Castaway Owner in their local habitat. With new Owners (Iguanas) moving in soon, alternate accommodation will become a necessity

The Department of Tourism's PRIDE training came by the reef for a two day seminar where Jake (Head Concierge) learned to fold napkins among many other things. He's a natural ain't he!

Below is a mini design of The Reef by the Van Leeuwen children who stayed with us over the Christmas period. Note their attention to detail with the all beachfront suites and Apollo's taxi cab parked right out front. The Reef: Where budding architects come to train.

Blue Dragon trail - find the dragons !

2009-01-12T11:36:00.003-05:00

As part of our efforts here at The Reef to apply our resources to helping environmental initiatives, we had our web team redo the Blue Dragon trail pages that seemed to have somehow got lost in the ether a while back.

This should shortly be linked directly from the pages of the Blue Iguana programme, but for now you can find the Blue Dragon Trail pages directly here.

One thing we added was the ability to print a pdf of the map so you can easily get ready to do the self-guided tour yourself once you arrive on island.... a great way to explore it.. get the kids to "capture" all the dragons on their camera !

Cayman Airways Sale-Book by January 27

2009-01-07T16:36:00.008-05:00

Sir Turtle is celebrating the new year with cities on sale!

MIAMI US $179

WASHINGTON US $279

TAMPA US $179

NEW YORK US $279

CHICAGO US $279

JAMAICA US $139

Please visit Cayman Airways.com for more information then head to Thereef.com to book our own winter specials.

Cayman Christmas Lights

2008-12-11T17:01:00.005-05:00

Christmas lights are a big thing here in Cayman as houses compete for pride on the best displays and most unique ones. Several large houses even allow the general public access into their property to view their massive displays.

Every year as well, George Town Harbour is decorated with Christmas Lights bringing a feeling of Christmas throughout the capital.

simplerelaxation.com

2008-12-11T11:18:00.006-05:00

The underground relaxation community has been quietly screaming out for a leader for sometime now.

From every corner of the earth these secret sun worshipers and beach bums have been looking for a place to call their own. Well, good news has arrived as the perfect place to practice the once banned art of relaxation has been found! Please keep everything hush hush and visit simplerelaxation.com where you can find out how to access this piece of paradise.

ELFED 2008

2008-12-10T17:49:00.004-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Stingray Awards

2008-12-04T09:26:00.013-05:00

The annual Stingray Awards ceremony took place on November 29, 2008. These awards are given to the top performers in The Cayman Islands Tourism Industry . The Reef Resort had our own hospitality superstars nominated this year for various awards:

Dulles to Cayman Last Minute Sale!

2008-12-04T09:20:00.005-05:00

One-way airfare starting as low as $99* when purchased by December 8, 2008

Cayman Airways, the national flag carrier of the Cayman Islands is proud to announce, new full-service, nonstop flights from Washington D.C. (Dulles) to Grand Cayman starting December 13, 2008.
To book contact your travel professional or for more information visit www.caymanairways.com/dulles

Caribbean Honeymoon Romance

2008-11-26T16:44:00.005-05:00

Once your wedding is planned and all the arrangements are completed, the next logical step is to figure out where to go for your honeymoon, right? Also, you certainly want to be somewhere secluded and romantic so you and your partner can enjoy the first days of marital bliss together. To make this as simple as possible we have brought back one of our most popular packages for 2009. The "Simply Romance at The Reef" package includes:

5 nights in a Beachfront Deluxe Studio Suite
Champagne and Strawberries in room upon arrival
Private 3 course candlelit dinner for two on the beach with bottle of wine
Sunset Kayak Reef tour for two (or alternative couples watersports activity when available)
Couples Massage at Le Soleil Spa
All taxes and gratuities on packaged items

For package rates, please visit http://www.thereef.com/.

Simply Cycling

2008-11-19T15:40:00.013-05:00

Any past visitor to The Reef will know that the main road right next to us has always looked ideal for both walkers and bike enthusiast as there is very little road traffic in our area.

Well Christmas has come a little early this year as roadwork has recently been completed and the surface is smooth as can be. With Cayman now growing as a destination for Cyclist with the recent Cayman Invitational race event that was scheduled for November 8, 2008 and attracted world renowned cyclist such as Christian Vandevelde and Peter Luttenberger to name a few, international eyes and bike clubs should know have The Cayman Islands on their radar.

If you're a novice rider or maybe someone looking just to go on a stroll then you will be glad to know that The Reef Resort also offers our guest free bike rentals which are available at out Front Desk area.

On the top right of this picture is The Cayman Cycling Clubs jersey which is sponsored by us here at The Reef Resort. It is available for purchase at bikejerseys.com

Yoga Spa Retreat

2008-11-17T16:28:00.014-05:00

'Life is not a race, but a journey to be savoured each step of the way"

The latest addition to The Reef Resorts Simply Relaxation strategy is the all new Yoga Spa Retreat with Donna.

Donna is a certified Hatha Yoga teacher and Burdenk Water conditioning therapist who also has a weekly column in the Caymanian Compass.

This 1-hour yoga experience is an idyllic retreat for the inner self enhanced by the ancient arts of traditional Hatha Yoga, Aromatherapy, Native Flowers and Fragrance.

This experience is absolutely perfect for a first time Yoga experience as well as yoga enthusiast.

For more information please call 1-345-946-3338 or email info@thereef.com

North Side Primary School learns to swim at theReef

2008-10-24T18:46:00.002-05:00

I'm a proud swim parent and (in my spare time!) am working to turn the Cayman Aquatic Centre (including 50m pool) from dream to reality.

A core part of that dream is to "waterproof" Cayman's kids, and that means ALL of Cayman's kids.

In the Eastern Districts there is (until the new Frank Sound High School is built) nowhere for primary school children to learn to swim.

We've therefore done our part at theReef to help, with North Side primary school being taught in the larger pool at theReef two mornings a week.

This is noted in today's Cayman Compass , including a picture I took last week as I saw the school bus parked by the pool one morning.. boy, those kids were having way too much fun !

Autumn has come!

2008-10-24T10:44:00.005-05:00

Happy Halloween everyone! I would like to share a nice little story one of our owners experienced during this fall season. Thanks for sharing Bill & Laura!

Laura bought a nice pumpkin. It sat proudly on the edge of the deck toward the lake next to a beautiful mum plant. The chipmunks and squirrels had chipped away at the skin a bit but it was doing OK. We just turned the "modified parts" away from our view. One morning I got up and it appeared a racoon decided to bore into it. Poor pumpkin went down hill from there. The squirrels and chippies run in and out of the hole, have widened it and even have their own now. The pumpkin now sits on the end of a retaining wall and is the center of constant attraction.

The Blogman Cometh

2008-10-09T14:07:00.003-05:00

Goooooood evening????????

Yes, it is evening time here in Scotland where your favorite reef blogger has been stationed over the last few months and i must apologize for the lack of reef news since then. However, there is good news on the horizon as i will be back in Cayman and back at thereef in less then a months time which is very close to Pirates Week. Hint Hint.

Upon my return expect more updates of the latest news at thereef as well as Cayman.

Gustav grazes The Reef!!

2008-09-01T13:42:00.032-05:00

Good afternoon everyone and thank you for all of the wonderful emails and messages from all of our Reef friends and 'extended family' wishing us well through Gustav!

Firstly, we are very thankful to advise that we are all safe and well and that The Reef only received very minor damages on the beachfront and dock areas due to the high waves. Clean up is in progress and, thanks to our amazing maintenance crew, over 70% of the beach and one of our pools is back in perfect condition already! In fact, due to the high waves, we have gained additional beach again which is great news for all of our guests as this adds to our already massive beachfront, even more space to find that secluded spot!!

I have taken some photos around the resort this morning to give you all an idea of how we are doing.

As you can see, our tennis court was an oversized sand pit for a day and our pools have been

pumped out and cleaned ready for action!!

With our brand new hurricane shutters protecting our all beachfront rooms throughout the resort and a very proactive team here at The Reef, clean up will be a breeze!!!

Therefore, to set your mind at ease, we are open for business and all should be completely back to normal within a couple of days! We look forward to seeing you soon!!

Killer Whales in Cayman

2008-07-28T16:48:00.016-05:00

This group of Killer whales were spotted 7 miles off of East End on July 27, 2008. Apparantly, they tried to get a room at TheReef but were denied because we didnt have any rooms big enough. Sorry guys.

World of Caybrew

2008-07-28T15:59:00.003-05:00

Last Wednesday i got the chance to take a quick tour of the Caybrew factory located in Prospect. I initially went there to drop off my used bottles as Caybrew has a return policy where you get paid $2.00 for each returned case.

After i returned my bottles i was offered a free pint of draft Caybrew from the free sample area they have set-up inside. While enjoying my brew i was offered a free tour of both the recycling area and the actual brewery itself. How could i say no!

I walked through the warehouse area where pallets of this delicious beverage were being prepped for delivery to all the local bars.

My next stop was at the recycling part of the factory where i got to see what happens to those little green bottles and how they are cleaned. Kudos to the Caybrew team as that machine is top of the top and assures the quality of the reused bottles.

After my look at the cleaning area i then walked through the brewing area where the barley, malts, and water combine to make the drink. Walking in, one is initially hit by the strong smell of malt and the heat of the room. This is certainly where the magic happens.

After about 5 minutes of learning the step by step process that goes into brewing the beer, i exited the factory and made my way back to the reception area.

My advice is to give Caybrew a try as it is great tasting and very refreshing.

Let's get GREEN!

2008-07-22T11:11:00.005-05:00

Well I have just under 2 weeks left on this gorgeous island before I have to go home (to Scotland) and start work on my dissertation for university! But before i leave, it is my mission to help theReef become GREEN! TheReef is currently working on reducing our waste and recycling wherever possible.

We have a whole list of GREEN stuff which we do right now but we have never shared this with you until now!

Our GREEN practices:

towel re-use programme
sensors which turn off the A/C in rooms when patio doors are left open
salt water chlorination of our pools instead of using harsh chemicals
we have a biological sewage treatment plant instead of using a traditional septic tank to treat waste
our detergents are carefully chosen to help minimise the impact on the environment

We are looking at lots of new ways to help minimise our environmental impact, and any suggestions you have will be greatly appreciated!!!!

East End Area Part 2

2008-07-22T11:00:00.006-05:00

Part two in our East End series takes us back over 200 years to "The Wreck of the Ten Sails."

The local legend regarding this wreck is that in 1794 ten merchant ships travelling from Jamaica to Britain wrecked at the reef in East End. The story goes that the local East Enders risked their life to save all the passengers and that no lives were lost. One of the passengers on the boat happened to be King George III son the future King William IV.

Apparently, King George III was so grateful for the local Caymanians response that he pronounced The Cayman Islands free from taxation as a reward for their bravery.

Reef Dream Sequence #2

2008-07-18T14:38:00.000-05:00

Part 2 of my dream where i magically wake up at The Reef.

East End Area

2008-07-18T14:16:00.000-05:00

The East End side of Grand Cayman is known for its natural and unspoilt beauty which sets it apart from the commercially developed areas of Grand Cayman and Seven Mile Beach. For many visitors to Cayman it is glimpse into the Grand Cayman of yesteryear when Cayman was truly "the Islands that time forgot". Nature enthusiast will certainly enjoy the many outdoor activities and natural sites that are available exclusively on this side of the island. Today's sites are the Botanic Park and Mastic Trail.

The Queen Elizabeth Botanic Park offer visitors a tour into Grand Caymans fauna and indigenous plants as well as some indigenous animals such as the Blue Iguana Sanctuary.

The Mastic Trail is a pathway through the interior of the North Side area and was first made by Steven Watler over a hundred years ago and was recently restored in 1994.

Guided Tours are available through the National Trust of the Cayman Islands and is strongly recommended by me as the Tour Guide Paul Watler will both entertain and inform as you go through the trail.

Stay tuned as we will continue to post information on the different attractions available here in the East End.

Record Marlin Snagged!!!

2008-07-03T17:16:00.004-05:00

The following is taken from the online edition of Cayman Net News on June 26, 2008.

Leading Caymanian fishermen Clarence ‘King’ Flowers and Buster McLean smashed a 25-year Florida record by landing a 545lb 10 oz swordfish early in the morning of Sunday, 22 June.

Fishing off Government Cut, Miami on the 33-foot ‘Bouncer’s Dusky’, the team battled for more than five hours to bring the fish into the boat. The feat took every ounce of skill - and strength - by the experienced team, which included sword-fishing legend Captain Bouncer Smith, Captain Steve Huddleston and John Herndon.

Not only did the fish clinch the ‘Hydroglow Summer Swordfish Slam’ tournament, but it is also believed to be the biggest swordfish caught in Florida waters for more than a quarter of a century.

“The world’s largest Swordfish tournament now can say, to the best of our knowledge, that it has weighted the heaviest sword to be caught in a tournament,” said Tournament President Drew Kettlehutt.

“It’s the fish of a lifetime,” said an exhausted King Flowers who was back in Grand Cayman ahead of this weekend’s Cayman Swordfish Challenge.

“This is the fish that everyone talks about but somehow always gets away.”

The fish grabbed a day-drop sword rig at around 2,000 feet while it was being set, just an hour after the tournament began. Because of the powerful currents, it took some half hour for Captain Bouncer Smith to figure out that it was a fish, and not the bottom, that they’d hooked.

