In loving memory of Bob Nutt

We are sad to announce the passing of a long-time guest and contributor of Reefs communications, Bob Nutt.

An editor at the Dartmouth Alumni magazine, Mr. Nutt was the writer of the pink Smart/Casual newsletter sent to our repeat guests for the past 25 years.

The entire Reefs family extends our best wishes to his wife Margo and the rest of his family.

A Finnegan Follow-up

Even 42 years after their honeymoon at The Reefs, Jack and Barbara Finnegan still talk about the fond memories they had. So their son, Tim, entered his story in The Reefs Show Your Love contest in February in the hopes he could send his parents back to Bermuda.

Well his story won the hearts of our voters and he graciously gave his winning stay to his parents so they could enjoy a much deserved vacation.

After their return home, the Finnegan's shared their kind thanks with us.

Pictured here are Show Your Love contest winners Jack and Barbara Finnegan at The Reefs with David Dodwell and Nagma Walker.

A sincere, heartfelt thank you for all that you have done is all that can truly be said.

Family Tradition - To our children, you have no idea how proud we are to be your parents. Thank you for thinking of us! You have given us the greatest gift of all-unconditional love.

The Reefs' Family - You made us feel so very special, our vacation and treatment at the Reefs will never be forgotten. Thank you to the entire staff for making us feel like Royalty.

Madigan Pratt & Associates - Getting to meet everyone who was involved with the Show Your Love contest was terrific. It was a wonderful idea! Thank you for making our vacation so memorable.

God willing, one day we will return to Bermuda and The Reefs.

Eternally Grateful,

Jack and Barbara Finnegan

Fans of The Reefs and Nisbet

Two years ago Coach Bob McKillop of the Davidson basketball team and his wife Kathy spent a relaxing week at our sister resort on Nevis, Nisbet Plantation. It was a much deserved break after tiny Davidson defeated powerhouses Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin in the 2008 NCAA March Madness Championship.

This year they escaped to The Reefs for a fun family vacation.

Pictured here are their son Brendan, Bob and Kathy McKillop, their daughter Kerrin and her husband Henry Heil, and other son Matt.

Impressive paintings of The Reefs

Greetings to The Reefs,

I just wanted to thank you for the graciousness shown to my father and me on a recent stop in June. My parents had stayed at your hotel several times over the years. My mother passed away in March, following a long illness. I had been her caretaker over some difficult years. She wanted two things for me. She made me promise to take a cruise after she died and she wanted me to start painting again, something I couldn't do much of in the years I took care of her.

My father accompanied me to Bermuda. He insisted that we stop at The Reefs, so he could show me what a beautiful place it is. The young woman at the front desk invited us to wander around, and my father pointed out many of my parents' favorite spots at the hotel. The colors, architecture, and landscape of The Reefs were truly inspiring, and it helped me fulfill my mother's hope that I would paint again.

I thought you'd enjoy seeing a couple of the canvases that resulted from that visit. It was very healing, for both my father and me, to be in a place my mother so loved. Again, thank you for your hospitality.

Sincerely,
Sarah Barton

A Thank you from the Bennetts

A heartfelt thank you from a recent couple's vacation.

Dear Reefs team,

We just came home from our trip to your resort. This was our second time visiting your incredible facility and once again we were awed and overwhelmed by the beauty and the atmosphere of your incredible hotel.

We were the random winner of the "Show Your Love" contest and I can't begin to express how needed and appreciated this trip was.

In the past 4 years my husband has undergone two stem cell transplants to fight his recurring cancer. As a result of the most recent transplant, he is now battling Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD) which is basically his immune system rejecting the new cells. Daily he suffers from debilitating muscle cramping, fatigue, weakness, and other various side effects. But being the special man he is, one would never know the pain he suffers in silence.

As one can imagine, the difficulty of facing a life threatening illness, not once, not twice, but three times along with the unknown fear of what will happen to him if the GVHD progresses can put a huge strain on not only an individual but also on a couple. We are very fortunate that the extra costs associated with his illness have not been a huge burden on us financially, but there are certain things we have had to "tighten our belts" on doing. Vacationing is one of them. We would have never been able to afford a trip back to your resort had we not won this one.

The entire time we were at The Reefs, my husbands symptoms were far less than on a normal day at home. I think the stress-free week helped him tremendously. I know, it helped me! We just celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary two weeks ago and for all the stress we have been through in the past few years, romance and fun was certainly something we were losing. I'm very happy to say that the week we spent there has rekindled the flame and given us the strength to continue to fight his battle together. It has given us a beautiful memory that no matter what the future holds, I will always have.

Hopefully, his health will improve over the next year and we will see you next year for our 25th Anniversary!

So, once again. Thank you for choosing me as the random winner in the "Show Your Love" contest. We made many friends and had a weeks worth of incredible memories. It was an amazing week and we appreciated every minute of it.

