37 / 56
its centerpiece is the free-form infinity pool that
winds along the oceanfront and gives the feeling
that one is swimming in the ocean.”
The popular amoeba-shaped water feature is
located on an expansive sun deck that serves as
an afternoon gathering place for guests who can’t
resist stopping in for a dip, even after a full day of
island activities. “Along with the pool is an ocean-
front hot tub that can accommodate 10 people,”
says Brooks. “And the views from there, across
the ocean, of St. Barth’s are spectacular.”
For owners and visitors who’d prefer to get
in
the Atlantic rather than just look out over it, Oyster
Bay partially fronts Dawn Beach. “The resort
maintains 70 beach chairs and umbrellas for the exclusive and free
use of our guests,” says Brooks. “We also supply, for free, first-class
snorkeling gear to explore the nearby reefs.”
Opposite the pool and beach, one of Oyster Pond’s marinas was
developed and is managed by Oyster Bay Beach Resort. Brooks
explains that some of the slips are commercial water sports operations
that provide daily snorkeling, diving, sightseeing, and day-trips to
nearby uninhabited Islands, “so the availability of those activities is
right at the doorstep of our guests.”
… And Beyond
While the infinity pool may be Oyster Bay’s centerpiece, the adjacent
namesake restaurant is getting renewed attention from owners and
guests, thanks to a recent renovation. “We specifically decided to sched-
ule the signature Infinity Restaurant as our next big project because it
hadn’t been updated since the mid-2000s,” says Perez. The outdoor
dining deck was made more European in style by the use of Italian
cantilevered umbrellas that, besides looking very elegant, cover
most of the deck in the event of light rain or too much sun.
In addition, Infinity includes a bar and lounge area, which also were
completely remodeled. In fact, the bar doubled in size and, like the restau-
rant deck, the bar deck looks out over the Atlantic Ocean and provides
guests with ultra-chic comfort for outdoor cocktails.
“It’s all quite attractive,” Perez adds. “The designer and architect who
planned it have already won awards for this project.”
Visitor satisfaction, of course, is the most important honor. “The own-
ers have really responded enthusiastically,” Perez says. “We see it through
the frequent positive comments they make on their comment cards, and
hear it when they stop us on property and thank us for a great job. These
projects show them that the developer is keeping their end of the bargain
and not only maintaining, but improving, the resort.”
And owners are rewarding the development team by spending more
time — and money — on property at Oyster Bay. By the numbers, since
the renovation, the bar is twice as busy and the restaurant has seen a
30-percent increase in revenue.
Perpetual Upgrades
The restaurant overhaul is an extremely out-in-
the-open undertaking, but it’s hardly the only
remodeling happening at Oyster Bay. “We have
a long-term plan of perpetual renovation and
modernization,” Perez says. “We are constantly
selecting a block of units that we feel are due
for certain levels of remodeling. Soon we will be
tackling the units that we renovated in 2010,
which are due for some attention.”
What this means for visitors is that none of
Oyster Bay’s 170 timeshare units go more than
roughly five years without some sort of facelift.
In other words, the 74 studios, 72 one-
bedrooms, and 24 two-bedroom accommodations — outfitted in chic
Caribbean decor, including large tropical artwork on the walls and high-
quality linens in the closets — always feel fresh.
They’re functional, too. One- and two-bedroom units have a
40-inch TV and DVD player in the living room, a full kitchen, and a
dining room that can comfortably seat six guests. Studios have
32-inch flat-screens and half-kitchens that are equipped with a
microwave, refrigerator, stove, and a full complement of cooking
utensils and flatware, including stemmed wine glasses.
Staff Stability
The constant structural improvements are certainly a positive aspect of
Oyster Bay ownership. When it comes to the staff, though, the opposite
is true, and the low turnover is what stands out. “I think the average
tenure is about 10 years, and a number of our staff members have been
with us more than 30 years,” Perez says. “I really think that’s one of our
greatest strengths. The relationship between our owners and our
employees is truly unique in that the owners are seen as part of the
employees’ families and are treated with that level of care and respect.”
This relationship goes a long way toward explaining how Oyster
Bay’s sales and marketing team can have so much success with such
little off-site work. “We sell strictly to our in-house owners, hotel guests,
and Interval exchange clients,” Perez explains, “and we have very low
marketing costs as these people are often already interested in learning
more about our product based on their actual vacation experience and
do not require expensive promotions.”
Which is why Oyster Bay’s affiliation with Interval International
makes perfect sense. “Interval not only provides our members with
quality exchange resorts, but the Interval exchangers who come here
are very experienced timeshare users who greatly appreciate what we
have to offer,” adds Perez. “They make very good clients, and are will-
ing and able participants in our sales process.”
35
Developer:
Pearl Development NV
Location:
Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Product:
Fixed unit/fixed weeks, as
well as flexible-use options offered on
an annual or biennial basis
Price:
US$12,500 to US$110,000
Website:
oysterbaybeachresort.com
Social Media:
Facebook, Twitter
Oyster Bay Beach Resort
fast
facts