Using 80lb test line on a 70lb Penn International reel, the team managed to get the fish close to the boat within about 45 minutes.

“It circled around us at 25 miles-per-hour and we got a good look at it,” Mr Flowers said. “We couldn’t believe its size - like a sunken boat.”

The fish then sounded and, as the fight dragged on, a powerful thunderstorm closed in the boat.

“With every lightning strike, the fish pushed deeper, but it was like a submarine, steady and unstoppable, like nothing I’d ever hooked before,” Mr Flowers added.

More than five hours after hooking up, they had the massive fish within 200 feet of the boat - this after a virtual stalemate where line was gained only by quarter turns of the reel.

It was now that the experience of the brilliant Captain Bouncer Smith began to pay off and, with a combination of instruction and boat-handling skill, they were able to work the fish to within gaffing distance.

“It took five gaffs and, eventually, a tail rope, but even then he mashed the transom with his huge tail and slapped Steve Huddleston across the deck with his bill,” Mr Flowers said.

Beyond exhaustion, the crew then had to gather enough strength to get the monster into the boat.

“In 42 years as a full time fishing guide, I have never taken part in a fight with a tougher fish,” Mr Smith said.

Mr Flowers recalls that, on leaving the dock for the evening’s fishing, Captain Bouncer had predicted they would “hook up early, boat a 425 and go to the scales early”.

“So I missed by 120 pounds; it must be a fuzzy crystal ball,” Mr Flowers said.

The team is now looking ahead to the Cayman Swordfish Challenge, the second annual tournament which takes place this Saturday and Sunday, 28 and 29 June. As with the last year’s inaugural tournament, Captains Bouncer Smith and Steve Huddleston and the other top names in Florida sword-fishing will be here to offer their training and guidance to Cayman’s anglers.

“These guys simply know their stuff,” Mr Flowers said. “I thought so before, but having seen them in the ultimate battle, I can attest to it. We’re incredibly lucky to have them here for the Challenge.”

Mr Flowers urges any angler with a dream of landing a swordfish to get involved. The tournament kicks off on Friday, 27 June at 6:30 pm with registration and fishing masterclass at the Brasserie Conference Centre, Cricket Square.

T.G.I......Tuesday or Wednesday (Cayman Summer Sale)

2008-06-25T11:34:00.008-05:00

The average conversation regarding Summer travel tends to go something like this:

Joe Smith: "Jeez, I sure would like to go on a vacation to the Caribbean this summer".

Joanne Smith: " Tell me about it, but with fuel prices like this the airfares are just getting out of control. It looks like we'll be taking the kids to the In-laws this summer instead"

Joe Smith: "The in Laws?AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Don't let what happened to Joe happen to you this summer. Log onto theReef, where you can book our Tuesday/Wednesday 40% off special.

Meetings in The Cayman Islands

2008-06-20T10:14:00.000-05:00

The Reef Resort is the ideal location for meetings and group retreats with our 1600ft of pristine white beach, 142 all beachfront suites, full service restaurant and on site catering facilities. We also offer a lively beach bar, conference centre, on site spa and gym, and some of the finest snorkeling and diving in the world. We are located in the peaceful, East End of Grand Cayman, a relaxing 45 minute drive from the hustle and bustle of Georgetown and the Seven Mile Beach area.

So whether your group wishes to focus on an intense strategic planning retreat or a peaceful, laid back vacation, the tranquility of The Reef is uniquely placed amongst Cayman resorts to facilitate their needs.

For more information on your next corporate meeting, please visit http://www.thereef.com/

Doll-Fin

2008-05-28T11:05:00.004-05:00

The Dolphin Fish( not flipper) has always been regarded as a prize catch not just for its size and taste, but also for the fact that it is great for game fisherman who love the fight these fish can put up.Dolphin can be found not too far from shore (sometimes in less then a 100 feet of water) ,which equals them showing up on alot of restaurant menu's in Cayman.

As the actual Dolphin species has become more known thanks to TV shows like "Flipper"and various marine animal theme parks, the reaction of seeing Dolphin on a menu has caused alot of confusion from past visitors. The term "Mahi-Mahi" has know become popular both in Cayman and around the world, to describe this fish and to eliminate any confusion.

So the next time you see Dolphin on the menu, just remember this is the tasty one. Yum!

Breadkind

2008-05-16T13:37:00.014-05:00

In simpler days, before Cayman was both a huge tourism and financial sector, pretty much all of the food had to be grown locally as there was not alot of food importation taking place here on the island. From this, many staple crops of the traditional Caymanian diet were formed.

As the soil in Cayman was and is still not generally regarded as the best for mass food production, many people grew crops that could weather both the harsh heat and dry ground. Foods like Cassava, Breadfruit, Sweet potatoes, plantains and Pumpkin were high in starch and locally known as "breadkind".

These crops tend to fill you up longer and as i stated earlier do not need alot of maintenance. These foods are in practically all authentic Caymanian Dishes you can try. From Cassava cakes to Rundown(Fish Dinner) these crops reflect not only the food culture of Cayman but its people as well.

Batabano Street Dance Recap

2008-05-16T13:01:00.002-05:00

This years Batabano was once again a fun time for all who attended. As i was not able to attend the actual parade, what i can give you is a secondhand account.

"The parade was excellent and had people wining up and down the street for a long time, there were great big costumes and all those who marched were definitely enjoying themselves. This was certainly one of the best Batabanos i have been to in a little while" said an anonymous source.

As for myself, I arrived at Batabano shortly after 8pm just in time for the street dance which was already under way. Walking through the streets of George Town which were completely blocked off, one can almost feel that the whole island is packed into this one area to have a great time and let loose.

There were designated areas for food and drinks where you could get local dishes like Turtle Stew, Conch Stew, and of course adult beverages.

The stage area was set up right in from of the harbour which provided a great backdrop for the soca bands that were performing. They had the crowds jumping and moving at the snap of their fingers through out most of the evening.

From all accounts it was another succesful Batabano and i hope you can down and enjoy it with us here next year.

Blogabano

2008-04-30T15:25:00.001-05:00

It's finally here as Batabano has hit Grand Cayman!!!

Thursday night is the masquerade ball at Pedro's Castle. Friday night will be the "Friday Night Fete" and the big Machel Montano concert. If you have noticed Ive been blogging allot about concerts recently(big music fan) so its only right i let you all know about whats new and exciting music is coming to Cayman.

Machel Montano is a huge Soca artist and originally hails from Trinidad. Some of his hits include "Big Phat fish" "I just wanna dance" and "Jumpin" to name a few.

As well, Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires (Calypso) will be performing in what has become his seemingly annual performance here at Batabano. many other talented local artists will also be on the bill.

After all that fun Friday night, get ready to wine during the street parade on Saturday afternoon as well as the Adults only street dance at night time.

I will be giving you a detailed report about Saturday nights events.

Cayman Wildlife Rescue

2008-04-25T11:28:00.002-05:00

Cayman Wildlife Rescue will be hosting a Pub Quiz at Triple Crown Restaurant on May 31st.

A pub quiz is basically a trivia game, with much of the questions revolving around popular culture-sports, music, things of that sort. Teams of four will compete, with prizes awarded to those who do the best. Last year’s pub quiz was so successful that they decided to make it an annual affair.

Cayman Wildlife Rescue is a program of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands that is staffed by volunteers and funded by donations and fundraising. CWR rescues and rehabilitates injured wildlife with the aim of releasing affected animals back into the wild.

So head to To Triple Crown on May 31st, who knows you might win something from The Reef.(Hint Hint)

Time is on my side.....yes it is.

2008-04-23T14:14:00.009-05:00

One of the more frequently asked questions by both owners and future guests is, "What's the time there right now?"

Thanks to Mr. McCarthy, your time concerns have been answered as Island time has now been replaced by Cayman time. Take a look at the top right hand corner of our website and you'll see the local time here in the Cayman Islands.

No more worrying about calling a family member too early, or calling the reservation department too late. Simply, visit our homepage before you make a call.

Beres Hammond Concert

2008-04-15T13:22:00.005-05:00

Performing April 25th, 2008 the one and only Beres Hammond will be performing here in Cayman. Reggae lovers of any age will know Beres Hammond as the king of smooth reggae and lover-rock.

With a career spanning over 30 years, Beres has accumulated smash hits such as "Love from a Distance", "Standing in my way" "Double Trouble" and "Living Dangerously" just to name a few. Still going strong and always a favorite here in Cayman, this is one concert not too miss.

Local acts such Impulse Band (one of my favorites), Stewart Wilson and Tinga Stewart will be opening the show.

The Name Game

2008-04-04T15:29:00.012-05:00

Today's Caymanian History lesson will focus on 3 uniquely caymanian last names of Ebanks, Bodden, and Watler.

Many repeat visitors to cayman will soon come to notice the last name of Ebanks is very prominent in all three Cayman Islands. This name is said to be a version of "Eubanks".In fact, If you were to look in the phone book, the last name with the most pages would be..... Ebanks

I can pretty much guarantee that if you meet an Ebanks in any part of the world, somewhere down the line he has Caymanian heritage.

Bodden is the next name on our list. "Derived from "Bowden", who along with the Watlers were the first the first permanent settlers in Grand Cayman. This is also where the district and former capital, Bodden Town comes from.

The final name is Watler. "Derived from "Walter". Once again another of the first settlers to Cayman from Jamaica. A Watler created what is now the Mastic trail which is located a few short miles from The Reef.

Batabano 2008

2008-04-02T13:48:00.008-05:00

Its almost that time of year again for Batabano!!!!

For those who may not know, Batabano is the annual carnival in Cayman that occurs the first week of May. This tradition started in 1984 by the Rotary Club is second to only Pirates Week in terms of popularity among visitors and locals. There is a street parade that features colorful costumes with music and dancing all day long.

Just as popular as the street parade are the street dances that occur at night. The latest soca, reggae, and dancehall music pumping through the speakers is guaranteed to put everyone in a festive mood.

The Junior Batabano Carnival starts April 26th and the Adult Parade and street dance occur May 3rd.

For more info please visit Batabano's official website.

Houston calling

2008-04-02T08:00:00.003-05:00

Sandra from Reservations as well as other Cayman resorts and the DoT traveled to Houston, Texas last week to introduce The Reef, its brand new All Inclusive program and the Cayman Islands in general to agents and travelers in the area. The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism in Houston did a fantastic job putting this Blitz together. The 4-day event included visiting the main travel agencies in Houston, a VIP meeting with Cayman's top producing Travel Agents as well as a 2 day consumer show inviting everyone who loves to travel. We look forward to welcoming our Texan guests who can take advantage of a 2h 20min non-stop flight right out of IAH on Continental - currently 4 times a week and as of summer 2008 DAILY!!! See you in the beautiful Cayman Islands!!!

Nuclear Energy

2008-04-01T08:53:00.002-05:00

The following article is taken from today's Cayman Compass.

A US company has proposed a small nuclear power generator for Cayman now that the electricity industry has been liberalised.
The nuclear reactor is called SSTAR – an acronym for “small, sealed, transportable, autonomous, reactor” is being proposed by a Terre Haute, Indiana–based company called Everglow Power Inc.
The company uses the so–called “pocket nuke” line of reactors that come in sizes that can generate between 10 to 100 megawatts of electricity. Everglow Power Sales and Marketing Manager Gordon Zapya said the company was looking to put a 10–megawatt generator here in Cayman.
“We’ve had several meetings with various government officials and we’ve already done a preliminary survey of possible sites for the generator,” he said. “Because a 10 megawatt generator is 40–feet tall, it would have to be installed partially underground to meet your planning code, we must have a site that is at least 20 feet above sea level.
Although he would not say what his company’s preferred location was for the nuclear generator, Mr. Zapya said it was along the north coast of Grand Cayman in an area of indigenous cliff rock.
Contrary to popular belief, nuclear power is more environmentally friendly than other generating methods using hydro or oil–based methods, Mr. Zapya said.
“People are coming to understand that nuclear is the true “green” power,” he said, adding that technological advances over the past decade have also made nuclear power extremely safe.
Disposal of nuclear waste is not a problem with the company’s SSTAR generators.
“The reactor only has enough Uranium–238 fuel to provide a constant source of power for 30 years,” he said. “After that, the manufacturer will come and take the generator away.”
Mr. Zapya said the Cayman Islands need not worry about the manufacturer fulfilling its obligations to remove the spent nuclear reactor.
“The manufacturer will put a significant amount of the purchase price in an investment escrow account here in the Cayman Islands. Over the 30–year life of the reactor, the escrow account will be worth more than the purchase price.”
The SSTAR has several advanced safety features.
“The reactor is passively safe, which means it does not require operator action or electronic feedback in order to shut down safely in the event of some kind of emergency like overheating or tampering.” he said. “Basically, the reactor is idiot proof. Homer Simpson could operate it.”
Because most of the nuclear reactor will be housed underground, only a small portion will protrude above ground.
“The reactor is housed in a mostly–underground bunker that could withstand a hurricane with 175 mile per hour winds or a Magnitude 8 earthquake,” Mr. Zapya said. “In addition, it’s missile proof.”
The protruding part of housing will be decorated so that it fits in with Cayman’s tropical surroundings.
“We’ll paint it pink or some other colour that fits in with the rest of Cayman’s buildings and then nicely landscape the grounds.”
Although the reactor does not require an operator, Everglow Power does suggest at least one security guard on the site, who could also monitor the operation light.
“On the top of the reactor, there will be two lights, one green and one red. The green light will stay on while the reactor is operational and when all the fuel is spent, the red light will come on. Then it’s time for a new reactor.”
The SSTAR has anti–tampering devices and alarms to prevent any rogue elements from trying to steal the fuel for nuclear weapons.
Everglow Power lead scientist Itza Ruse said anyone who tried to tamper with the SSTAR would be in big trouble.
“The reactor’s alphabet alarms – named that way because there are 26 of them – are directly linked to the US Department of Defense. If someone messes with the reactor, US fighters or drones could be deployed from Guantanamo Bay in less than an hour to zap the bad guys.”
Mr. Ruse acknowledged that a lot of people just don’t believe there can be safe nuclear reactors.
“As sure as it’s April Fool’s day, we can light up Cayman safely,” he said.

