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The Resort at MarinaVillage Receives its Florida Green Lodging Certificate!

May 27th, 2011

Great News! After all the hard work and efforts to make The Resort at MarinaVillage a member of Florida Green Lodging Program, we have received our designation in the program! Here is just a snapshot of some of the ways that MarinaVillage strives each and everyday to make your stay as green-friendly as possible!

Green Lodging Items discussed for The Resort at MarinaVillage

Q. How do you develop and include green lodging initiatives into the planning and development of the new hotel.

A. If you define the green initiatives you would like to incorporate into a new building and you can specify equipment and components with the architect around your green goals, you can design the infrastructure to support green goals right from the start. Specifying green components of a building will initially be more expensive for the developer, but the return on investment is very short and the benefit to the environment lasts forever.

Q. Why does Sunstream feel it’s important to comply with the new green lodging programs standards?

A. Again, it has always been our goal to be good stewards of the environment and we feel compelled to do our part. At home an average family may fill two recycling containers to be put curbside once a week, but in a hotel environment the recyclables generated will be multiplied exponentially based on the number of rooms. Due to this volume, a commercial property can have a very significant impact on the environment if they go green. Pointe Estero, a 60 unit high rise property Sunstream manages on Fort Myers Beach, was one of the first hotels on the beach to implement a commercial recycling program 1993. We developed a plan and worked with our staff and the local waste company and we have been reducing our impact on the environment for over 17 years now.

Q. Can you mention some of MV’s more groundbreaking green compliances and innovations – the key system for example?

A. We have an energy management system in place for the hotel rooms. When a guest enters the room, they insert their key card into the slot next to the light switch at the entry. This activates the occupied mode and allows the air conditioning to reach cooler levels. In the units we also have sensors on the lanai sliding glass doors, these sensors will turn off the AC if the sliding glass doors are left open for more than 3 minutes. When the key is inserted into the slot, this also allows certain lighting to be turned on. When the key is removed as the guest leaves the room, the AC will adjust to an unoccupied setting and the temperature will be adjusted to a higher level and certain lighting, if left on, will be turned off.

In our commercial laundry we have installed an Ozone machine. The Ozone generator creates Ozone and this is connected to our laundry washers. The Ozone is used to whiten the linens and allow us to use very little hot water and fewer chemicals.

We have installed in various locations of the hotel, occupancy sensors that will turn on when a guest enters a restroom and will turn off the lighting if the restroom is not occupied.

Portions of the hotel are using 277 volt ballasts for lighting which are more efficient than 120.

We have utilized T8 fluorescent lighting throughout the hotel, which is more energy efficient than the older T12.

We have utilized compact fluorescent light bulbs in the units and common areas of the hotel, which are much more efficient and last much longer than incandescent lighting.

We have used some energy star appliances in the units.

Our sliding glass doors in the hotel rooms are utilize tinted glass to reduce the impact of the sun.

We have automatic faucets in the public restrooms.

We have low flow toilets in the restrooms.

We utilize photocells to turn on and off exterior lighting.

We have installed a trash compactor and we compact all the trash generated by the hotel, the Marker 92 restaurant as well as the all the trash from the two 2-story commercial lease buildings.

We have a recycling program set up for our guests and fill up at least fifteen to twenty 96 gallon recycling containers per week.

The hotel uses a closed loop chilled water system for cooling the hotel instead of independent condensing units.

The grounds were planted with mainly native species of plants and turf allowing us to minimize the amount of irrigation needed.

We have implemented a towel reuse program for the hotel rooms and advertise it to our guests by means of in room signage.

We perform our weekly fire pump test using the power transferred from the generator during the weekly generator test run.

The Marker 92 restaurant utilizes recyclable to go containers.

The cooling of the walk in freezers and coolers is engineered with scroll compressors and is attached to our chilled water system instead of having independent condensing units.

We have a fluorescent bulb recycling program to eliminate these chemicals from reaching a landfill.

We utilize environmentally friendly cleaning solutions and refillable containers for the housekeeping staff.

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SunStream Hotels & Resorts Hires a New National Sales Manager to Help Bring People to Southwest Florida

May 12th, 2011

SunStream Hotels & Resorts is proud to announce their newest National Sales Manager, Andrea Locke. She will be representing all the fine Hotels and Resorts within the SunStream portfolio, however her main focus will be at The Resort at MarinaVillage – Cape Coral’s only luxury waterfront Resort. Andrea joins the Sales Team with over 12 years experience at SunStream.

Since staring with SunStream in 1998, Andrea has worked her way from Executive Assistant to the Vice President, then joined the Human Resources Department as the Human Resources Manager, then became the Training & Development Manager and most recently held the title of Human Resources Director. In her current role as a National Sales Manager, Andrea will be responsible for working with group & meeting industry professionals on a national level with a primary focus in securing group/convention business that utilize blocks of guestrooms and food & beverage services. With her extensive knowledge of SunStream as well as her amazing ability to cultivate and maintain relationships, the Sales team is very excited about the new addition!

Prior to her work with SunStream, Andrea held positions as a Staffing Coordinator with Remedy Intelligent Staffing and as a Sales Representative for Gund, Inc. while living in Louisiana. In her hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida, she worked for the Home Shopping Network as a Research Analyst and then was promoted to Marketing Manager.

Andrea attended St. Petersburg College with a major in Business & Marketing. As a Human Resources Professional, Andrea has received several certifications as well as served on several influential boards within the industry.

In her spare time, Andrea enjoys spending time with her family at their home in Cape Coral. Gardening, boating and traveling as well as relaxing with a good book are just some of the ways Andrea likes to pass the time. Her latest craze includes taking Zumba and Yoga classes at the gym.

