Front Row: Doreen Raymond; William Raymond; Brigitte Fernander, Sandyport Beaches Resort Executive Housekeeper.
Back Row: Tonya Newry, Front Office, Sandyport; Tito Fritz, Front Office; Sue Raymond, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond; Brad Cooke, spouse of Sue Raymond; and Sandyport Beaches Resort General Manager Vernon Moss.
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NASSAU, Bahamas -
Frequent visitors to The Bahamas, Canadian couple
William and Doreen Raymond, have brought with them the staggering number of 145
guests over the 15 years they’ve stayed at Sandyport Beaches Resort in Nassau.
Their frequent stays in their favourite three-bedroom suite, establishes them
as two of Sandyport Beaches Resort’s most loyal guests and arguably, one of The
Bahamas most steadfast repeat visitors.
Mr. Raymond first came to Nassau on business in 1963 and stayed at the
historic Montagu Beach Hotel; and when in 1998 he and his wife realised their
growing love for The Bahamas, they signed up for a 30 year membership with Sandyport
Resorts’ Vacation Club, guaranteeing the Raymond’s their 3-bedroom suite every
year.
Since then, the Raymond’s have spent many special occasions with the
Sandyport ‘family,’ including their 50th wedding anniversary when
their entire Raymond family of 21 came along to celebrate the milestone.
“We keep returning because it feels like coming home,” said Mr. Raymond.
“We have brought our 5 children, their spouses and 9 grandchildren here many
times and they love it too. The team led by Vernon, and Brigitte and everybody
else, always make us feel welcome and at home.”
For Mrs. Raymond, the magic is in the times spent together as family. “We
have wonderful memories here, especially when we have all of the grandchildren together,”
said Mrs. Raymond. “You should see them in the pool and the slides…. we could
show you so many photos, so many memories.”
Sandyport Beaches Resort General Manager Vernon Moss says that the
fondness is mutual and he and his staff look forward to seeing them each time
they return, guests in tow!
“It has been a pleasure over the years serving the Raymond family and
their guests at Sandyport. We really look forward to them coming down every
year... and bringing cookies for the staff! They and their family are such a
joy to have at the hotel.”
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond are an example of the strong contingent of repeat guests
who make Sandyport a home-base when in The Bahamas. Members of the Vacation
Club contribute to thirty-percent of the hotels’ occupancy, a factor in
Sandyport Beaches Resort and Hotel’s strong year-round occupancy figures, which
trend comfortably above Nassau averages.
“We
look forward to seeing all our returning guests – Vacation Club members or not
– it’s always nice to see people again and we work hard to keep them coming back.”