One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready......

2008-03-20T15:27:00.004-05:00

Dispatches from Vegas from a couple who are very much a part of The Reef family....but who are they ? First to comment with the correct answer wins... well, being first to get it right :)

State of Nevada marriage license $62, Costumes $225, Limo, minister, photographer and Elvis impersonator $825, getting married in Vegas PRICELESS for everyone else there is the traditional wedding.
We took a few pictures with our camera. A lot more we’ll have in week or so. We got married on Las Vegas Blvd. under the famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign.

Easter Weekend Camping

2008-03-17T11:08:00.005-05:00

A local tradition every Easter weekend is to go camping on the beach. In fact, as i type this, people have already began clearing spots out on the beach for this weekend. Families get together pitch a tent and just enjoy a great time on the beach.

Of course all the standard camping activities like bar-b-queing and a enjoying few beverages are required, as each day resembles one big get together on the beach with different families and friends mingling with each other.

Just picture the whole family together on the beach swimming, snorkeling, tanning, and eating without a care in the world. Now that my friends, is camping at its best.

View from The Reef

2008-03-14T12:24:00.007-05:00

Geez, I wish i was at The Reef. I wonder what it looks like right now.............(fade into dream sequence).........

Yep.

Fish Feeding Goes Live

2008-03-12T15:42:00.004-05:00

Below is the first in what i hope to be more live feeds from the reef.

Here is a quick shot of the fish feeding John does daily. As mentioned in previous blogs this is very popular among guests here at the resort. Tarpons, snappers, Shellfish and many other fish wait eagerly at 12 noon for their daily bread.

The Reef Beach Diet

2008-03-11T11:32:00.024-05:00

Tired of all those resorts that promise results but don't deliver? Or maybe you are just looking to lose a couple trouble inches. Well then The Reef resort has an offer for you. For a limited time we are offering guaranteed weather changes in your local area for..... FREE! Yes you read right. FREE!!!!

See the pictures of Carl's house before he visited The Reef:

Now look at the results after Carl's stay here at The Reef:

The results do not lie. The inches of snow magically disappear after just one visit!

Now, you might be asking yourself, How is this physically and scientifically possible? How can the Reef affect weather conditions? Well the secret is in our Glycemic weather index that melts snow and increases sunshine to your neighborhood after just a few short days here at The Reef.

So call 1-888-232-0541 for more info. What do you have to lose!!!

Offer not valid on days that end in the letter Y. Also, offer is totally fictional as The Reef nor any person on the planet can possibly change the weather. If we could, we probably wouldn't announce it on a blog.

Cayman Rose loves Ravioli

2008-03-03T13:30:00.006-05:00

Some of you may remember, have heard or maybe even met Cayman Rose. We have posted some of her earlier pictures in our Photo Gallery. Her proud grand parents are owners at The Reef and staying with us this week. They brought some new pictures for us to see....isn't she cute? Jan & Steve say: "Our darling granddaughter, Cayman Rose Lightner, just had her first bite of ravioli. Clearly, ravioli just hit her top ten list. Cayman's mom & dad, Sara & Jamie, got engaged in 2004 right on the dance floor in front of the Barefoot man. Cayman has been to the Reef twice. She loves watching John feed the big fish off the dock at noon."

Cayman Went

2008-02-29T11:09:00.001-05:00

Quick Note: The new independant film "Cayman Went" is currently under production and wrapped up filming in Cayman Brac. Following on the heels of "Haven", this is the latest movie to feature The Cayman Islands. Im currently gathering more info about the movie, so please click on these links to get the latest news on the film.http://www.caymannetnews.com/news-5277--1-1--.html

http://www.caymannetnews.com/news-5067--7-7--.html

When The Daily Show came to The Reef

2008-02-28T13:16:00.005-05:00

Back around tax time in spring 2005, I had an absolute blast for a couple of days as The Reef hosted Ed Helms and his crew to do a shoot for the segment above.

Of course back then Blogger didn't allow videos to be uploaded !

They did the whole shoot, guerilla style, in about two days straight. At the end, I took them out for dinner at Ristorante Papagallo, which has just re-opened after major roof repairs post-Ivan. Vico, host at Papagallo, regaled us with tails (or even 'tales".. thx for the edits from "Anonymous) of how he repaired his majestic thatch roof, but poor Ed Helms was exhausted, and could hardly stay awake :)

I might be biased, but I think it is one of the funniest Daily Show segments ever :)

Fans of The Reef may recognise us in a few of the shots :
- Shot of Ed coming out of the sea in a suit
- Ed buried in the sand
- Ed having a massage by the

New arts and craft shop in Bodden Town

2008-02-26T22:16:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of the Cayman Compass, that striking new yellow building I pass on my way to work through Bodden Town each day has quite the story behind it :

In as little as three weeks Bodden Town will be home to a new arts and crafts shop featuring only things Caymanian.

The striking two storey establishment with a picturesque view of the sea will also be home to proprietors Elbert Forbes and Krista Silcox, a coffee shop and an art studio. It’s next door to the Bodden Town Pirates Caves Gift Shop.

Also on the property will be nine Caymanian styled bungalows and a guest house.

But what really makes this establishment so enchanting and unique is that it will feature the works of some of Cayman’s finest cooks and artisans.

Straw hats, bags and baskets adorned with colorful decorations, an interesting assortment of handcrafted wood, coral and seashell pieces, paintings, art supplies, some of the finest fruits and vegetables, breads, heavy cakes, jams, buns, candies, jellies and drinks that Cayman has to offer will be on sale.

“What we are trying to create here is a truly unique Caymanian experience for residents and tourists to enjoy,” said Mr. Forbes.

“When visitors come to Cayman they want to see and buy some thing that is native to Cayman. They do not want to come to Cayman and have to buy trinkets and souvenirs stamped made in China or Jamaica. No foreign art or craft will be imported into the shop; all the supplies and work displayed in the store will be made by Caymanians and stamped 100 hundred per cent Caymanian.

“Even the building is steeped in Caymanian history,” said Mr. Forbes.

The Bodden Town Art Shop is a refurbished 100–year–old wattle and daub building first owned by Maggie Webster, which became home to Laurel Wood.

The art and craft shop on the lower floor at the main entrance will have an extensive collection of fine Caymanian arts and crafts.

Mr. Forbes is a George Town native and owner of Professional Waste Management. Ms Silcox moved to Cayman three years ago from Minneapolis. With similar dreams, they set about providing a cultural, back–to– nature establishment for people to enjoy.

Ms Silcox loves to paint with watercolour and acrylic on canvas. She will teach art classes on the premises.

Main attraction

The coffee shop, which Mr. Forbes and Ms Silcox say is the main attraction, will offer some of the finest treats.

It is on the lower floor to the right of the building.

A long patio leading to the front of the building has a scenic view of the sea; this area will have tables and chairs.

On offer will be fresh bread slices smothered with jams and jellies and other fresh fruits.

Cake slices made from cassava, yam, pumpkin, breadfruit, cocoa, corn and other produce and fruits will also be sold.

“The nine Cayman style bungalows located at the back of the property will be built like those that were here in the 1940s,” said Mr. Forbes.

“These will be nestled among Cayman indigenous vegetation that has been left in place.” said Mr. Forbes.

There are also a lot of local wild animals such as agoutis, chickens, iguanas, and birds on the property. A huge rock wall surrounding the property will help to protect and allow the animals to roam free.

To the left of the art shop will be a three storey building, which will contain an office, a massage parlour and at the top will be a high class restaurant. All foods sold in the restaurant will be local cuisine, said Mr. Forbes.

Other amenities include Jacuzzis, swimming pools and hot tubs.

The owners also own property on the seaside across the road.

On the beach will be cabanas, jet skies, beach chairs, towels and painting classes for children and adults.

Agriculture Show 2008

2008-02-15T15:04:00.004-05:00

Last Wednesday marked the 41st agriculture show here in the Cayman Islands. This event always falls on Ash Wednesday and is treated as a day out for the family and to have a good time. From foodies to farmers this event is a treat for all. In fact, this years had biggest crowd on record with over 10,000 people attending.

The event features prizes in a variety of categories from produce to native crafts. As i walked in I was greeted with the smell of a multitude of food items which made my selection that more difficult.( I opted for the Turtle Stew). After i got something in my stomach, I ventured over to see the farm animals on display. Cows, Goats, Pigs and chickens were on display for the competition and is certainly a treat for the young children.

The next area i ventured to was where venders were selling various plants and trees such as mangos, hot peppers, and guavas. As a big lover of Ackee and codfish, i was forced to buy an ackee tree for my own yard. For those who dont know, Ackee is a fruit that turns red when ripe and looks like scrambled eggs when served. This is why Ackee and Codfish is generally ate at breakfast time.

There was also a children's area with bouncing castles and slides which is perfect when you need a break.

Every year the Agriculture Show brings something new and exciting for people of all ages and this years show was no different.

Simply All Inclusive - only from theReef

2008-02-10T19:44:00.000-05:00

In what is probably one of the biggest news items ever from The Reef, we are proud to announce ;

Simply All Inclusive

This is the first time ever that any resort in Cayman has offered a premium all inclusive plan...that's a la carte dining, 'top shelf' drinks.... no strings attached !

Rates start this summer from $429 double occupancy... and that includes all taxes.

For more information, see here

National Heroes Day

2008-01-23T14:16:00.000-05:00

This Monday marks National Heroes Day here in the Cayman Islands and this got me thinking about the definition of heroes and people who have been heroes.

Caymanian's dont have to look far back in history to find national heroes as they still live among us. No more then 50 years ago Cayman was a small little island(still is) with very little in terms of material wealth, most Caymanian males went off to sea on various ships to earn a living and support their families back home. With this tradition Caymanian's became internationally known as great seaman and were highly sought after. These men are now celebrated on National Heroes Day for their contribution to the growth of The Cayman Islands.

Individually, I'm sure everyone has someone who in their life has inspired them. From parents to community leaders to sports stars, the list of people who can inspire and be looked at as contributing to the betterment of their society is endless

Lets spend today having a good time but also taking time to appreciate the people who came before you and helped shape who you are.

Weddings at The Reef - on CaymanIslands website

2008-01-14T16:37:00.000-05:00

Just been emailed by the wonderful Rebecca Grinnals, telling me that another wedding at The Reef has now been featured on the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism website....

This is the wedding of Andrew and Amber Fullerton.....ably co-ordinated on property by Linda Locke, our inestimable weddings guru.....read the link to the Cayman Islands site for more information.

Remember, we guarantee only one wedding per day... so if you are planning your wedding, make it unique at The Reef...

Oops.. very "sales pitch" blog, sorry, am at a travel trade show !

Franko's Map of The Cayman Islands

2008-01-09T14:26:00.000-05:00

"What about diving?", is easily the number one asked question by visitors to Cayman. As most of you already know, The Caymans Islands are world renowned for our diving and now thanks to Franko, finding all of those dive sites just got even easier.

Many guests to The Reef Resort happen to be divers and this map is sure to come in handy. In fact, Popular dive sites such as "Valley of the Dolls", and "Turtle Pass" are located very near to The Reef Resort.

From the obligatory "Stingray City" and "The Wall" to "Bloody Bay" in Cayman Brac, all of the listed dive sites in Grand Cayman can now be found on a waterproof color map. Even if you are not a diver this map can hang on your wall as a reminder to come and visit Cayman.

These maps are for sale at http://www.frankosmaps.com/Cayman_Islands.htm for $8US and can also be purchased here at our dive shop.

Boatswains Beach Visit

2008-01-08T15:36:00.000-05:00

So Sunday afternoon i decided to spend a little quality time with the family and head over to Boatswains Beach and The Turtle Farm. This was my first time visiting this new attraction since the Turtle Farm reopened after Hurricane Ivan.

Boatswains Beach aims to show Cayman Culture while also incorporating a theme park aspect that makes a great time for people of all ages.

Upon entering you will encounter a humongous tank filled with Giant Sea Turtles of which feed is given to you upon entering. You then take a walk throughout the many little tanks which feature Turtles of many ages that you can pick up and hold for a quick snapshot.

Turtle Meat has long been treasured among Caymanians and Turtle Stew is in fact our National Dish. From the days of Catboats(another unique local tradition) to nowadays i would challenge you to find a Caymanian who could pass up a plate of Turtle Stew. I'm starting to get off subject....so...

