The Reefs Hotel & Club

The Reefs Hotel & Club
Location within Bermuda
General information
Location 56 South Shore Road, Southampton Parish, Bermuda
Coordinates 32°14′56″N 64°50′21″W / 32.24889°N 64.83917°W / 32.24889; -64.83917Coordinates: 32°14′56″N 64°50′21″W / 32.24889°N 64.83917°W / 32.24889; -64.83917
Inaugurated 1947
Website
Official site

The Reefs Hotel & Club, commonly known as The Reefs, is a luxury four-star resort hotel[1] in Southampton Parish, Bermuda, located next to the Sonesta Beach Resort and not far from Gibbs Hill Lighthouse.[2] It is considered one of the top hotels in the Caribbean and Atlantic by prestigious publications such as Condé Nast Traveler[3] and Travel + Leisure.[4]

History

Built around the ruins of a 1680 farmhouse at Christian Bay, Southampton, and originally owned by Marmaduke Dando, The Reefs Beach Club, as it was known, opened its doors in 1947. It was the first cabana-style beach resort in Bermuda.[5]

With its distinctive white Bermudian roofs – Mark Twain called them the "icing on the cake"[6] – and its salmon pink walls, The Reefs quickly became a popular resort on Bermuda's south shore. In 1972 it reportedly had 43 rooms.[7]

Between the early 1970s and mid-1980s, the original cabanas were demolished and replaced by new guest accommodations, the resort's first pool and updated dining venues.[8] A now popular venue for weddings, the two-tiered Caso's Point deck that juts out over the Atlantic Ocean was inaugurated in August 2000 and rebuilt in 2004.

A $5 million major renovation began in the early 2000s, which added 11 suites, in-room entertainment and Bermuda's first freshwater infinity pool. The renovations also included updates to the dining venues.[5]

In 2007, The Reefs celebrated its 60th anniversary with the commencement of $55 million in renovations for new dining, new spa and new private Club residences. In April 2008, the new lobby, expanded bar and lounge with a new terrace opened. This was followed by the opening of two new restaurants – Royston's and Ocean Echo – that summer. In July 2009, the Club residences welcomed the first owners and the new La Serena Spa opened.[8]

The Reefs has been owned by Bermudian David Dodwell since 1981. Mr. Dodwell was formerly the Bermudian Minister of Tourism[1], was recognized in 1992 as the Bermuda Hotelier of the Year and in 2010 was honored as the Hotelier of the Year by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association for The Reefs' sister property, Nisbet Plantation Beach Club on Nevis.[9]

Architecture

Rooms

Situated on limestone cliffs overlooking pink sand in the southeast of Bermuda, the cabana-style limestone walled buildings and cottages are noted for their distinct pink and white color.

The Reefs has 62 guest rooms, suites and cottages, as well as 19 fully furnished 2- and 3-bedroom luxury Club condos. Accommodations are categorized as: Poolside rooms, Cliffside rooms, Longtail Suite, Junior Suites, Point Suites, Cottages, and Club Condos. Each accommodation has king-sized beds and a private balcony or patio with ocean and sunset views.[10]

The Club Condos, also referred to as residences, are available to rent as a hotel guest as well as available on a fractional ownership basis.

Restaurants

The Reefs has three on-site restaurants, which are some of the most notable restaurants in Bermuda, and a bar.[11] Ocean Echo is a 180-degree view restaurant serving continental cuisine.[12] The restaurant, as of 2011, is furnished with blue and green decor and Bermuda cedar beams [11] and serves breakfast, lunch during the off-season and dinner. Seating is indoors or on a terrace overlooking the ocean.[12] Royston's is an intimate restaurant with a fireplace and open-air kitchen.[12] Coconuts is an open-air restaurant, open seasonally, and located adjacent to the resort beach.[12] Coconuts also offers dining on the beach and has been called "one of the best places to fall in love.[13]"

Amenities

On-site amenities include a freshwater infinity swimming pool and hot tub, two all-weather tennis courts with equipment, fitness center, and complimentary snorkeling equipment, kayaks and floats at the beach. In the summer, The Reefs offers complimentary oceanfront yoga at Caso's Point.[10]

Owners and guests of the Club Condos have access to additional amenities such as a separate infinity pool and hot tub, state-of-the-art fitness center, lounge with pool table, rooftop putting green, grocery delivery service, fire pits and poolside beverage and snack service.[14]

La Serena Spa at The Reefs is Bermuda's only Elemis spa. The spa features eight treatment rooms including a spa suite for dual massages, a relaxation room with panoramic ocean views, and floor-to-ceiling ocean views from the nail room. The full-service menu can be customized to meet individual needs and is suitable for both men and women.[10]

Pool

References

  1. ↑ "4-star Hotels in Bermuda." TripAdvisor.com.. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  2. ↑ Harriott, Catherine (March 2004). Maverick Guide to Bermuda. Pelican Publishing. p. 155. ISBN 978-1-58980-087-8. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  3. ↑ Condé Nast Traveler (November 2011). "2011 Readers' Choice Awards." p. 136, 152. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  4. ↑ "Top Resorts in the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas." Travel + Leisure, 2011 World's Best Awards. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  5. 1 2 "The Reefs – A superb South Shore resort." Royal Gazette (12 April 2001). Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  6. ↑ "Bermudian Architecture." Fodor's. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  7. ↑ Dickinson, Bob; Vladimir, Andrew (18 June 2004). The complete 21st century travel & hospitality marketing handbook. Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-13-113314-3. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  8. 1 2 "History." The Reefs. p. 5. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  9. ↑ "David Dodwell Named Caribbean Hotelier of the Year." HospitalityNet (19 January 2011). Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 "The Reefs Resort, Bermuda." About.com Caribbean Travel. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  11. 1 2 Porter, Darwin; Prince, Danforth (30 August 2010). Frommer's Bermuda 2011. Frommer's. p. 137. ISBN 978-0-470-61436-5. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Three acclaimed Bermuda restaurants." The Reefs. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  13. ↑ "Coconuts at The Reefs –Love, Bermuda." KTVB (19 November 2010). Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  14. ↑ "Discover our luxurious Bermuda vacation condos." The Reefs. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
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