Our best to the entire staff at The Reefs & we hope to see you next year,

Audrey & Andy Bennett

Romantic Bermuda

Why is Coconuts Restaurant at The Reefs the most romantic place to fall in love in Bermuda?

Well, the dining on the beach, fantastic food and spectacular sunsets are definitely part of it. Watch the video to see a couple's first-hand experience at Coconuts.

Finally back to Bermuda

As you know, Tim Finnegan was the winner of our Show Your Love contest. But you may not know that he generously gave his free stay to his parents, Jack and Barbara Finnegan.

Jack and Barbara Finnegan honeymooned at The Reefs and so did his children. A true family honeymoon tradition. Even 42 years later, The Finnegan's still talk about the fond memories they had at The Reefs. So Tim entered his story in the hopes he could send his parents back to Bermuda and The Reefs to enjoy a vacation that was very much deserved.
See more photos of the Tim and his wife, and his parents Jack and Barbara Finnegan on our Facebook page.

Show Your Love Contest Winners

Over the years, The Reefs has shared in many special events and memories with our guests. Such memories are also now being created by the owners at The Reefs Club.

There have been proposals in the sand, “I Do’s” on Caso’s Point, anniversaries, birthdays or just a memorable family getaway. One thing is clear – The Reefs and Bermuda are the perfect place for love.

In February, we reached out to all fans of The Reefs and Bermuda and asked them to submit their fondest memories on the island. More than 600 stories were submitted. Some made us laugh, some made us cry, but all warmed our hearts.

It was difficult, but the lot was narrowed down to the top 7. You can read each of the top seven experiences here.

We then opened the contest up to the public, asking anyone to vote on which experience was their favorite. More than 3,000 votes later, Tim Finnegan's story, Family Honeymoon Tradition, received more than one-third of the votes.

Both Tim and Audrey, a randomly selected voter, will be packing their bags for Bermuda’s best hotel for a 6-day, 5-night vacation for two at The Reefs. Congratulations!

The Story of the Sandcastle

The Bogus family of Williamsburg, Va recently stayed at The Reefs and built an impressively large sandcastle on the beach just beneath Coconuts Restaurant. For 20 years it has been their family tradition to build a sandcastle on each beach vacation.

It was the family’s first ever visit to Bermuda. They had such a wonderful time they are already planning a return visit to The Reefs in October. History buffs, the Bogus’s enjoyed learning more about Bermuda’s 400th Anniversary and the linkages between the island and their home in the Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown.

You can see Don’s sandcastle in the making in this video. Impressive, isn't it? Share your thoughts!

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Say Cheese!

Jamison (Jamie) Munno, the snorkel-pro you see pictured below, recently visited The Reefs with her parents and younger brother, her grandparents and her Aunt Becky Osborne. A true multi-generational family vacation!

Becky, a teacher from New York, wanted to vacation at The Reefs during her spring break and her family decided to join her. The entire Osborne family has vacationed at The Reefs 5 times as a group and a handful of times separately.

This was Jamie's second visit to The Reefs and her younger 3-year-old brother Zach's first visit. Jamie and Zach loved waking up every morning and going down to the beach and running around and playing in the ocean!

Junior Chefs visit The Reefs

On Saturday, April 4th, more than 150 young people ages 10-15 came together to share their common interest in cooking at the Jr. Chef Kids Culinary Conference. The only event of its kind in the world, the Kids Culinary Conference promotes the practice and importance of making healthy food choices. Presented in a kid-focused environment, these sessions are designed to:

• Help kids make smart food choices
• Teach them independence and self-sufficiency
• Build their confidence
• Advance their culinary knowledge

Jr. Chef Central is a non-profit culinary program for young people that uses food to excite, educate and connect kids to their family, peers & community.

Three junior chefs visited The Reefs. Here are Master Jr. Chef Allison, Elite Jr. Chef Miyel and Master Jr. Chef Andrew pictured with Reefs chefs JR Perera (our Pastry Chef), Derryk Marshall (Sous Chef) and Didier Li Tsi Tsat (Sous Chef).

The Dissipated Eight Sing for Their Supper

To the delight of guests, The Dissipated Eight, Middlebury College’s premier all-male a cappella group, stopped by for an evening of entertainment at The Reefs. This is part of a traditional spring time ritual in Bermuda where a cappella groups from many of the most prestigious colleges and universities descend upon Bermuda for a little fun and entertainment.

Group members generally stay in homes of Bermuda residents and sing at local hotels and restaurants in exchange for meals. It’s a great vacation for members of the a cappella groups and a unique experience for Bermuda visitors.

Guests at The Reefs give each group a rousing round of applause!

The Cool Dip Club

Each year on December 31, those who are brave enough jump into the ocean for one last dip.

This year a total of 15 people were up for the challenge. There was even a canine participant, Director of Rooms David Dodwell Jr.'s dog, Logan.

Our Youngest Repeaters

The Fatta family of Gloucester, MA enjoys The Reefs so much, they return each year and have for the past 15.