Now, after you have passed through the Turtle Tanks which also hold such animals as the Caiman Crocodile (from which our islands got their name) and Iguanas, you enter the theme park section of the park. This is where the fun continues as you have the Boatswains Lagoon where you get the chance to swim with all sorts of saltwater creatures, even turtles!

There is also the Predator Reef which features various types of Sharks that can viewed through a protective glass window. To the right is the huge Breakers lagoon which, if you are bringing little kids, you should plan to spend a little while as the kids can't get enough of it.

The next section is a bird sanctuary featuring such birds as The Cayman Parrot(National Bird), Red Footed Boobies, and many more indigenous birds to Cayman.

After the birds is a nature trail through the woods where those nature enthusiasts can see all of the native tree's and plants to the Cayman Islands and hopefully walk off some of those Caybrews from the bar. (Maybe that's just my me.)

Exit the trail and you then head over to Cayman Street which features houses built in the Old Cayman Style and several items such as traditional "fish pots" and a "caboose", which Caymanians used to cook meals on.

As you exit Boatswains Beach feel free to pick up a souvenir from the gift store.

Overall, I strongly recommend visitors and Caymanians alike to visit this attraction as you get to have fun and learn about the culture all in one trip.

Take a visit to http://www.boatswainsbeach.ky/ for more info.

OFF: The New Buzzword for 2008?

2008-01-07T10:25:00.000-05:00

The following article by Nina Zapala, who we are proud to note is part of our creative team (and PR Director) at The Reef, gives great food for thought for planning that next vacation.

Of course you can use your Blackberry and WiFi at The Reef, but Nina's article is something we could all consider.

Personally, I just came back from vacation in the Scottish Highlands, in a place where there was no cellular service, so it felt good to disconnect the Blackberry entirely !

One word that I am predicting may topple this year’s media favorites (some of which are authentic, geo-tourism, Al Gore, and living green) is the word “off”. Today’s travelers aspire to experience an authentic “off” destination, become educated on a destination’s culture and lifestyle, submerge themselves via a return to nature and/or the days of uncomplicated fun: Arts and craft fairs, carnivals, food festivals, and more.

Most people do not realize that during a course of one week they receive over 304 work emails and another 274 personal emails, according to Jupiter Media. These numbers reflect averages and do not take into consideration what a top executive or CEO receives, or for that matter, many of the travel writers I speak with receive thousands of emails daily.

Another recent article also supports my predication of the “off” button becoming a new trend. BusinessWeek penned an article – (11.19.07), entitled “Overloaded Kids turning to Low-Tech”. Although many adults may have the same issues, our youth today have monumental pressures to stay connected. Think text messaging, maintaining their Facebook and/or their YouTube sites, or dealing with their second life Avatar or creating a family of Littlest Pets via a virtual pet social network. The problem is children today are over-communicated, and become anxious trying to keep up with it all. They crave down time to just disconnect and get involved with simple, easy-to-use products and activities. The article in BusinessWeek coined a phrase called “analogue living” which speaks to the idea of children turning off and tuning in to what was once a simple and uncomplicated life reminiscent of their parents’ childhood. What was once thought of as un-cool is now very cool – think carnivals, kite flying, food festivals, and yes, cloud watching. In a nutshell, anything that is easy and offers a human component.

As far as high-end executives are concerned, many are now looking to find destinations that do not cater to their hi-tech needs. They want to power down and stay in the off-mode. How can anyone really enjoy the riches before them if they are attached to a machine with a flurry of never-ending demands? To really gain the most joy and fulfillment from the precious moments a vacation provides, be it culture immersion, learning a new activity or just soaking up the sunshine while relishing the best barbeque and beer within a tri-state area, “off” is an option that both young and old alike will choose.

“Off” is already starting to have an impact, as I recently visited a magical 5,500-acre resort in the Pocono Mountains, Skytop Lodge, (www.skytop.com). All guests were politely but firmly told to turn off all cell phones, Blackberries, etc., as we were all headed to a wonderful place called Goose Pond, home to black bears, beavers, foxes, and more. It was a clear, sky blue day, and we did see hints of animals on our walk. Everyone powered down and really focused on the walk, asking great questions and actually learning about the area and the animals and learning a bit about one another as well. It was a very refreshing experience for all who attended.

Several other places I noted are also about keeping it “off” and I am sure there are hundreds of more. Lake Austin Spa Resort, Texas www.lakeaustin.com encourages guests to restrict usage of cell phones, etc., to their rooms during their stay, while Where You Want to Be Tours also discourages the use of cell phones and pagers on their walking adventures urging participants to “tune into their spirit of adventure” www.wheretours.com.

How can hoteliers tap into the “off” idea? A few ideas are stated above, but the best advice is to seek activities that drive guests to turn off their cell phones and encourage total immersion in the activity at hand. Hence, the rise in spiritual vacations reported by the Miami Herald, on 12.23.07. Think back to the days of yesteryear when the annual arts and crafts fair showcased artisans carving, weaving or sculpting one-of-a-kind creations. Think carnival days where hot funnel cakes, water-shooting pistols with prizes attached, and strolls to catch the next act were the mainstay of entertainment. Take a tip from Where You Want to Be Tours as a big city property can develop a tour that offers off-the-beaten path eateries, boutique shopping, historic stops and architecture of note. Food and music festivals, cultural events and more provide “off” opportunities for any visitor, at any age.

Of course, 2008 will usher in more sophisticated technology, and yes, learning about a place via a podcast or V cast is wonderful, but while a guest is actually on vacation ask them to take the “off challenge”. Yes, they may look at you like you are crazy, but isn’t that half the fun? At the very least you may stimulate them to think, “Do I really need to answer these emails right now?”

Pose to guests the old 80/20 rule, were 80 percent of the emails coming in are junk while only 20 percent really matter. In the long-run what is more important, a satiating vacation experience or time spent with your Blackberry or iPhone? It should be easy to answer when you think in those terms.

Behind the Shell: The true story of Conch

2007-12-19T09:23:00.000-05:00

Conch season is in full effect right now in Cayman and i feel its time the world becomes acquainted with this mysterious creature of the sea.

Conch pronounced 'Konk', is a marine snail found in the waters of Atlantic and holds a special place to all Caymanians as a food source. Conch live in shells averaging 8-14 inches in length and can be found generally inside the reef areas of Cayman.

Conch season started on November 1st and and continues until April 30th, 2008. Some quick info on rules and regulations for taking conch:

Conch may not be taken from any of the marine protected areas around the three islands, including the recently introduced Wildlife Interaction Zones.

The legal catch limit for conch taken from the open zones is five per person or 10 per boat, per day, whichever is less. Removing more than the prescribed limit is an offence.

It is also against the law for anyone to receive or purchase more than five conchs taken from Cayman waters in any one day.

Stew Conch, Conch fritters, Marinated conch, and conch salad are just some of the different ways one can consume this animal. My personal favorite is the Stew Conch.

Happy Holidays from the reservations elves!

2007-12-17T17:22:00.000-05:00

Season's greetings to all of our lovely guests, friends and future guests from The Reef Reservations Elves!!

We decided to send you a little cheer from Cayman, please click on the following link:
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1484588312

We hope you have a wonderful, safe and fun holiday season!!

Linda, Sandra, Brian and Penny !

The Reef - feels like family

2007-12-14T14:16:00.001-05:00

Many of our past guests vividly remember the warmth and unique humour of Phil Maguire, our Restaurant Manager from 2002 through 2006. Phil was recently visiting and came to our annual staff Christmas party. I thought I'd share his letter to our inimitable Resort Manager, Mr. Lawrence Haughton... the bold highlights are mine :

Mr. Lawrence,
I'd like to thank you very much for your kind invitation to the staff party last week. It was certainly most enjoyable. It was like stepping back in time. But having been away for the better part of a year gave me a somewhat clearer view of what has been achieved at the Reef.
Practically every management guru who has ever been published stresses the need for team-building. In itself it's a worthy concept but too many leaders/managers pay mere lip-service to the idea. I'm firmly convinced that at the Reef you have left the notion of team-building far behind and instead have managed to create a Family.
I was observing how different people interacted at the party last week, both during the presentations and either side of them, and it struck me that the genuine warmth and regard that people from a variety of different backgrounds appeared to have for each other would not be matched or bettered in too many other establishments.
Seriously, I think you have achieved something pretty unique, and the end result is clearly greater than the sum of the individual parts.
Long may it continue. !

One could say this is the "touchy feely" and intangible part of the business, but it is very, very real and vitally important to treat your staff like family, as they will then treat guests not just as VIPs, but as an extension of that family.

I'm sitting here typing this in a seminar at a conference on resort marketing, but haven't heard anyone talk about "family" yet :)

Cayman is a birdwatcher’s paradise

2007-12-12T09:02:00.000-05:00

The following article is from FUN NEWS which is a local paper that is periodically released from Caymans own Barefoot Man who performs exclusively at The Reef Resort. For a complete listing of his performance schedule click here.

The Cayman Islands offer some unique opportunities for the popular hobby of birdwatching, as they are host to a surprisingly wide range of resident birds. They also act as a staging post for many migratory birds and other occasional visitors. Cayman is particularly fascinating for the study of wildlife, as species long resident on one island can evolve slightly differently from their mainland counterparts, and develop characteristics not seen anywhere else.

The first studies of birds found in Cayman were published by C.B.C. Cory in 1886, but were restricted to descriptions of birds found in Grand Cayman at that time. Numerous brief visits by ornithologists then followed. Then in 1982, Patricia Bradley came to live in Grand Cayman and began to put together comparative monthly records of bird sightings on all three islands. Her highly regarded field guide Birds of the Cayman Islands (now in its second edition) describes the biogeography of the area, and gives details of the history of bird settlement and migration. Full bird descriptions are provided, with colour pictures by Yves-Jacques Rey-Millet and the author.
International experts also visit Cayman to study its bird life, some under the auspices of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands’ Visiting Scientists Programme. In 1994, for example, Nedra Klein from the American Museum of Natural History arrived to conduct a study of local Tanagers, Warblers and Bananaquits. In 1997, Betty Ann Schreiber also helped conduct the survey on the Red-footed Booby Pond on Little Cayman.

The National Trust organizes regular birdwatching activities conducted by local ornighologists and avid bird enthusiasts. Weekends often see members gathering at a selected location, usually in the Botanic Park, for a field trip. Check our Calendar of Events for the latest activities.
The Cayman Islands Bird Club has very supportive of the work of the Trust, and has made some substantial contributions to the greater understanding of local avifauna (birds). Members have also assisted with the census conducted on the range and population of Cayman Islands Parrots, and have constructed a comprehensive list of birds sighted at The Governor Michael Gore Bird Sanctuary.

Some of the most important locations for birdwatching in Cayman are held in trust for the people of the islands. These include the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, the Mastic Reserve, the Cayman Brac Parrot Reserve, and the Little Cayman Booby Pond Nature Reserve. Rare and endangered birds also find sanctuary in the Salina Reserve and the Central Mangrove Wetland. Other interesting and protected sites include Meagre Bay Pond in Pease Bay, Colliers Pond in East End, Vulgunners Pond and Palmetto Pond at Barkers in West Bay, and islanders’ own gardens. An astonishing variety of birds can be seen right outside the window of island residences. Several native species have become quite happy to live in built up areas, and can been seen feeding on garden plants and insects. To date, a total of 219 different species (both resident and migrant) have been recorded.

For “would be” birdwatchers, very little skill or equipment is necessary to begin this intriguing pastime. A good pair of binoculars is recommended and a field guide to assist in identifying the birds spotted is helpful. The best time for birdwatching is either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Just remember that birds depend on their habitat for everything, so on field trips (especially to Reserves and Sanctuaries) take nothing out and leave nothing behind. If you should see a bird you believe has not been previously recorded, make careful notes about when and where you view and at what time. Take a photograph if possible, then contact the Bird Club. Every birdwatcher is a potential discoverer!

The Reef Reservations goes seven days per week

2007-12-11T15:55:00.000-05:00

Who said things move on "island time" down here ? Not us, that's for sure. At The Reef, we've always been proud of how very responsive we are to customer calls and emails.

Now, we've grown to the stage where can take it one stage further, so whilst our reservations office core hours continue to be Monday to Friday 8:30-5:30 EST, we now have reservations staff coming in seven days per week (for a few hours per day on Saturday and Sunday), and at all other times calls to our toll free number (888) 232-0541 will be answered instead of just going to voicemail.

This means that a) all emails will be responded to within no more than 24 hours, and b) calls for routine reservations etc can be made seven days per week from 7am to 11pm, with more detailed or complex requests being taken for response by the reservations team during their hours.

Another small way we are continually "taking it to the next level"

Retreat to the East

2007-12-11T10:16:00.000-05:00

As if you needed more reasons to come and visit us folks out here on the East Side.

The Department of Tourism has partnered with several business and attractions in the area to come up with the new "Discover the East" adventure card. For US$16.00 you have free access to both The Botanic Park and Pedro St James historic park. This in itself would make the card a great value, but the benefits don't stop there.

Cardholders also receive special discounts at participating retailers such as The Mission House, Pirates Caves, Lighthouse Restaurant, Vivines Kitchen, Ocean Frontiers, Over The Edge restaurant and many more.

Adventure cards can be purchased here at The Reef and there will be more info on this promotion as it becomes available.