Andrea’s enthusiasm, drive, passion and willingness to succeed will ensure success in her new position at The Resort at MarinaVillage and we are so excited to have her on board!

For more information about bringing your group to Cape Coral, call Andrea at 239-541-5043, email AndreaL@SunStream.com or visit www.marinavillageresort.com/meetingsgroups

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Headquartered in Fort Myers Beach, SunStream Hotels & Resorts has become a name synonymous with luxury hotels and condominium resorts throughout Southwest Florida, having specialized in property development and hospitality management since 1986. SunStream’s distinctive collection of properties in Southwest Florida now includes the DiamondHead Beach Resort, GullWing Beach Resort, Pointe Estero Beach Resort, Bellasera Hotel, Park Shore Resort, Port of the Islands Resort & Marina and Cape Coral’s first luxury resort, The Resort at MarinaVillage – a luxurious full-service condominium resort located at Tarpon Point Marina with 19 stories of sweeping views of the Caloosahatchee River, San Carlos Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

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SunStream Celebrates 25 Years! Check out our article in The News-Press!

April 28th, 2011

SunStream Hotels & Resorts is marking its 25th year, and going full-throttle, as the owner-operator of diverse-but-upscale vacation properties along Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The privately owned company started when a group of investors from Minnesota bought a Fort Myers Beach resort condominium complex that was struggling financially.

It cut its teeth on condominium resort management, and quickly established itself as one of Florida’s first operators of condo hotels.

In the latter, accommodations are individually owned, but the management company provides services to guests comparable to that of a hotel.

Along the way, SunStream added a full-service real estate office and a time share division.

Its resort properties vary in size and ambience, and include the AAA four-diamond-rated Bellasera Hotel in downtown Naples, the high-rise DiamondHead Beach Resort & Spa on Fort Myers Beach and Port of the Island Resort in the heart of the Everglades. Company operations also include resort-related spas, restaurants and lounges.

“With the economy fluctuating, diversity of our portfolio has kept us solid and stable over the last 25 years,” said Mary Anne Baker. She’s SunStream’s vice president of hospitality.

A lot has changed since the company founders entered the local market by purchasing Pointe Estero on Fort Myers Beach.

Baker remembers “using a typewriter, a cash box – and sticking colored tape on a chart” to keep track of guest bookings there, when she was hired as general manager. These days, SunStream uses state-of-the-art digital technology.

“One thing that hasn’t changed is the quality of our people,” Baker said. ” A lot of them have been with us 10, 15, 20 years.”

Baker herself is a 25-year SunStream employee. Three others also date to the beginning: David Lawrence, president and company partner; Monica Flowers Crews, director of corporate operations; and Robert Swanson, a partner in the business.

SunStream “may have been a step ahead of their time in branching out,” said Roxie Smith, longtime Beach businesswoman and former owner of the Pink Shell resort on Fort Myers Beach.

The path to growth wasn’t always smooth, Smith noted. In the early 1990s, a Lee County Commission vote ultimately paved the way for SunStream’s construction of a 16-story DiamondHead resort, despite widespread opposition from Fort Myers Beach residents.

Smith wasn’t part of the fight, but noted many people thought commissioners hadn’t listened to them on the DiamondHead issue. That sentiment became a major catalyst for Beach incorporation.

As for SunStream: “They’ve been a wonderful addition to this community, and very generous in their support of their community,” Smith said.

SunStream’s diverse collection of resort properties gives it many price points to offer guests, Baker noted. Company-wide, average daily rates range from about $100-$500 a night during local tourism’s high season – which typically ends around Easter – to $50-$400 a night in the slower months of late summer and autumn.

The array of properties also means the company’s 450 employees have “opportunities to advance from within,” Baker said.

Baker added that SunStream “had a very strong season. We were glad to see people out traveling, and spending.”

She didn’t rule out future acquisitions.

“There are other things on the fire,” she said, “but nothing to talk about at this time.”

Baker’s optimistic.

“I think there’s pent-up demand for everything – whether it’s travel or real estate,” Baker said. “If it’s priced right, people will purchase.”

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SunStream Beach Team Spends a Day with Drew Gregory from Jackson Kayak

March 30th, 2011

The SunStream Beach Team was lucky enough to spend some time with Drew Gregory, Professional Kayak Angler and spokesperson for Jackson Kayak. Check out the time we spent on the waters of Southwest Florida and don’t forget to visit Tarpon Point Marina next time you are at the resort to rent a kayak or a boat, find out about Sunset and Dolphin tours or get more information about fishing adventures! Call the Marina at 239-549-4900 and ask for Captain Kelly… don’t forget to tell him we sent you there!

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Post 3 of 3: The Resort at MarinaVillage Goes Green!

January 20th, 2011

Post 3 of 3: For the next few days I will be posting information on how MarinaVillage has been working hard to become Green Lodging Certified so that they can offer you a more environmentally friendly option when it comes to your next vacation!

Q. Can you mention some of MV’s more groundbreaking green compliances and innovations – the key system for example?

We have installed in various locations of the hotel, occupancy sensors that will turn on when a guest enters a restroom and will turn off the lighting if the restroom is not occupied.

Portions of the hotel are using 277 volt ballasts for lighting which are more efficient than 120.

We have utilized T8 fluorescent lighting throughout the hotel, which is more energy efficient than the older T12.

We have utilized compact fluorescent light bulbs in the units and common areas of the hotel, which are much more efficient and last much longer than incandescent lighting.

We have used some energy star appliances in the units.

Our sliding glass doors in the hotel rooms utilize tinted glass to reduce the impact of the sun.