BEACH WRAP
Thinking of you from the secluded paradise hideaway of Ocean's Reach

Dear [fname],
Our New Year is off to a booming start as we welcome back our snowbirds - owners and longtime guests alike. Congratulations to 25-year guest Elene Brown and owner Dottie Rhodes, celebrating excellent health and a combined 175 years of age!

We hope you are warm and well at home, and we wish you a loving Valentine's Day.

Thank you for reading Beach Wrap! Keep your comments and vacation photos coming.

- Ocean's Reach Team

Reserve your favorite condo early

Has it happened to you: Forgot to book ahead and lost your favorite condo? Many of our annual winter guests book more than a year ahead to secure their first-choice spaces. Online reservations have increased 1,000% from last year, so it's never too early to book. A tip for you Spring Break vacationers: Check your 2009 school schedules and get those reservations in now!

As always, for reservations involving less than seven days, and for mid-week arrivals and departures, please call (800) 336-6722.

Guest to Guest: Glenn Everett

We always know where to catch up with Glenn and his wife, Susan - on the beach outside Ocean's Reach!
Q. What's your best helpful hint for new Ocean's Reach guests?
A. Get booked in for next year now!

Q. What would you spend your first $10 of vacation mad money on?
A. Put it toward a really comfy beach chair.

Q. Name your three favorite Sanibel vacation activities.
A. Relaxing on the beach, renting boats and fishing.

Q. What's best about the new Ocean's Reach?
A. Everything has been upgraded without losing any of the good things of the old Ocean's Reach.

Q. What would we be surprised to know about you?
A. I was lucky enough to fly Concorde professionally for British Airways.

Q. With your resources, why do you select Ocean's Reach and Sanibel as your annual vacation destination?
A. Having traveled all over the world both professionally and for leisure, we know what we like. We find Ocean's Reach probably the best place to relax and unwind.

Glenn lives and flies out of Shavington, Cheshire, UK as a flight engineer and has been beaching at Ocean's Reach for 20 years. As he waved goodbye last fall, he yelled, See you in the spring!

Guest Services update

• World's Best Islands'
  Sanibel Island has been named among the world's best islands in National Geographic Traveler magazine's Fourth Annual Places Rated. We know that's no surprise to you! "Sanibel has tried to distinguish itself from the rampant development of the rest of the west coast of Florida and has been fairly successful with height restrictions and setbacks", one expert said. "The Ding Darling Refuge is a treasure."
  
  
• Going green
  Ocean's Reach has pledged to earn One Palm Certification from Florida's Department of Environmental Protection by being a Florida Green Lodge. This initiative is designed to encourage the lodging industry to conserve and protect our natural resources.
  
  
• Come for 2, stay for 10
  Winter visitors average a minimum stay of two weeks. Many stay 6 to 10 weeks due to the comfort of the accommodations, beach location, sunny skies, warm weather and the social life on Sanibel!
  
  
• Once in 25 years
  Look up! A Century plant is growing in front of Building 1. Wikipedia reports that it will bloom only once during its life span of 25 years. Already 10 feet tall, it's well on its way to its maximum height of 25 feet.
  
  
• Shell fame
  Congratulations to six-month guest Linda Kemper of Kankakee, IL. Finding a 3-inch rare Junonia shell at the Ocean's Reach beach earned her a photo in the Island Sun. Her tip for successful shelling is to leave your condo one hour before low tide and after a storm.
  
  
• Coming soon
  Ocean's Reach beach towels and T-shirts, a new poolside drinking fountain and additional recycling bins.