Jazz Fest (Saturdays Finale)

2007-12-05T11:07:00.001-05:00

The final show of the three day festival was from all accounts the best as each artist gave an outstanding performance and kept the audience well entertained into the night.

I attended Saturdays show with Penny Young from our member services department who some of our owners should be familiar with. Below is her review of the show:

They say, "save the best for last" and they surely did as this show was a treat for both jazz and r & b lovers. It was absolutely incredible. Cayman's own songbird "KK Allese" started off the night with a mix of r & b and reggae. She is a great local talent and trust me when i say that she will be internationally known, not too long from now. After KK came jazz man Mike Phillips who is a superb musician and a great entertainer. At one point he actually held a single note for over 4 minutes!

After a wait of about 25 minutes the crowd was starting to get a little restless and that's when the top guns came out. Brian McKnight came out onto the stage and immediately the crowd was rocking. He performed many of his classic hits such as "Anytime", "The Only One for me", "The Last Cry". At one point he brought out his two sons on stage to sing a couple of tunes.

Joe came on stage in the middle of Brian McKnight's set and performed his big hits that had the ladies going crazy. Songs like "I wanna know" and "All the things" were real crowd pleasers and continued the energy from Brian's set.

Gospel star Bebe Winans came on next. After about two songs he got together with Brian McKnight and Joe to perform their song "Home"

Brian McKnight closed the show with his hit "Back at One". Fireworks then followed, capping off a great show and a successful weekend.

I have to agree with Penny as i was blown away by the performances and the level of energy that each artist brought to the stage. Put Jazz Fest 2008 on your calenders now!

Freezing in New York State !

2007-12-02T10:48:00.000-05:00

An old saying goes... "be careful of what you wish for, you might just get it".

It is no secret that anyone in Caribbean tourism wishes for the early onset of Winter and some snows in the North East, as nothing makes people hanker more for some winter warmth in the Caribbean.

So...last night I arrive after 11pm in New York and, after navigating (somehow!) my rental car up the various parkways to my hotel upstate, it was in the 20s when I walked into the hotel.

No problem, I can wrap up warm... then this morning, snow was dumped all over the place and the roads are a mess....no idea how to get to my conference now :)

Ah well, called home, and the temperature is in the 80s as usual.... me wanna go home ! :)

RNN (Reef News Network) Special Report

2007-11-30T15:09:00.000-05:00

Blogging to you live from the front line of The Reef Resort(Concierge Desk) this is Prospect.

I have been here at the concierge desk for a full week now and have breakings news to report, Cayman Jazz Fest is a hit!

Many guests have been flocking to the desk to get their hands on these valuable tickets that are moving like hot cakes. Tonight's show features Chaka Kahn and Music Souldchild who both seem to be the more coveted acts so far for this years concert.

In other news our Stingray City Trip remains very popular with many guests choosing to prebook their spot on the boat months in advance. This trip is US$50.00 .

The Barefoot Man show is also a very popular request and i suggest to each guest to make reservations early as his show also fills up very fast. The show is 7pm to 10pm and includes a three course dinner, all for C.I.$39.95! To see the schedule of when Barefoot and other local entertainers are performing take a look at the entertainment section of our website.

Stay tuned as there will be more breaking news from the concierge desk as it happens.

"Wha happenin dis weekend"

2007-11-23T11:46:00.000-05:00

This weekend and next will feature two major entertainment events, Cayman Jazz Fest and Gimistory.

Back in the days(3 months ago) when i first started blogging about The Cayman Jazz Fest the performer scheduale had not been fully announced. Well you are in for a treat as some of the biggest names in jazz and r&b will be performing next weekend here in The Cayman Islands.

Acts such as Brian Mcknight, Bebe Winans, Music Soulchild, Chaka Kahn, Alex Bugnon, Dianne Reeves, and Mondy Alexander are schedualed to perform over the 3 day festival.

This annual event is great for not only Jazz and r@b enthusiasts, but for any music fan in general and starts November 28th to December 1.

Tickets are CI$145 for the all weekend pass and can be purchased indivudually as well here at The Reef Resort through our concierge Leona Baker.

However, for this weekend its all about "Gimistory".

Gimistory is an annual storytelling event(now in its 9th year) put on by The Cayman National Cultural Foundation and features storytellers from Cayman and the Caribbean gathering in an intimate setting to tell stories ranging from "The Cayman of Old" to just flat out funny tales.

Cayamanian culture like many other Caribbean islands have been passed down from generation to generation by stories. For example, every Caymanian can recall stories of duppies(ghosts) that would come and get you if you were behaving badly.

Returning once again will be Guyana native Ken Corsbie, who has captured audiences all over the Caribbean with his tales. Also, The Storytellers (Barry Marshall and Jeri Burns) return to spread the brand of storytelling and song.

Best of all admission to this event(November 23- December 1) is Free!

Must Sees in Cayman - Mastic Trail and Botanic Park

2007-11-22T15:27:00.003-05:00

Hi folks,

I've just spent a great half day being a tourist... taking some UK journalists down the Mastic Trail and then to the Blue Iguana Recovery programme at the Botanic Park and then round the Botanic Park itself.

Each of these are massively underappreciated and it is crazy how few visitors actually experience these wonderful expressions of the beauty and variety of the natural environment in Cayman.

Please do take the opportunity to click on the links above to each of the Mastic Trail, Blue Iguana Recovery Programme and Botanic park and do visit them when you come to Cayman if you can.

The Reef will also be offering a "Save the Blue Dragon" vacation package for Summer 2008, check with our website or reservations@thereef.com for more information

Reef Profile John Peart (Maintenance)

2007-11-22T10:13:00.000-05:00

"What i love most is seeing the smiles on guest faces and trying to make their day just a bit more enjoyable", said John when asked to describe what he most loves about working at The Reef.

Having been at the resort for almost three years, many return guests should certainly be familiar with John as he also does the daily fish feeding from the dock, which has become very popular. "I started the fish feeding because guests would always ask me what was there for my kids to do. So i decided to create something that would be enjoyable for the kids and their parents."

When not at The Reef you can usually find John in Bodden Town chatting with other Caymanians about the "good ole days" and travelling out to sea for a living.

Just ask John about the Lighthouse School( a school for mentally handicapped children) and watch his face light up as he describes how proud he is of being a member on the fundraising committee. As 2008 approaches John's main goal is to build a house on the piece of property he recently purchased.

"I just want to send Holiday Greetings to all the past guests at the resorts and i hope to see you in 2008" says John.

How big is the beach at The Reef ?

2007-11-20T12:11:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Barefoot Man for this lovely picture. When he isn't playing at The Reef (see his schedule here), recording new songs, marketing his CDs, fishing, lazing in a hammock etc.... he is the publisher of his own newspaper, "Fun News", which takes a humorous look at things to do and see and life in the "Far East" of Grand Cayman.

This great shot gives a great look right down the beach at The Reef, and yes, that's all our beach.

Oh, and if you look closely at the far end of the beach you'll see a huge mound of sand that came from the site for the final phase of our resort (the roof is now on, they'll be open soon enough!), does anyone want to buy a LOT of sand ? :)

Pirates Week (Conclusion)

2007-11-20T10:25:00.001-05:00

All goods things must come to an end and unfortunately so does this one. Pirates Week officially concluded this past Saturday in George Town Harbour. A fireworks show marked the end of the Festival and the evening concluded with a final street dance and performance by Image Company.

The night before i also attended West Bay district day where i was treated to great Caymanian Cuisine once again. (My belly can attest)

Image Company performed here as well and put on a great show for the crowd. For those Reef guests and owners who need a refresher on West Bay, please take a look at this map for guidance.

The West Bay district features such attractions as Boatswains Beach, Hell, Cemetery Beach, and is features great undrwater diving as well.

Getting back on course, The Pirates Week festival was an overall success and in my eyes was the best I've ever been fortunate enough to attend. From the parades and fireworks to cultural lessons and street dances, it was a great time and i hope you are fortunate enough to visit next year.

P.S. Batabano is right around the corner.

Monday funny - Omid Djalili

2007-11-19T16:38:00.000-05:00

Nothing to do with The Reef or Cayman, but discovered this guy last week, I thought he was hysterically funny... and YouTube might have been invented to showcase stand up comedians !

(Click on the image for a five minute standup routine)

Tell me if you like it and I'll try to find a funny video to post each Monday :)

Cuban migrant boat stops briefly at The Reef dock

2007-11-16T11:32:00.000-05:00

It was with very mixed emotions that guests and staff alike witnessed the latest Cuban migrant boat to pass through the waters of Cayman, making a very brief stop here at The Reef Resort's dock yesterday afternoon.

The nine men and one woman were in good health and, despite being at sea for 9 days in what seemed to be a very unstable vessel, they expressed their wish to the authorities via our Cuban expat staff member, Enrique, to carry on with their journey to Honduras where family members were awaiting their arrival.

Most of our guests expressed extreme concern and were donating food, water and anything that they could think of in an effort to help make the treacherous journey a little better. We gave them fresh water and fruit, warm bread and diesel fuel to continue with their journey. The occupants of the boat were very grateful and sailed away with about 50 onlookers waving and wishing them luck.

Our guests had many questions, the main one being, why are they being allowed to continue?

According to Chief Immigration Officer Franz Manderson, Cayman has not granted refugee status to anyone since 1994 when a group of 43 Cuban migrants were given asylum. Mr. Manderson has said Cubans arriving here by boat are generally economic migrants, not refugees. Currently, the Cayman Islands Memorandum of Understanding agreement with Cuba, signed in 1999, states that Cuban migrants who enter Cayman illegally are sent back to their home country.

Under current guidelines, the Cayman Islands government does not provide any assistance to Cuban migrants who show up in vessels off shore. However, those migrants are given the option of continuing on with their journey even if the water craft they travel in is clearly not seaworthy. If the occupants are deemed physically unable to continue or express the wish to be repatriated, or it is very obvious that the vessel will not make it, the Cayman authorities will take them ashore and they will be repatriated after a short spell here in Cayman.
According to the report: “The vessels used by Cuban migrants, even if repaired and made notionally seaworthy, are either makeshift or extremely old and are still at risk during what all are agreed is an extremely dangerous journey.
“If a vessel, which has been patched up with the assistance of the Cayman Islands government was to then encounter difficulties, which in turn led to loss of lives, it could be argued that the Caymanian authorities are implicated in and in part responsible for, such an unfortunate outcome.”

I myself believe that this is one of the saddest, yet at the same time , the most humbling and bravest exhibits of human behaviour that one could experience. To risk your life like this in order to start a new life is more than most of us can comprehend, however, this is a regular occurrence here in Cayman and all over the world.

I know that I left here last night with an overwhelming sense of how lucky I am and how good I have it!

As a final thought, before leaving, they were asked if they needed anything else for their journey, their answer was 'just pray for us'! I think we all prayed in our own little way last night.

Pirates Week (The Reef Resort invasion)

2007-11-16T11:06:00.000-05:00

Well it seems the Pirates cannot be stopped as they have made their way from George Town all the way to The Reef Resort!

The swashbucklers stormed our beach last night and apparently took several employees and guests hostage. In fact, the whereabouts of Valentino (our f+b manager pictured above in the red) are still unknown.

The Pirates were making their way through East End last night in conjunction with the East End district day celebration that took place last night. Yours truly even stopped by to sample the turtle and conch stew. The music was great and the celebration included local crafts and truly reflected the uniqueness of The East End and our Caymanian culture as a whole.

Anyways, more pirates week info later as the search is still on for Valentino!

The early love birds catch the Wedding!

2007-11-14T13:02:00.000-05:00

Good afternoon from Cayman where the sun is shining and all is wonderful here at The Reef!

The last couple of weeks have been an extremely busy time for me with more and more couples booking their weddings here at The Reef for 2008 and 2009 (even some for 2010!!). From last years experience, I only see this flurry of weddings increasing between now and the New Year with the holidays seemingly being prime season for proposals, as well as plenty of family get togethers which are all important for the Wedding decision making process.

Due to our 'one wedding a day guarantee', which ensures that the Bride and Groom enjoy their uniquely special day to the fullest, my 2008 weddings calender is beginning to look very healthy indeed! So, please, if you are thinking about your 2008 or 2009 Cayman Wedding here at The Reef, don't procrastinate, your chosen date could be long gone!

If you do need more information or would like to check availability for a specific wedding date, please contact me at weddings@thereef.com.

Pirates Week (Opening Weekend)

2007-11-13T17:10:00.000-05:00

ARGHHHH the pirates have taken over the entire island.

This weekend marked the beginning of the festival and it was a blast for all who participated. Friday night was the fireworks show and George Town was completely filled with families and children who came out to enjoy the show. Food was abundant as the smell of Conch, Fish, and Jerk Chicken filled the air. After the fireworks came the street dance. This was a blast as George Town harbour was completely closed to traffic and people were definitely in the festive spirit and "wining down da place".

Saturday marked the Pirates landing in George Town aboard their pirate ship. After their mock capturing of George Town, the float parade commenced. The atmosphere was jovial as the sound of soca and steel band music kept everyone moving and grooving. After the parade was another street dance, this one included a performance by world renowned Soca artist Shirwayne Winchester. The crowd was rocking to all of his hits straight to midnight.

This was only the first two days folks. Stay tuned as i will be bringing you more reports from the District Days celebration.

