2021 Updates
December 23, 2021 Update
To address some issues with outsourced night security services, we worked with our HGV management team to implement a plan that not only improves our security services but extends our maintenance services and reduces security services expenditures. As a result, the decision was made to increase our maintenance team by one and eliminate the outsourced security service contractors.
With Mark Swartz coming onboard last month, he now serves as a combined security/maintenance technician. His schedule is Thursday through Monday, 3:00 - 11:00 PM. This gives him some overlap with the rest of the team before they leave, so he can carry on needed maintenance activities at night, while moreover handling security services late afternoon into the evening. This new plan will be monitored and adjusted if needed. To that end, we look forward to owner feedback.
With Mark Swartz coming onboard last month, he now serves as a combined security/maintenance technician. His schedule is Thursday through Monday, 3:00 - 11:00 PM. This gives him some overlap with the rest of the team before they leave, so he can carry on needed maintenance activities at night, while moreover handling security services late afternoon into the evening. This new plan will be monitored and adjusted if needed. To that end, we look forward to owner feedback.
December 15, 2021 Update
Meet the new members of our first-class maintenance team…Jim Bohl (on the left) was in the US Marine Corps from 1979 until 1983. Upon moving to FL, he took a job installing hurricane shutters which led him to the aluminum industry, where he worked for 28 years installing pool cages. He then began his career in hospitality working as a maintenance tech for a vacation rental company and eventually joined the HGV team in 2020. Jim is married to his lovely wife Donna for 36 years and has 2 beautiful daughters and 2 grandkids. Mark Swartz (on the right) comes to us from Sunny Southern California where he recently retired from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), starting as an Electricians Helper then on to an Apprenticeship as an Operating Engineer. Mark was in that role for 12 years. Before that he worked in the entertainment industry where he did everything from building scenery to teching lights for stars including Michael Jackson and Barbara Streisand. However, Mark has not given up on his passion for lights as he runs Automated Christmas Lighting shows from his home.
December 4, 2021 Update
Look who came to our beautiful resort for Thanksgiving...and she brought her 3 cubs with her!
October 29, 2021 Update
Over the past year we have seen a marked increase in negative owner comments about housekeeping. As a result, we have moved forward with changing services providers. The company we’ve selected is a proven high quality service provider at several other Hilton Grand Vacation resorts in the area. The transition to our new housekeeping provider will be completed on November 20, 2021. Additionally, at the same time, we have moved forward with upgrading our linens to conform with Hilton standards. Our linen cleaning service is also being moved to a higher rated provider.
These upgrades are necessary to respond to owner expectations and to return our resort to the level we’ve been accustomed to. But these upgrades come at a price. Having said that, as we work through the budget for next year and beyond, your Board is working to offset as much of these increased expenses without negatively impacting other services.
We hope these service provider changes will be “music to owners’ ears...and eyes”, and everyone will see the improvement once our new providers get established at our beautiful resort. We look forward to ongoing owner feedback, either through the Tuesday morning meetings, or directly via email.
October 15, 2021 UpdateOwners often provide comments to the resort management via a form that is available at the office. However, after leaving and going home, you might think of something new. As a result, we’re giving you year round access to the form here so you can download it by clicking on the link below.
Then you can complete the form with your comments and e-mail it back to the office at tortugabeachclub@hgv.com.
September 2, 2021 UpdateSince seeing the horrific images of the Surfside, Florida condo collapse, owners have logically been asking about the status of inspections at Tortuga. It should be noted that over the years, as various projects have been initiated, various inspections have been made. Having said that, our management company, Hilton Grand Vacations, has been very proactive and has already secured estimates for a full engineering inspection.
The Board has a series of meetings in September and October to finalize the 2022 budget. The cost for the inspection will be included in next year's budget. You should also note that the Board had a recent discussion with our attorney. He said that there is a very strong likelihood of significant changes to Florida statues regarding engineering inspections throughout the state, for all properties beachfront and inland, high rise and low rise. Until we learn the details, we won't be able to assess the long-term impact, if any, on our annual expenses.
August 18, 2021 Update
At our March meeting, the Board approved a new project to replace the handrail caps in the stairwells of all buildings including the office. The project has begun, and you can see the results in the before/after photos below. To minimize the inconvenience on guests, the work is being limited to Fridays and therefore will take some time to complete all 15 stairwells.
August 9, 2021 Update
Since the pool/pool deck makeover early in the summer, there have been frequent questions about why the three Screw Palms were removed and replaced with the Christmas Palms which don’t provide as much shade.In our May 21, 2021 posting below, we briefly described that the Screw Palms root system is at the surface of the ground causing damage to the pool deck as they grow. The photos below show some of the damage these palms had caused. As a result, to protect our investment in the new pool deck, the Screw Palms had to be removed. Additionally, had these trees not been removed, the contractor could not guarantee their workmanship on the new deck. Yes, the new Christmas Palms currently do not provide the same amount of shade, but please be patient, they will grow.