Joe and Carol Fatta bring their twin sons, Nick and Kyle, with them every time. Having been to The Reefs each year since first grade, Nick and Kyle Fatta just may be our youngest multiple repeaters yet!

As all Reefs guests know, we offer wonderful family vacations. A few years ago the Fatta's even invited Joe's family to join them at The Reefs to help celebrate Joe's birthday.

Carol says The Reefs is "soooooo easy to get to from Boston Logan Airport." Less than a 2 hour flight and you're in sunny Bermuda. Perhaps that’s part of the reason they return year after year.

How long have you been coming to The Reefs? Let us know!

The Reverse Vacation

Most of the time when people think of a vacation they picture somewhere inviting and beautiful like The Reefs. But occasionally people need to take their vacations elsewhere.

Originally hailing from Colorado, Managing Director Ben Tutt returned home for a family vacation. While he was there he met up with long time Reefs repeaters George and Lisa Tousey.

The Touseys are both multi-generational repeaters of the hotel from Frisco, Colorado where they run several restaurants, one of which is Farley’s.

This just shows how close The Reefs family is – not only do they get together in Bermuda, but also Colorado.

Where else can we run into more of The Reefs family?

Long-Time Repeaters Help Initiate New Restaurants

Jerry and Susan Waller, long-time Reefs repeaters from New Jersey have just visited The Reefs and give “two thumbs up” on our new restaurants, Ocean Echo and Royston’s.

Having visited well over 30 times, the Wallers have without a doubt witnessed The Reefs evolve over the years and were very eager to experience the new restaurants. They planned their visit well, staying long enough to enjoy every dish on Royston’s menu. “We have tried everything, and love it all,” said Jerry Waller. “Susan is particularly fond of the Beef Wellington and I enjoy the Halibut.”

Here the Wallers sit in the new Ocean Echo dining room, overlooking Bermuda's beautiful turquoise waters.

You may have seen the photographic talents of the Wallers as they have submitted many of the photos in our online photo contest gallery.

Repeater or not, we hope to see you at The Reefs soon to enjoy our new restaurants and a relaxing vacation.

60th Anniversary at The Reefs

Many of our guests have visited year after year, witnessing how The Reefs has evolved. Some guests have even been visiting The Reefs since we first opened in 1947.

Robert and Marian Fortney from North Little Rock, Arkansas celebrated their honeymoon here in our first year of operations. After 60 wonderful years of marriage, they decided to return to The Reefs to celebrate their anniversary!

On their last night they enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Coconuts. When they returned to their room they were surprised by a celebratory bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries!

Happy Anniversary from The Reefs!

Positive First Impressions

After being closed for four months, guests were very eager to return to see all the improvements that have been made. Our first guests of the season were very pleased with our new lobby, lounge and bar.

Everyone, including us, was somewhat concerned about potential noise from the construction of The Reefs Club next door. I'm happy to report guests are having a wonderful time! The construction on The Reefs Club is hardly noticeable - the crane on property is electric and therefore makes minimal noise.

Before every guest leaves, we ask that you fill out a guest service card to let us know how you enjoyed your stay. We are proud to say that we have had the highest guest service scores in The Reefs history!

The Reefs Re-Opens!

The Reefs is open again! We completed the first phase of enhancements to the hotel on April 1st, just in time to welcome back guests. Our lobby has two sit-down desks and a separate desk for the concierge and we’ve renovated and expanded the lobby restroom facilities. We are especially proud of our new lounge – we’ve expanded the lounge area to the terrace and there is a dedicated space for bands to set up.

We've had a successful first few days. Reefs Repeaters are pleased with the improvements and the first-timers are happy to be here. The first guests of the season were John and Mary Lawrence from Glastonbury, CT.

A Bermudian tradition is to have a "roof wetting" where a bottle of black rum is poured over a new roof to seal out rain, wind and moisture. Ben Tutt invited all guests and staff to the bar at 4:00 pm for a celebratory drink after the “roof wetting.”

We can't wait for you to come visit and see our beautiful improvements to the hotel. See you soon!

Happy Birthday Mr. Baker

Despite all the work going on around us, we managed to have a little fun last week when Phil Baker from Maine stopped by with his family. He and his wife come to visit us every February and this year he celebrated his 80th birthday!

Due to all the excitement going on at The Reefs, Mr. Baker had to stay at another hotel on the western end of the island. But we arranged a little surprise for him when he stopped by to say hello! We had some of his favourite staff members stop by and Edwina baked him a carrot cake. Those joining in the surprise where Hugh Peacock (maintenance), Tony De Frias (grounds), Mervin (bells), Lena Mae (Food & Beverage), along with Ben Tutt, Chris Johnson, Barb Jones and Perry Robinson. The surprise was very much appreciated, and on such a beautiful day! Plus, we will do anything to eat cake, and we have not had one around for a while!