Glasgow wins bid for Commonwealth Games 2014

2007-11-09T12:24:00.000-05:00

Ok, so this is big news in Scotland today, Glasgow won the bidding for the Commonwealth Games in 2014 today.

What does that have to do with Cayman, you ask ? Well... Cayman is a Commonwealth country and always sends a solid representative team in numerous sports... but the honest answer is that this blog is another more personal one. You see, I am a Caymanian (and proud of it), but also proud to be originally from Scotland. Put those two together and I am excited that Cayman will be sending a team to compete in Scotland in 2014. I'll be there, you can count on it !

For those of you who are not from Commonwealth countries, the Commonwealth Games are held every four years, in the middle of each Olympic cycle. They are similar to the Olympic games, with some key points being :
- 71 nations
- Make up of member nations based on the British Commonwealth, so that means (say, for swimming) Australia is there as a world power in the sport, but not the USA
- A large number of African and Caribbean nations, so track and field is very strong at Commonwealth Games
- Sports represented are very similar to the Olympics, but also include some that are well represented in Commonwealth countries, such as Squash and Rugby 7s (both of which Cayman has sent teams for in the past).

For more information, visit the Glasgow 2014 site... and if you are in Scotland right now, head to Glasgow tonight, there is going to be one amazing party !

Cayman Islands Turtle Tri - soon come !

2007-11-08T13:24:00.000-05:00

As you might expect from a country with year round warm weather, gorgeous ocean waters and a pretty flat geography, Cayman has a buoyant community of triathletes. Coming up soon (Sunday November 25th) is the annual running of the Cayman Turtle Triathlon , a great event and worth coming down to the 7MB Public Beach to see.

Last year my family volunteered to help out at the event, and we had the bright idea to enter a family team this year. No, they have no category for family teams, but hey, it's just for fun.

So... I thought, no problem, my oldest son can do the swim, my wife the run, and I can do the bike.... I had no idea that the bike was 25 miles !!

My son is a competitive swimmer so should be out of the water in a little over 20 minutes, my wife will do the 10k run in under 50 minutes.... but 25 miles on the bike ? Yikes ! So.. a little while after last year's race I headed out on my old mountain bike and did a 10 mile ride... in 40 minutes... this was looking bad, very bad... I could take about 2 hours to do that Triathlon ride... they'd be sending out search parties ! Add to that the embarrassment of having such a fast lead swimmer that I'd be one of the first guys out on the bike, then seeing pretty much the entire field overtake me one by one... nah, too much for the ego !

There was nothing for it but to a) buy a better bike, and then b) umm.. ride it a little to get vaguely fit :)

I have to admit that training has been sporadic, but as I live in George Town and work at The Reef, that is a nice 23 mile distance, so I'm now riding to / from work a few times to build up the training distance.

Today though was seriously masochistic. My wife had been for an early morning run, and I got ready to jump on the bike and ride to The Reef, she smiled as she said "really strong winds out of the NE this morning dear !". Gee, thanks... the first 18 miles of the ride are basically due East, with the last 5..yup.... N or NE the whole way.

I'm being coached by a friend, Cayman Olympian cyclist Craig Merren, and with his wicked sense of humour, he'll get a kick out of me being mad enough to ride from end to end of the island into such a strong wind !

As you can see today from the great website of Cayman weather stations, the East End station was showing steady NNE winds averaging over 20mph, with gusts around 30mph... right in my face... I think I saw a turtle strolling past me as I laboured into the wind.

Oh well, the ride home will be easier.. I think I'll just attach a sail to the back of the bike and let the wind blow me home !

16 days and counting to the big day, and our target is to finish the course somewhere in the region of 2'30"... wish us luck !

Just the two of us!!

2007-11-01T17:09:00.000-05:00

Good afternoon all from the belated wedding blog for this week!

I must apologize for the delay in posting this week, however, better late than never right?

This weeks blog features our latest Reef Newly Weds, Rhonda and Arjen, congratulations!!!!

Arjen contacted us just two weeks prior to visiting us here at The Reef requesting assistance with their wedding arrangements and as you can see, their ceremony which took place on our beautiful beach, was the perfect 'barefoot ceremony for two'.

Marcus Montana was their photographer of choice and the wedding went off without a hitch (excuse the pun!).

Arjen and Rhonda have proved once again, that weddings here at The Reef are very easy to arrange and don't necessarily need the months of planning that some destinations in the world require.

By the way, Rhonda had a wonderful little message engraved into the inside of Arjen's wedding ring, I won't spill the beans, but it was a fun little surprise for Arjen and made us giggle after the ceremony. A very cool idea!!

Once again, congratulations and warmest wishes from all us here at The Reef Resort for a wonderful future together!!

Too rent a car or not ? That is the question.

2007-10-31T14:53:00.000-05:00

Apologies to William Shakespeare... but anyway, the answer is a big YES!

Hi, and welcome to my first "Concierge Column", be gentle with me, this is my first blog !

Many guests ask the concierge, "Should we rent a car?".

I say ; "Well, it depends on how you want to spend your vacation. If you want to stay on the resort and "Chill" for your entire vacation then perhaps you don't need a car. On the other hand if you want to visit other restaurants in the area or to see some other great sights of Grand Cayman such as Rum Point or Pedro's Castle then you will need a car. There is limited public transportation on this side of the island at a variable schedule. The public bus sticks mainly to the major roads which could leave you with a long walk from the drop off point. The other tidbit to note about the bus, is that it runs only during the daytime hours. There are taxis on the island but they are in most cases more costly then a rental car. To put it plainly, for the cost one taxi to Georgetown and back and one taxi to dinner and back you could have a rental car for an entire 7 days. "

Boy, that was a long "spiel", but you get the idea... rent a car ! :) Hey it's quite at our end of the island, if you are not sure whether to drive on the left or the right (umm.. it's the left), we just say "drive in the middle" :)

Seriously though, the concierge team here at The Reef has connections and special rates with car rental companies in Grand Cayman so before you arrive contact us about your car rental options, simply email us at concierge@thereef.com

Support The Boobies

2007-10-30T17:02:00.000-05:00

In the tradition of "The Calendar Girls" movie comes a brand new Cayman Calendar for 2008 called "Support The Boobies".

Know before you get ready to send me that nasty email, you should know that the "Ladies of Little Cayman" have gone topless for a good cause. The Calendar was made to raise money and awareness of the"Red footed Booby" of which you can find the largest population in the Western Hemisphere right in Little Cayman. Unfortunately, in recent years the population has been in decline and now experts believe that the colony in Little Cayman represents one-third of population in the world.

Well that's where the "Ladies of Little Cayman" decided to step in to raise funds for The National Trust purchase of the Red Footed Booby sanctuary land. This December 2007-January 2009 calendar features the lovely ladies topless with strategically placed items and poses that are tastefully done.

If you are interested in contributing to this project or just a fan of the booby(had to), then please support these ladies and purchase a calendar. All you have to do is send a check made out to Little Cayman National Trust to Susan Howard, 1207 North Oak Cliff Blvd, Dallas Texas 75208.

For US residents - $10 plus $2 shipping. (Canada - shipping is $4 US and England - shipping is $5 US).

Cayman Stingray Tourism Awards

2007-10-29T15:12:00.000-05:00

Friday October 26th saw the fourth annual Stingray Tourism Awards, presented by the Cayman Islands Tourism Association.

The Reef's four proud nominees were :
- Rosemarie Challenger - Accommodations Employee of the Year
- Clive Lamont - Special Contribution Award
- Sandra Rankine - Restaurant Employee of the Year
- Martena Villalobos - Accommodations Manager of the Year

Although The Reef's own Mr. Lawrence Haughton one both Manager of the Year and overall Tourism employee of the year at the inaugural event a few years back, this year the competition was tougher than ever, so none of our nominees actually took home any of the lovely blown glass Stingray trophies... but they are all definitely winners to us !

The Reef took a table at the event to honour not just our nominees, but a selection of our Employees of the Month from 2007... and a great time was had by all !

Many thanks to the CITA for putting on this great event to recognise the fantastic efforts put in by hospitality staff throughout Cayman... and we look forward to next year.

Pirates Week 2007

2007-10-18T09:21:00.000-05:00

Celebrating it's 30th anniversary, this years festivities promise to be as great as its predecessors. Running from November 8th to November 18th, there will be activities such as a songfest, costume competition, fireworks, and a street dance. Did i mention that is just the first day?

Saturday, November 10th marks the traditional Pirates landing in George Town harbour. After the landing is the subsequent float parade that is great fun for kids and adults alike. There will also be a street dance at 7pm to cap the night off.

November 12th-November 16th are "district days", as each district is given its own day to display its unique crafts and cuisine.

There are too many events and activities for me to list here, so log on to piratesweekfestival.com for the full programme of this years event, or you will be forced to walk the plank!!

The Perfect Caribbean Wedding Cocktail!

2007-10-16T14:10:00.000-05:00

Ingredients:-

Wedding couple who love fun, sun and sand
Family and friends who enjoy relaxation, a great party and a memories to cherish
Pristine white sand beach with swaying palms
Breathtaking, turquoise blue ocean
Vividly colourful tropical flowers
Amazing photographer
Reggae/Calypso/Soca music
Delicious Caribbean style gourmet foodInfectious atmosphere and dancing
Rum, Rum and more Rum!

Directions:-

Let the team here at The Reef Resort mix them all together to create the ultimate 'Caribbean Wedding Cocktail' allowing you to enjoy a wonderfully potent day of romance and fun in a spectacular setting whilst relaxing with friends and family.

The Cayman Islands have become known for our ability to provide a complete array of Wedding professionals, therefore, allowing you to relax knowing that everything is taken care of down to the last detail.

Here at The Reef we pride ourselves on the wonderful weddings that we create and are ever thankful to our Wedding partners who provide the professional services that allow us to exceed even the highest of expectations.

Best man forgotten his tux? - No worries, A Formal Affair can get one to us the same day.
Your favourite flower is the rare Voodoo lily and you must have it in your bouquet? Not a problem, Every Bloomin' Thing will order in specially for you.
You want a beautiful wedding cake with your initials made out of icing seashells, starfish and fresh flowers or simply served with red rose petals and seashells? Leave it to our wonderful Wedding cake partners, Grand Old House to create your perfectly unique, customized Wedding cake.
Want the photographer to travel to your favourite location on island with you to capture the perfect sunset? Rebecca Davidson and Colin Myles are known for their professionalism and flexibility, going out of their way to create the perfect pics!
Best friend not able to make it as her baby is due tomorrow? Our Cayman Wedding will provide a live streaming of your ceremony over the website for anyone that couldn't attend to still share your special day with you.

These are just a sampling of the services available to you for your wedding at The Reef, but the options to customize your wedding are almost unlimited ! If we can make it happen for you here at The Reef, we will!

So as you can see, with our amazing island, gorgeous location and wonderful selection of Wedding professionals and services, we are able to provide the perfect mixture to satisfy even the most demanding of Wedding palates!

As a starting point to mix your perfect wedding cocktail, visit us at www.thereef.com/weddings, then contact us at weddings@thereef.com.

Cheers!!

The Reef - Entertainment Schedule to help you plan ahead

2007-10-16T12:09:00.001-05:00

About our most frequently asked questions by folk planning a visit to The Reef revolve around our popular entertainers, as in "will Barefoot Man / Andrew Bacon / Lammie be playing when we visit".

We've started to make lots of changes and add much more information to our website, and a cool new addition is our Entertainment page, which now has a calendar showing performances for each entertainer from now through April 2008.

One small caution is that although we will try to keep this updated, entertainers do occasionally have to cancel their "gigs" on short notice for one reason or another, so although we have told each guy that they have to stick to these schedules, we can't promise total 100% accuracy !

Oh...and as we are making lots of enhancements to our website, please do fire away with any comments on on what you'd like to see on The Reef's website....

Reef Profile of Vida Christian (Housekeeping Supervisor)

2007-10-10T09:59:00.000-05:00

Ms. Vida arrived in Cayman 16 years ago on the advice of her sister who was living here at the time. "I love Cayman and since my sister was here i decided to come and stay for a little while. A little while turned into 16 years as i couldn't see myself leaving, I love the island too much." Ms. Vida has been an employee of The Reef over 7 years and when asked what she most enjoys about the job she said,"I most enjoy making guest happy, i also enjoy the camaraderie that all the staff have here. It feels like one big family. I also love all the owners here and wish they were here all the time"

When not at The Reef, you can find Ms. Vida dancing. "I Love to dance", says Ms. Vida. I'm sure any attendees at a staff party can attest to that. "Calypso and reggae all the way for me, said Ms. Vida. Also an avid reader and cook, Ms. Vida enjoys dramatic novels and basically any book with serious drama, while waiting for her "Ackee and Saltfish" to be cooked.

When asked what her greatest accomplishment was Ms. Vida stated, "It would be working here and gaining the position I'm at now of Housekeeping Supervisor". She also describes herself as a joyful and friendly person who always tries to have a smile on her face.

Your Cayman Wedding - live on the web!

2007-10-09T14:01:00.000-05:00

Welcome back to The Reef Wedding Blog!

This week I am writing about one of the most exciting and rare options available to Caribbean Destination Wedding couples, available right here in Cayman to all of our wonderful 'nearly weds' who are planning to say their vows on our beautiful island.

