NO ORDINARY HOTEL STAY

BY BILL ATWOOD

Afriend looked over my shoulder at the computer screen.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

I replied, “I’m booking a stay at the Hilton Sandestin Beach.”

“You’re having a meeting there?”

“No. This is just 100% pure family fun.”

“Let me get this straight,” he said quizzically, “you travel 300,000 miles a year, stay in countless hotels and, for fun, you are going to stay in another hotel? After all that travel and hotel time, I would think that would be the last thing you would want to do.”

“Ah,” I said, “The Hilton Sandestin Beach is different. It’s like staying with friends who have a giant house on the world’s best beach, with amazing food and total rest. Whether it's Tiffany taking care of our beach chairs and umbrellas, Ben overseeing our food and beverages or enjoying a great room (thanks, Robin), everyone at the hotel is top notch. What great leadership Gary, then general manager, has provided, and what a great team he has assembled. It all makes for a great hotel experience.”

And so it has been — every year, for as long as I can remember — heading to the hotel, usually over Memorial Day weekend. Of course, COVID-19 messed up everything, but even in navigating the pandemic, Hilton Sandestin Beach had our backs. The health and sanitation standards were perfect. Every possible source of concern was eliminated.

The view of the beach from our room shows the order and serious way that Hilton Sandestin Beach dealt with the pandemic versus neighboring properties, with beach setups spread out rather than in tight quarters. And every table and chair was sanitized after any use. The cleaning standards with Hilton were over the top. It made us feel safe and secure — and made it easy to be rejuvenated even with the virus still around.

I spend a lot of time overseas in developing nations, working on sustainable development projects. It is rewarding but very tiring work with far too many 15-hour flights. After lots of travel and long days, Hilton Sandestin Beach provides the perfect place to reflect, recover and unwind.