What happens when...
Monday, March 17, 2008
What happens when you take one very funny retired high
school government teacher, one of his fraternity
brothers, one of his former students, all of their
spouses and a few of the kids and toss them into the
Panamanian jungle on an island in the middle of the
Caribbean Sea? Oh yea - they are all Texans
tambien. A rocking good time :-)
We ended up with a group of friends (who have come together over time) vacationing here at Tranquilo Bay last week. It was great fun. I had an idea of what we might be in for as I communicated with them via email, but my expectations were exceeded. We have fun with all of our guests, but this group seriously tickled our funny bones. They began by playing jokes on us the first night they arrived and ended the week with us being in on the jokes as other guests arrived.
One of the things I am truly appreciate about our clientele is that they REALLY are on vacation. They kick back, have fun and forget about the every day. Our location definitely helps people to enter this zone, if you will, but I continue to be impressed by people who can turn off and tune in to nature so that they re-enter their day to day lived recharged.
Here are some photos of one of our porch sessions.
Singing and joking
Hook Em Horns
Chicken foot dominoes
And look at what they did to Bimini!
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
We ended up with a group of friends (who have come together over time) vacationing here at Tranquilo Bay last week. It was great fun. I had an idea of what we might be in for as I communicated with them via email, but my expectations were exceeded. We have fun with all of our guests, but this group seriously tickled our funny bones. They began by playing jokes on us the first night they arrived and ended the week with us being in on the jokes as other guests arrived.
One of the things I am truly appreciate about our clientele is that they REALLY are on vacation. They kick back, have fun and forget about the every day. Our location definitely helps people to enter this zone, if you will, but I continue to be impressed by people who can turn off and tune in to nature so that they re-enter their day to day lived recharged.
Here are some photos of one of our porch sessions.
Singing and joking
Hook Em Horns
Chicken foot dominoes
And look at what they did to Bimini!
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
Exciting, Exhilarating & Exhausting
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Our little business is growing tremendously this first
quarter of 2008. Our occupancy rate for the first
quarter is up over 100% over last year. This is
exciting, exhilarating, and a little exhausting.
Exciting because this is the business we came down to Panama to have. Watching our business grow and keeping it running smoothly gives us all a wonderful sense of accomplishment.
Exhilarating because we are participating in a group of special memories for our clients. While our clients all share a love for adventure and nature - each one experiences it differently and comes here from a different place. We are fortunate to be exposed to all of these wonderful people. It is really cool to have the opportunity to enrich their experiences while at the same time we gain insight and perspective from the encounter. We experience our place with a fresh set of senses each time a new guest arrives. To hear the way they describe things and see the delight in their faces is truly rewarding experience.
Exhausting, yes, but in a good way. We work seven days a week for many hours out of each day. As with any business as you continue to learn what it takes to make it great it takes a bit out of you. However, the upside of what we are learning and how it is getting easier each day for us and for our employees is that we are building a business that we believe will stand for a long time.
Exciting because this is the business we came down to Panama to have. Watching our business grow and keeping it running smoothly gives us all a wonderful sense of accomplishment.
Exhilarating because we are participating in a group of special memories for our clients. While our clients all share a love for adventure and nature - each one experiences it differently and comes here from a different place. We are fortunate to be exposed to all of these wonderful people. It is really cool to have the opportunity to enrich their experiences while at the same time we gain insight and perspective from the encounter. We experience our place with a fresh set of senses each time a new guest arrives. To hear the way they describe things and see the delight in their faces is truly rewarding experience.
Exhausting, yes, but in a good way. We work seven days a week for many hours out of each day. As with any business as you continue to learn what it takes to make it great it takes a bit out of you. However, the upside of what we are learning and how it is getting easier each day for us and for our employees is that we are building a business that we believe will stand for a long time.
Heaven on Earth
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
I consider Tranquilo Bay to be a slice of heaven on
earth. There are few places in this world where a group
of people can end up and have the opportunity to
participate in a dream. Obviously Tranquilo Bay is our
dream. We are grateful we get to live it each and every
day. However, when we get to watch other people enjoy
themselves doing all of the different activities we
have to offer while immersing themselves in nature it
is so rewarding. It is wonderful to have a lively
discussion at dinner amongst the guests we have from
all over the world sitting at the table.
Here is an example of the different kinds of "thank you" we get from our clients once they return home. This one came to my Dad's house along with a favorite book of our guests' children when their boys were Tres and Scott's age. We will be reading it to Scott, Tres and Boty for many years to come.
Here is an example of the different kinds of "thank you" we get from our clients once they return home. This one came to my Dad's house along with a favorite book of our guests' children when their boys were Tres and Scott's age. We will be reading it to Scott, Tres and Boty for many years to come.
Dear all - A belated thank you for a wonderful time at Tranquilo Bay. We loved EVERYTHING. You did an amazing job and despite the weather we had a fabulous time. Thanks for the biscotti recipe. Mine won't be as good because the atmosphere just isn't the same. For the kids, I am enclosing one of our favorite books. Hope they like it. Love and hugs to all: R, N, E, G & I
Opportunity
Sunday, January 27, 2008
We are a fortunate group of people. We try to make the
most out of every opportunity. We have found that
opportunity presents itself o us on a regular basis.
One day the opportunity may be to put our guests onto the best waves Bocas del Toro has to offer that particular morning. To rise to meet that opportunity we need to be prepared - we have to know our available options, judge based upon the conditions and then make a call.
Another day our opportunity might be to make every one of our guests feel welcome. One family might want to go snorkeling and another couple might want to go kayaking and then a third group may want to hang out, while one child would love to go fishing. It is our responsibility to make all of these things happen. We do so with a smile upon our faces because it is completely within our abilities to make each of these things happen for each of our guests.