For all of us Wedding addicts and travel bugs who can't miss a wedding, we will jet half way across the world to join in the festivities, no matter the cost or sacrifice involved, to experience the real thing (and probably suffer for a few days afterwards, especially if the groom has 16 Irish brothers and sisters!).

However, I believe that at every wedding I've ever been to (and I've been to a few, my own included!!) there are always some very dear family members, or friends of the couple, who have not been able to attend for any number of reasons. This is especially true for Destination weddings and can be a major factor in making the decision of whether or not to say 'I do' in the idyllic, picturesque location of your dreams or to keep the nuptials closer to home.

This is where Our Cayman Wedding is soooo valuable! At an extremely affordable cost, the Bride and Groom can opt to have their ceremony, and any other part of their big day, streamed live and unedited through the web. Thus allowing their missing favourite Grandma, Aunt, high school friend, long lost cousin, pen pal (you get the idea) to log in, at no additional cost, and experience the festivities as they are happening. Such a great concept and the perfect answer to those Wedding day 'I wish Aunty Ethel or Grandma Flossie were here' blues!

As an added bonus, this webcast can be edited and viewed by the couple and their loved ones over and over again via the Internet through a personalized Wedding Web page that Our Cayman Wedding can create and design for the couple.

I can think of many weddings that I have been to, in fact most of them, where this would have been the 'cherry on top' of the perfectly iced day and would have made for a much less stressful Destination Wedding planning experience!

For further information, please contact live@ourcaymanwedding.com or you can contact our Weddings team here at The Reef at weddings@thereef.com.

The Farmers Market

2007-10-04T12:59:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered where can i go to get a authentic taste of Caymanian culture, cuisine, and crafts? Well a new venue has recently opened in Lower Valley that is sure to tickel your fancy. Simpy titled THE MARKET ,this venue for local farmers and craftmakers to display their wares opened just over a month ago and has been an instant success.

Local produce such as cassavas, breadfruits,yams, sweet potatoes, and many other delicious items are for sale here guaranteed fresh, as they are brought straight from the farm, to the market. Local art such as "Thatch" baskets and hats are on sale here as well. "Thatch" items are created from the branches of the "Silver Thatch Palm Tree", which is indigenous to The Cayman Islands.

If you come to the market hungry don't worry as there is plenty of local cuisine there to sample.Why not sample special local cuisines such as Turtle and Conch stew, Fish dinners, and everyone's favorite, Rundown!

The Market is open Saturday's from 7am onwards, so get there before the rush to get a unique taste of Cayman.

Your Mini Moon at The Reef

2007-10-02T12:15:00.000-05:00

Greetings to you all again from the blog team at The Reef. For this weeks wedding blog spot, I am going to tell you about our new 'Mini Moon' package (no this doesn't have any reference to the size of the moon here in Cayman! As any previous guest or Cayman resident will tell you, our moon is the same size as anywhere else in the world and is a beautiful sight to see reflected on the silvery ocean on any given night!).

The Mini Moon is, in fact, a relatively new trend in Destination Weddings which I had the pleasure of learning about during a recent Destination Weddings seminar here in Cayman, hosted by Wedding expert and Champion blogger, Rebecca Grinnals. Thank you Rebecca!

During the early stages of planning destination weddings, one of the toughest decisions for the couple is choosing the perfect location that will suit their needs and their attending group of family and friends. We've all experienced or heard about the 'vacation disasters' where everything looked perfect in the brochure or on the website, only to arrive and be in the worst vacation nightmare you could have! Oceanview being two miles from the ocean through a quagmire of dirty streets and busy traffic, full size pool being the size of a your kids paddling pool plus a few inches and a family friendly beach with topless sunbathing and lunchtime shot drinking competitions.

The 'Mini Moon' is designed as a short getaway for the couple, where they can visit the location that they are considering for their wedding to confirm to themselves that they are making the perfect choice. During their getaway, they can meet with Wedding professionals, explore the island, sample local food and restaurants and envision, first hand, the Wedding experience that awaits them and their guests. This is also a perfect break for the couple, who can enjoy their spare time relaxing and enjoying their mini break together.

Our 'Mini Moon' package is available to all future Wedding couples (whether The Reef is their chosen Wedding destination or not!) during our Summer Season (until December 20th) here at The Reef Resort and includes a three night stay in a beautiful, beach front (and yes we do mean beachfront!) Deluxe Studio, breakfast in bed each morning, a jeep rental for the entire stay(minimum age restrictions do apply) and a full consultation meeting with our Wedding coordinator (that would be me) here at The Reef. This three day package is available to all 'nearly weds' for US $895 per couple including all taxes, additional nights can be added upon request.

Please contact us here at The Reef at weddings@thereef.com for further details on your 'Mini Moon'. Please also check out Rebecca Grinnals fabulous wedding blog site for wonderful wedding tips, news and new trends.

Reef Profile Shawn Dyer (Maintenance)

2007-09-28T10:22:00.000-05:00

As a kid growing up in Jamaica, Shawn could be found swimming by the river, playing cricket, or making kites. As an young adult he worked in a bauxite factory back home before arriving in Grand Cayman over 3 years ago.

Shawn has been a member of The Reef for over 2 years. He says, "Some of my favorite memories have been the people i have met here. I really enjoy interacting with both the guest and staff on a daily basis. My main priority is to ensure guest satisfaction with the resort never ends."

Shaun is married with 5 kids, in fact when asked what his greatest accomplishment in life was he said, "It would first be my five beautiful children, second would be purchasing my first home, and third would be my promotion to Head of Maintenance here at The Reef Resort. The thing that would make me happiest in life is too see all my children graduate college."

When not at work some of Shaun's favorite hobbies include playing dominoes, snorkeling at Beach Bay, and watching TV. Some of those favorite shows on TV include "Fresh Prince" and "Everybody loves Raymond", and his favorite music is Country, especially Conway Twitty and Charlie Pride. When asked what his most embarrassing moment was Shawn replied, "It would be the time Tom (Resort Director) was trying to reach me and i had my cell phone turned off."

I asked Mr. Lawrence (General Manager) what was one thing that people did not know about Shawn but should and he had this to say, "The one thing that people don't know about Shawn is that he is very humble and productive individual."

Just another example of Reef excellence.

Weekly Wedding Blog - We did it Our Way!!

2007-09-25T13:10:00.000-05:00

Greetings again from the Reef Resort where we have just spent the last week sprucing and beautifying our already idyllic setting during our annual maintenance week. The entire staff of The Reef have pulled together again to ensure that The Reef is in tip top condition for our wonderful guests to enjoy and relax in our little unique piece of paradise!

Feeling all fresh and new after our annual "spruce up", I've resolved to write up a wedding blog each and every Tuesday for you.... some blogs will show weddings we've done in the past, others will feature some of the insider "tips and tricks" we've picked up over the years of helping our guests..anyway, watch out for the "Weekly Wedding Blog", and here goes with the first one !

Our favourite Wedding thought here at The Reef is :

Your Wedding, Your Way!

Whether your idea of the perfect wedding is :

a) 100 of your favourite friends and family spending the week together, relaxing in the sun and spending quality time together with your lavish wedding and reception party being the 'grand finale' to the vacation of a lifetime, or

b) Just the two of you spending an intimate week in the tranquil seclusion and romance of our East End location with a simple beach wedding for two surrounded by the picturesque turquoise Caribbean ocean and a private candlelit dinner for two on the beach afterwards

Either way, we can take care of it all for you to create the most personal and unique wedding experience.

Some of the best wedding memories we have here at The Reef are of the fun and spontaneous couples whom, after arriving here at The Reef and being inspired by our beautiful beach and setting, took the plunge.

One couple- Dena and Smitty - literally did just that and jumped off our dock right after their 'I Do's' to the surprise of a passing snorkeler!

That was great fun and I'm sure will make for a great conversation piece for years to come. Actually, we will be welcoming them both back to The Reef this week as they are celebrating their First Anniversary back here with us - congratulations Dena and Smitty!!

Here in Grand Cayman, we are very lucky to be able to process a Wedding license and required documentation within 24 working hours and therefore, the preplanning required in most other locations is not an issue. If you both have a passport (which is required for all visitors from abroad now), your disembarkation card from your flight to Cayman and any divorce decrees if necessary, we can arrange your wedding within 24 hours of arrival! However, due to our 'one wedding a day!' guarantee, we would strongly suggest checking the availability of your chosen date with us prior to arrival here at The Reef.

Please see our Weddings section on our website for further information on weddings here at The Reef or email us at weddings@thereef.com, we will be happy to help you create 'Your wedding, Your way'!

RUNDOWN: Food or Fun?

2007-09-21T09:57:00.000-05:00

Its that time of year again for RUNDOWN. No I'm not talking about food, i'm talking about the show!

For those of you not familiar with the dish "rundown", it is a traditional Caymanian cuisine comprised of fish cooked in coconut milk and served with breadfruit and cassava. In fact, just typing this is making me hungry! However, lets get back to the topic of the day which is the show.

RUNDOWN is a once a year theatrical production that takes both a comedic and sarcastic look at The Cayman Islands and local issues from the past year.

This two hour comedy show always has the audience in stitches as the characters poke fun of such serious political issues as "the rollover policy" and government officials, to daily interactions and everyday life in cayman.

The show was created by Dave Martins in 1991 and has become a staple of Cayman theatre as both locals and visitors alike come each year for a good laugh and a good time. There are many newcomers in this years show, but some of the old favorites like Alan Ebanks (pictured on the left),are still around bringing their unique comedic skills to the stage. I have to say this show is uniquely Cayman and a must for any visitor.

This years theatrical run was so popular in fact, that they have added two more shows for October 9th and October 10th at the Harquail Theatre. Yours truly has been once already and i am definitely planning on seeing it again!

Reef beach weddings

2007-09-10T14:17:00.000-05:00

Welcome to The Reef's Wedding Blog...

TomCayman has been bugging me to share some of the weddings that we host here at The Reef, so each blog I'll feature one of the many beautiful beach weddings that have taken place here at The Reef along with useful information and tips on Destination Weddings here in Grand Cayman and in particular (of course!) at the idyllic Reef Resort

So, to our first wedding blog (I'm new to this, so hang in there with me !)

Amber and Andrew - April 2007

Amber and Andrew first came to stay with us in October 2006, where they decided that we were the chosen location for their April 2007 destination beach wedding. Along with 45 of their closest friends and family, Amber and Andrew enjoyed a week of relaxation and fun in the sun before their big day. All of their plans were finalized, down to the last detail, prior to arrival thanks to Octopus Wedding planners and our wedding team here at The Reef, thus allowing Amber and Andrew to spend time with their group knowing that they had nothing to worry about for their special day.

The morning of their Wedding was a little overcast and a mildly worried Amber was watching closely as their reception tent was being erected on the beach. As the tables were being decorated and set for their beach dinner reception and their decorated ceremony chairs were set up for their guests, the wind picked up and the heavens opened with what we can only describe as a ‘freak squall’.

Meanwhile, renowned wedding photographer, Rebecca Davidson arrived for the pre-wedding photos, only to find a distressed Amber and Andrew. In order to utilize their photo time and to cheer the wedding couple up, Rebecca decided to transport them both to the still sunny Rum Point for their pre wedding photos, Amber wearing her dress bag over her wedding dress to keep dry!

This turned out to be the perfect plan, the Rum Point photographs were gorgeous and upon their return to The Reef, the rains had passed and their dream wedding plans were back on track with the set up dried out and once again completed. I should add at this point that this kind of weather pattern was really unusual, as here in the East End we tend to get a lot less rain year round than the rest of Cayman... but I guess it showed how the whole team, including Rebecca, could think on their feet !

As you can see from the photos, Amber and Andrew had a beautiful wedding and thanks to our amazing F + B team, their beach dinner reception complete with DJ and dancing was thoroughly enjoyed by all!
Here are Amber and Andrew’s comments on their Reef Wedding experience:-

I have to say that Andrew and I along with all of our guests had an absolutely wonderful time at the Reef Resort. Everyone was so accommodating and friendly. We could not have asked for a better place to have our wedding...

It went exactly as we had planned and envisioned it to be - only better!! (and too short)!!! :) We are so happy with everything....!

Thank-you again for being such a big part of our special day. Your hard work (& Valentino's) in regards to all of the hotel accommodations, logistics of everything, food & beverage, etc., made our stay/special day a huge success....we never worried about one thing and simply enjoyed our time on the island....which is what we wanted.

For further information on The Reef Resort hosting your beach wedding and guests, please contact us at weddings@thereef.com.

For larger weddings here at The Reef, Octopus Event planners can be reached at octopusevents@candw.ky.

Please visit Rebecca Davidson’s website at www.rebeccadavidson.com for examples of her amazing photography and contact details.

Reef Profile of Leona Baker (Concierge)

2007-09-07T10:14:00.001-05:00

Born in Seattle, Leona has become one of the more popular employees at the resort through her outgoing personality and desire to please all guest. This December will mark the 4 year anniversary of Leona arriving here at the resort. When asked what she loved most about working at The Reef she said, "I love my coworkers and our guests because we all have a great harmony between and they really have become an extended family."

On her days off she enjoys painting and hanging with her fiance, whom she is scheduled to be married to December 1st. One fact that all of you Reef fans will find interesting is that even though Leona is the water aerobic instructor here, she is actually scared of the water. Go Figure!