August 2, 2021 Update
We are pleased to announce that Lisa Diggins will become our new Resort Director on August 16, 2021. Lisa has many years of experience within the Hilton Grand Vacations organization, beginning her career here on Sanibel Island in accounting/reservations at Casa Ybel Resort. She later became Assistant Manager at Casa Ybel and most recently has been the Resort Director at Seawatch on Fort Myers Beach. Feel free to stop by the office to welcome Lisa to our very special resort.
July 21, 2021 Update
To provide owners with a consistent vacation experience from previous years, we have contracted with a company named Resort Sports to fill in at the club house for the weekly activities program while JoAnn Malloy is on vacation. Debbie Regnone of Resort Sports will be on site July 17-22, July 24-29 and July 31-August 5, 2021.
June 21, 2021 Update
Regrettably, our new Resort Director, Kristyn Parker, has tendered her resignation effective June 23rd. Ms Parker has endured a personal issue and must return to New York and her family there. Obviously, this was unforeseen, and we wish her the best.
A search is already underway for a replacement Director and with the increased local interest, we are confident we’ll get qualified applicants soon. Please check back here for periodic updates.
June 17, 2021 Update
Here’s a tip we just learned of...Just because you have given your e-mail address to the TBC office, to receive any e-mails from Hilton, you must "Opt-In" to receive e-mails. If you did not receive the June 8th email announcing this web site, you have not Opted-In to receiving e-mails. Here’s what you need to do to Opt-In: 1. Go to www.HiltonGrandVacations.com and click “Sign In” at the top right menu bar, then click “HGV Owner”. 2. Once you have signed into your account at the top right of the menu bar, click on your name and you will see an option “Manage Communications”. Click on it. 3. When the “Manage Communications” page comes up, you will see the details of the options to receive print only or e-mail and print. To the right of all the text are circles to make your selection. Click the circle on the right in the “Email & Print” column. 4. Go to the bottom of that page to the “Consent to Electronic Communications” and scroll down through the legal stuff, reading as you go, until you get to the end. Then click “Yes, I agree…” 5. Click on “Save Changes” and you will get a pop-up message saying you’ve successful changed your preference. 6. If you do not get that pop-up message, you probably did not get to the end of the legal terms. Make sure you scroll all the way to the very end and then repeat steps 4 and 5 above.
June 10, 2021 Update
Draft/recommended revisions to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, referred to in the 5/21/21 posting below, will be sent to owners in late Fall.
June 4, 2021 Update
Checkout the new pool, spa, decks and landscaping! Special thanks to all of the staff and contractors who made this complex project a big success.
May 21, 2021 Update
Welcome to our new TBC Board web site which will allow us to get news you can use as quickly as possible and on an as-needed basis, rather than a fixed and ridged schedule.
This is a direct result of feedback from owners seeking more direct communications with the Board. Visit this section to see what’s new since your prior visit. All updates will be dated and past updates will remain posted.This web site is in addition to information on the resort's web site that is managed by Hilton Grand Vacations so be sure to visit that site regularly.
Pool, Spa and Pool Deck MakeoverAs you have probably heard, to get the pool re-certified, it needed to be resurfaced. To minimize future disruption to owners, it was decided to redo the entire pool deck at the same time. The project is expected to be completed in early June. Unfortunately, current Florida code prohibits us from replacing our beloved turtle on the bottom of the pool. A variance was not requested because we were strongly discouraged by the health department, our management company and the contractor. Given a number of factors it's regrettable this was not communicated sooner and more clearly. We now realize we “dropped the ball” on the communication and apologize.
To protect our investment in the new pool deck, we are also replacing the three (3) Screw Palms due to their surface level root system causing damage to the pool deck pavers. They will be replaced by beautiful Christmas Palms (named for their beautiful red berries adorned in late fall) and various shrubs and plants.
We are extremely excited and hopeful that you will appreciate the new and updated look.
Landscaping UpdateOur long-term landscaping contractor decided to stop working on Sanibel. As a result, we’ve secured a new contractor who is learning more about the property.
Additionally, now that we have the paver pathways, we will be adding sod to some of the bare areas where the gravel paths existed. Every year we will continue to address areas that sod can replace gravel to improve the property. There will also be some drainage modifications. All of this is aimed at giving TBC more green space!
Legal ReviewsOur original Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws are about 40 years old. These documents needed a thorough review and update. The Board initiated this process with our outside counsel and look to finish the project before year-end.
Additionally, we are reviewing our Management Agreement with Hilton Grand Vacations since it is up for renewal early next year.