B
ut it’s the prospect of month after month of 24/7
activity that pulls Gaetan Babin back in each day.
“They say in the flower business, if you can’t make
money on Mother’s Day then you shouldn’t be in
business,” said Babin, director of sales at The Reef
Resort, on the eastern tip of Grand Cayman on the
shores of the Caribbean Sea. “I’ve been involved in this
industry for 25 years and it’s very exciting.
“People are coming in from the frigid cold up north
– from Canada to New York to the Midwest – and
you land here in paradise; sunny days, no wind, mid-80
degrees. It’s nice.”
The resort will typically do 50 percent of its annual
business in the five-month stretch from December to
April, with the majority of visitors arriving from New
York and its immediate surroundings. Other strong
bases from North America include Texas, Florida, the
Carolinas and Canada.
The United Kingdom, Italy and Germany are the top
European sources, and Babin said the reputation of the
Caymans as a particularly well-off destination means
the clientele is particularly discerning.
“People are coming here by choice because of what
we have to offer, and not because it’s the cheapest
place on the planet,” he said. “We have a mixed-used
property, from rentals to limited timeshares, so we
draw a client base that’s a little more affluent.
“A third of our members are in the medical or
education fields. So it’s not the over-, over-affluent, but
it’s certainly not the people who are looking for what
they can get for 99 dollars, including all the food and
including all the tequila they can drink.”
The resort features 1,600 feet of beachfront and all
166 studio and suite floor plan arrangements are on
the water. Regular one-bedroom suites are 900 square
feet with a full kitchen, while one-bedroom executive
suites include a dining room and lounge and cater
to families and couples enjoying longer stays. Two-
bedroom master suites include 1,350 square feet and
have a full bathroom and full kitchen.
Deluxe studio suites are 500 square feet with king-
size bed and kitchenette, and the regular studio suite is
450 square feet with a mini-refrigerator andmicrowave,
in addition to tableware and cutlery.
Sizes may vary, but what they all have in common is
proximity to sand and water.
“They’re not cookie-cutter hotel rooms stacked side
by side,” Babin said.
“You basically take one step out the door of your unit
and your toes are in the sand, and you take 30 steps
and your feet are in the sea. All the units are like that. I
refrain from using the word ‘better’ because there are
a lot of great operators, but we’re the only one in the
Cayman Island that is complete on the water, and no
one can take that away from us.”
Another differentiation from other Cayman locales
– as well as those in Cancun, Barbados and Fort
Lauderdale and other places – is The Reef’s positioning
on the less-populated side of the island, which appeals
to customers seeking a laid-back vacation, as opposed
to perpetual nightlife and crowds.
It’s 20 miles from Seven Mile Beach, and Babin revels
in its label as the “Island Side” of Grand Cayman.
“People are really looking to get away from the busy
beaches, where it’s hotel after hotel after hotel and
every chair is reserved,” he said. “We don’t have that
“They say in the flower business, if you
can’t make money on Mother’s Day
then you shouldn’t be in business,”
Gaetan Babin
An Ultimate Vacation
Experience
The Reef draws high marks for peace, quiet and serenity
Working at a luxury destination in the Cayman
Islands is, by definition, a hectic endeavor.
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