I asked Leona what were some of her favorite memories were at The Resort and I got two words. Staff Parties. "Its a time when everyone lets loose and has a great time", said Leona.

"Basically, I love what I do and try to ensure that our guests enjoy their trip to the fullest", says Leona. Enough said.

The Reef's Hurricane Guarantee - in action

2007-09-04T16:55:00.000-05:00

This email was just received by Linda Locke, a member of The Reef team and our weddings and meetings specialists (but when a storm threatens, we all do everything!)... edited for brevity and to remove names :

I cannot thank you enough for the attentive care my 2 children and I were given by all of your staff. Though we only got to stay at The Reef for one night before we had to evacuate, you made us feel like we were family. We will never forget your help and concern.

While your own lives and homes were potentially being threatened by Hurricane Dean, you selflessly put your customers' needs first. Everyone we met during our 2 days on Grand Cayman was so very gracious and kind. We are grateful and glad that the storm spared you.

While waiting hours in the airport for a stand-by flight to Miami, we talked with a couple who ranted about how unhelpful the staff was at (a five star hotel that shall remain nameless)! We recounted our experience at The Reef and they said they would definitely check out The Reef for their next trip.

We had planned our trip many months ago and had been looking forward to our first visit to Grand Cayman. It was so disappointing after our long journey and anticipation to have to leave after one night.

Unfortunately, our school and work schedules, as well as our finances, do not allow us another vacation soon. However, we would like to take you up on your offer of a certificate for five nights. We might be able to come next June. Please let me know the restrictions and anything else required to be eligible.

Again, thank you for your warm hospitality and sincere concerns for our welfare. We are looking forward to our next trip to The Reef with even more excitement now that we know how extraordinarily wonderful a place it is.

Best wishes to you and all your staff,

K** D****** and family

In a past life I was a Chartered Accountant (tough to believe, I know!), but as I look at the highly lucrative career options I could have chosen in (for example) helping all those offshore hedge funds manage their billions in Cayman... I can't help but realise how rich all of us who work at The Reef really are when we can be part of something as special as this place !

Sorry (sniff), got sentimental there for a minute !

Hurricane Eraser special - must book by Sep 6th!

2007-09-04T16:38:00.000-05:00

Ok, so you already know from our blog post on Friday August 24th that we have a great deal for fall vacations on right now at The Reef, but you've got to move fast, it expires this Thursday, September 6th !

To tempt you, a reminder that the special includes a free "Hurricane Eraser" cocktail to welcome you to Cayman and to banish memories of Hurricanes past and ward off any that may think of darkening our door in future !

Our bartenders have tweaked the old favourite of the rum punch and given it a bit of a kick with some dark rum to truly banish a few memory cells (specially formulated to erase Hurricane memories), but they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here goes with two for you !

British Airways sale now on

2007-09-03T11:32:00.000-05:00

September is the time for airline sales, but a bit disappointing to note that BA have not run this sale through the winter months.

Anyway, for British and European fans of Cayman looking for an Autumn break, visit BA.com.

The deal is as follows :

London to Grand Cayman £409 Return 05 Sep 07 - 30 Nov 07

Upgrade to World Traveller Plus from £150

As always, we recommend that visitors to Cayman sign up for frequent flyer programmes for all airlines that fly from where they are to Cayman, then add GCM as an airport in your profile and sign up for e-newsletters... that way you'll get all the special offers.

As a reminder, the following scheduled carriers fly to Cayman (it is a long list, we have excellent air service!) :
- Cayman Airways (JFK/ORD/MIA/TPA/KIN/MBJ/CYB/LYB)
- American Airlines (MIA)
- Delta (ATL)
- US Airways (CLT/PHL
- Spirit (FLL)
- NWA (Detroit)
- Air Canada (YYZ)
- British Airways (LHR)
- Continental (EWR/IAH)
- Air Jamaica (KIN/MBJ)

Grab it Fast!

2007-08-30T13:39:00.000-05:00

If it looks like a deal, smells like a deal, its probably.........a deal.

In this particular case the deal is pretty sweet. American Airlines are offering a special sale from South Florida to Grand Cayman.

Fly roundtrip from Miami to Grand Cayman for only $158. This just gives you even more incentive to visit us this fall! All you have to do is log on to AA.com to see terms and conditions, but do so quickly as this special offer expires September 4th.

Adjectives to describe The Reef - "family" "home" "caring"

2007-08-27T14:45:00.000-05:00

Last week after Hurricane Dean passed close by us we sent out an email to our whole mailing list to let everyone know things were fine. We were overwhelmed by not just the sheer number of replies, but also the depth of feeling that many of the replies.

We know that our members and guests like The Reef, but to be honest we really had no idea how much so many of them feel like The Reef and everyone who works here are part of their family, and that we are their "Cayman home". Boy, stuff like that makes all the hard work oh so worthwhile !

For those of our guests who had to cut short their vacation, we emailed them to let them know that in addition to refunding their unused nights stay, we were also giving them a five night certificate to use the next time they came down to Cayman. The following is a reply to one such email just received by our reservations department :

Dear Linda,

In the time since we've been home from our vacation, my wife and I have fielded at least four dozen inquires from friends and family about what our vacation was like considering the change in plans that Dean necessitated. We told everyone that the short time we spent on Grand Cayman at The Reef was wonderful — and no one believes that the lobsters we saw while snorkeling out near the reef were really as big as we said they are (I swear the tail of the largest could feed a family of four).

Even though we had to flee to Miami, we did so with the mindset that there are far worse places to be a "refugee" for three days. Our only remorse was that we had to cancel our trip to Stringray City in order to catch our flight out.

Thank you for the generous offer. It only goes to cement The Reef's reputation in my mind. We'll eagerly take you up on the five-night voucher for next summer — and we look forward to some more of Sandra's cocktails — after we check out Stingray City.

Take care !

A few more excepts from emails replying to our main email last week :

Our thoughts and prayers have been with you and The Reef Resort during this crisis! We are very thankful that everyone is safe and not much damage. The Reef is our other home and family that we look forward to every year. We are bringing our 4 daughters this year the week before Christmas for our first family vacation. Our daughter’s ages are 27, 25, 12, and 8. We are looking forward to spending time with our girls and enjoying our time together at The Reef!

We were very happy to know very little damage occurred at The Reef. After the last one, we know how prepared and efficient the resort is. We appreciate you letting us know how the Caymans faired. Our thoughts and prayers are with you always.

Thanks so much for the email regarding the Royal Reef post Hurricane Dean. I have stayed many times at your resort and have had positive experiences each time

I am so glad to hear that you all and the resort are ok. I had been thinking about you guys. I must say, my first thought was about the resort since we're hoping to come back there in December, but also, I suddenly realized I was worried about the people. So, I am so glad to hear all is basically well with both. That feeling that I got is a real testament to everyone that works there (and also the other people on the island). My girlfriend and I pass on our well wishes. Hopefully we'll see you in December and I hope the hurricane season passes without too much incident for you all there. Take good care and I hope the re-opening is smooth.

It’s so reassuring that damage in your area seems to be minimal. Thanks for the update, we have been following the weather situation from ‘SAFE GREAT BRITAIN’ . We had a great vacation with you last year and a great week also in Cayman Brac. I hope they too escaped with little damage. We WILL be back, so until then keep sending the emails – best of luck for the future.

Thank you for your letter. We are extremely pleased to hear that there was minimal damage as we thoroughly enjoy staying at The Reef throught the year.
As locals it is so refreshing to feel we have had a vacation away from the island without even leaving the island and everyone is always so kind and helpful.
Best wishes

Hi Tom......we just wanted to say how nice it was that you sent this e-mail to ALL of your Reef family. We were not scheduled to come down to the Island, but I just wanted to say it was nice to hear that you were on top of the clean-up. It's people like you that make us want to come back....

Way to go Tom

We are proud to be owners at your resort

Hurricanes, what Hurricanes ? I sniff a deal !

2007-08-24T19:41:00.001-05:00

Ok, so Hurricane Dean just flew across the Caribbean, but that is in the past. Now, are you the kind of person who sees a Hurricane pass though and instead of putting off plans to travel there, thinks instead “hmm, this means there might be some deals out there now ?”. If so, then The Reef Resort has something for you.

We want everyone to know Hurricane Dean was “no problem”, so we are making a very limited time offer for stays through the end of Hurricane Season (November 30th) of not only 25% off their regular rates, but also a free room upgrade. They’ll even throw in one of their new “Hurricane Eraser” cocktails as a free welcome drink !

To grab this particular deal, move fast. Contact The Reef no later than September 6th at 1-888-232-0541 or reservations@thereef.com to book your stay, quoting code “DEAN”.

What if you change your mind, or (heaven forbid!) another Hurricane threatens. Don’t worry, The Reef already has a “No Problem” Hurricane Guarantee, you can cancel at any time, for any reason, no questions asked, with only a one night penalty.

Hurricane Dean at The Reef - Video

2007-08-22T16:26:00.000-05:00

This video was taken by "Sir" Clive Lamont, security guard / superstar.... no need for narrative, the video tells the story.

Remarkable to think we are back to almost perfect conditions within about 48 hours of this video being shot !

Hurricane Dean Update #2 - Photos

2007-08-22T13:49:00.000-05:00

As promised, more updates.. this time some pictures speak more eloquently than words....

Will start with a few from during the storm (we had a very able crew on property, as well as a number of staff taking shelter), then a couple showing where our beach clean up is today.

We are officially closed until Saturday, but a few guests due to check in from today onwards are still coming in...pools cleaned but being refilled as we speak, and beach bar not quite ready to re-open, but hey, they'll still have beachfront suites and a gorgeous view !

This first photo shows how huge the waves are outside The Reef.. we estimate around 20-25 feet waves.... but as you see, our namesake reef largely dissipate them... though not entirely...

As you can see from this next shot, our dock took a pounding, but it is designed to lose planks in order to save the structure, so it'll be fixed in no time.

I should note that the winds really didn't get too high, our staff would not have been out in really high winds, it would have been unsafe.

Mind you, in Ivan our crazy security guard, "Sir" Clive Lamont, did take a video of the storm, and many of our owners and guests have a copy of that in their DVD library !

Clive tells us that he has a video of the Dean "action" to share, and hopefully we can video-blog that for you all soon too.

This last storm shot again shows how huge the waves were, note that the reef is about 1/3rd of a mile offshore, so those waves are HUGE !

By the way, the pools took a lot of sand and debris, but as of this morning, Shawn, Mikey and the crew had them completely emptied and today we are already filling them up ready to go again.

This shot was taken this morning... day two of clean up. We saved our shade palapas by "topping them", cutting them off midway up the posts. So much sand was shifted that we had to remount their foundations and then cover over with sand, then use new posts to join the tops back on... but as you can see, they are good as new already.

Valentino Salvi and his team will have the Beach Bar open on Friday, and Andrew Bacon will be reading this blog and ready to rock and roll with his beach bar party on Monday night !

Special mention now to Lyall Watt, who took charge of the shelter operations of The Reef on Sunday night, then took charge of the logistics of the clean up effort.

Many know Lyall from his years with the Thompson Group, both in Timeshare sales at The Reef, and in his role as Century 21 realtor responsible for the Castaways' Cove condos, a core part of The Reef.

What you might not know is that Lyall was, in a former life, a heavy equipment specialist and he put his knowledge and skills to the fore in the last day or two.

Anyway, this last shot from this morning shows the finishing touches being put to the beach already. Difficult to believe that yesterday and today we had backhoes and bobcats shifting many tons of sand around, not to mention replacing and straightening palm trees etc.

Hey paradise doesn't happen without work !

That should cover it for the Dean updates...hope to see you all here soon !

Dean Update #1

2007-08-22T11:04:00.000-05:00

Hi folks

Long time no blog, but at least last weekend I had an excuse.

Will blog later with current photos of our beach, but suffice to say we had upwards of 50 people and tons of heavy equipment on the beach yesterday redistributing the huge amounts of sand that got shifted around and otherwise cleaning up.

Suffice to say that having a 1600 foot long and very deep beach is a blessing at almost all times other than when we have to clean it up after we get heavy wave action.... Hurricane Dean didn't have any wind impact on Cayman, but coastal areas did get some crazy waves and surf !

We could have fully opened for business almost right away, as our rooms were untouched, but we have decided to give it a few days in order to take the opportunity to bring things back to 100% first.... and also take the chance to do some jobs such as acid washing the pools we just drained... so when they are refilled they will sparkle more brightly than ever.

Anyway, will be rocking and rolling by Saturday, and our beach bar and restaurant will be open from Friday lunchtime.

Almost all docks on the island took a hammering, but our dock withstood Ivan, so Dean was just a scratch. Having said that, it is designed such that the dock planking pops off and floats to shore so as to not stress the structure. We lost over half the planking in Dean and it is on the beach down the coast somewhere, so the dock will be closed for a few days yet.

I feel bad for our neighbours at Morritts, as they just finished their new dock, and judging by the big chunks of it all over our beach, it must have taken a pounding. Anyway, I'm told they are re-opening on Friday too, so they must be basically fine as well.

Monday evening the inimitable Andrew Bacon comes back from his summer vacation, and I have the feeling it will be a killer party at the beach bar !

More later :)