Letter from Doug Babcock on Hurricane Ian
Posted on October 2, 2022

Dear Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts friends and fans, 

On behalf of all of our team members, we sincerely appreciate the outpouring of love and support we’ve received in the aftermath of likely the worst hurricane in Southwest Florida’s history. Thankfully, everyone is safe, secure and accounted for. To best monitor our resorts, my wife, Paige, and I remained on island during the storm. And thanks to our first responders, we were airlifted off via helicopter just days after landfall, with Tony and Angie Lapi also safe.

It’s hard to fathom what’s unfolded, and unimaginable how something so calm and beautiful can become so angry and destructive. During my time on island after the storm and since, I was able to tour our four properties to witness the devastation firsthand.

Castaways and Beachview are now memories, for the most part, with many cottages completely gone. On the brighter side, ‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa and West Wind Island Resort are remarkably in good shape. With water, power and access to the islands, we could open in a few days; unfortunately, we know the infrastructure rebuilding process will take months.

Rest assured that Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts is ready and committed to rebuilding all of our four beach properties into a renewed, reimagined, reenergized form of themselves — or to coin my favorite term, evolve into a new, higher, better form.

As of now we don’t know the path to get there, but we’re working with local and state officials to assist the rebuilding process. We have vessels ready to transport staff back on the islands as soon as it is safe to do so. The Sanibel Captiva Island Vacations team has already mobilized, and are currently inspecting and reporting on the conditions of all the 100-plus homes in our program to their owners. Please reach out to Jackie Royka and her team for details and updates (www.SCVacay.com).

I must also add that I’m amazed at the resiliency of our team. Many have experienced damage to their own homes and vehicles but continue to reach out to me to ask how they can help. The love and support from all of you and our team members is what makes Sanibel Captive Beach Resorts so special. The fact that we are all healthy and safe continues to allow us to proclaim: “Shouldn’t everyday be this good?” The answer is yes.

We’ll do our best to keep everyone updated as we work through this process, so visit our social media sites and watch for e-mail updates. This will take time and we will have setbacks along the way, but we will succeed. We will evolve. Please continue to send your love and support, it’s what fuels our passion to serve and satisfy you. Thank you all.

Sincerely,

Doug Babcock, Chief Executive Officer and Island Lover

Important FAQs

While our reservations team is extremely short-staffed at the moment, we have begun outreach calls to guests with upcoming reservations starting from check-ins scheduled for this week and taking it day by day through December 1, 2022. If you have not received a call yet, rest assured that one of our amazing and resilient reservationists will be in touch with you soon. Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts is ready and committed to rebuilding all of our four beach properties into a renewed, reimagined, reenergized form of themselves. We are grateful for your patience.

We are grateful for the outpouring of love, well wishes and reservation questions and concerns we’re receiving via phone, email, web chat and social media messages and appreciate your patience as we prioritize outreach on a daily basis.

Rest assured that Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts is ready and committed to rebuilding all of our four beach properties into a renewed, reimagined, reenergized form of themselves — or to coin my favorite term, evolve into a new, higher, better form.  

As of now we don’t know the path to get there but we’re working with local and state officials to assist the rebuilding process. We have vessels ready to transport staff back on the islands as soon as it is safe to do so. The Sanibel Captiva Island Vacations team is ready to mobilize, to inspect and report the conditions of all the 100-plus homes in our program to their owners. 

On behalf of all of our team members, our hearts go out to you and your family in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. While our group sales team is extremely short-staffed at the moment, we have begun outreach calls and emails to bridal parties with upcoming weddings starting from events scheduled for this week and taking it day by day through December 31, 2022.  

If you have not received a call yet, rest assured that one of our amazing and resilient team members will be in touch with you soon. Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts is ready and committed to rebuilding all of our four beach properties into a renewed, reimagined, reenergized form of themselves.  

Brides with events scheduled after December 31, 2022. We will be in touch with you and we are grateful and humbled by your patience and understanding as we coordinate with brides with weddings dates that were scheduled to take place in the upcoming days and weeks.

Our most popular question and concern is regarding refunds. We are issuing refunds, though we do not yet have clarity on when that will be at this time. We apologize for the stress this situation places on you and again, we wish there was more we could do in a timelier manner. We have incredible local, county, state and federal officials that are working around the clock in full force to assist our community with regaining the resources we need. 

No. At this time there is no vehicle access to Sanibel and Captiva Island due to Hurricane Ian. There is no power, no internet and no water on the islands.

SCBR Team Relief Program

Remember all those smiling faces in our restaurants, at our pool bar, welcoming you at the front desk, housekeeping your guest quarters? Here’s your chance to say thank you, and more importantly, to help another.

To provide additional support to our valued team members, SCBR has funded and created a GoFundMe account with 100% of the proceeds to benefit employees in need of financial assistance. And you can help us help them. Thank you!