The best quote I have found which sums up how we approach our business and our lives is this one:
The thing that we do is hope for the best and plan for the worst. We always hope for the best weather and conditions for our guests' experiences, but sometimes it rains. So we always have a plan for how to deal with the rain. It may be as simple as wait 30 minutes and the skies will clear or a bit more complicated where we have an excursion where everyone will have a good time rain or shine.
One day the opportunity may be to put our guests onto the best waves Bocas del Toro has to offer that particular morning. To rise to meet that opportunity we need to be prepared - we have to know our available options, judge based upon the conditions and then make a call.
Another day our opportunity might be to make every one of our guests feel welcome. One family might want to go snorkeling and another couple might want to go kayaking and then a third group may want to hang out, while one child would love to go fishing. It is our responsibility to make all of these things happen. We do so with a smile upon our faces because it is completely within our abilities to make each of these things happen for each of our guests.
The best quote I have found which sums up how we approach our business and our lives is this one:
The thing that we do is hope for the best and plan for the worst. We always hope for the best weather and conditions for our guests' experiences, but sometimes it rains. So we always have a plan for how to deal with the rain. It may be as simple as wait 30 minutes and the skies will clear or a bit more complicated where we have an excursion where everyone will have a good time rain or shine.
Kid Friendly
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
There are those hotels and those destinations which are
not a good fit for people traveling with children. We
are neither of those things. We love kids – we have
three of our own on site. Bocas del Toro Panama has
plenty of places where the kids can have a fun and safe
day.
This morning I was trying to help a former guest find another place in Panama to visit next year as he and his family want to return to stay with us, but they also want to explore a few different parts of the beautiful little country. We both happened upon a few new lovely places which look great but they are not appropriate for children. One place is completely over water which is not the best location for children. The other place does not accept children under the age of 13.
There is a reason that we are right for people with kids and for people without kids. We live here on site. We have our own kids living here with us. So we know what it is like to make sure both the kids and the grown ups have a good time. We send our kids to bed early or to the library downstairs to watch television while the adults enjoy a delicious meal with white tablecloths up stairs.
So, bring the kids and have some fun.
This morning I was trying to help a former guest find another place in Panama to visit next year as he and his family want to return to stay with us, but they also want to explore a few different parts of the beautiful little country. We both happened upon a few new lovely places which look great but they are not appropriate for children. One place is completely over water which is not the best location for children. The other place does not accept children under the age of 13.
There is a reason that we are right for people with kids and for people without kids. We live here on site. We have our own kids living here with us. So we know what it is like to make sure both the kids and the grown ups have a good time. We send our kids to bed early or to the library downstairs to watch television while the adults enjoy a delicious meal with white tablecloths up stairs.
So, bring the kids and have some fun.
It all began with a dream
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
I was a senior at the University of Texas when I met
Jim. He had a strong vision of what he wanted in life.
He knew that he wanted to do something different and
that it would be great if it could be near salt water.
So you could say that I knew very early on that I was
in for an adventure.
We met Jay through one of Jim’s cousins and as it turned out he had an interest in a different life as well. The three of us began talking, saving money and planning for what the future might hold. During the following years Jim and I got married, I attended law school part time, graduated and began practicing law, Jim and Jay bought a boat together to test the strength of our friendship, Jim was transferred out of Houston and we all traveled throughout the Caribbean and Central America to further solidify the dream.
In 1998 we moved back to Houston about 5 minutes from where Jay was living. Our planning took up almost all of our free time; however, Jay met Stefanie and began dating her in spite of his self-avowed bachelorism. Over time, Jay and Stefanie’s relationship grew and she was invited to learn a bit about our crazy plans.
Stefanie and I sent Jay and Jim to Bocas del Toro, Panama in October 1999 to see if it was a good fit for our plans. Upon their return from Bocas, the guys informed us that it was the right place but that it would take a bit of time to find the exact location. Panama had so much to offer: land at a reasonable price, currency on par with the US Dollar, an infrastructure much better than other Central American countries, a biological wonderland, an extensive national park system, it was beneath the hurricane belt, its people seemed to be so welcoming and a fair number of them spoke English. The four of us decided to proceed with Panama. Jim was the best person to keep the process moving. Jim resigned from his job at about the same time he had been informed that he was to acquire his dream job – business development responsibilities throughout Latin America.
We met Jay through one of Jim’s cousins and as it turned out he had an interest in a different life as well. The three of us began talking, saving money and planning for what the future might hold. During the following years Jim and I got married, I attended law school part time, graduated and began practicing law, Jim and Jay bought a boat together to test the strength of our friendship, Jim was transferred out of Houston and we all traveled throughout the Caribbean and Central America to further solidify the dream.
In 1998 we moved back to Houston about 5 minutes from where Jay was living. Our planning took up almost all of our free time; however, Jay met Stefanie and began dating her in spite of his self-avowed bachelorism. Over time, Jay and Stefanie’s relationship grew and she was invited to learn a bit about our crazy plans.
Stefanie and I sent Jay and Jim to Bocas del Toro, Panama in October 1999 to see if it was a good fit for our plans. Upon their return from Bocas, the guys informed us that it was the right place but that it would take a bit of time to find the exact location. Panama had so much to offer: land at a reasonable price, currency on par with the US Dollar, an infrastructure much better than other Central American countries, a biological wonderland, an extensive national park system, it was beneath the hurricane belt, its people seemed to be so welcoming and a fair number of them spoke English. The four of us decided to proceed with Panama. Jim was the best person to keep the process moving. Jim resigned from his job at about the same time he had been informed that he was to acquire his dream job – business development responsibilities throughout Latin America.