News & Events

Victor International & Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Debuts New Clubhouse

Victor International featured in Management Today

David V. Johnson was recently interviewed for an article in Management Today in their Fall issue, in which he spoke about all the Victor International developments including Bay Harbor, Oil Nut Bay and YCCS Marina.

To see the entire article, please click here.

The Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous featured in International Magazines

The Carribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous held March 16 - 20, 2011 continues to be showcased in international magazines across the globe.  Most recently, both Showboats International and Boat International had articles and breathtaking photos of this fabulous event hosted by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in the Virgin Gorda.

Enjoy these amazing articles with gorgeous photos that helped capture the electrifying atmosphere below:

Showboats International:  See article in its entirety here

Boat International:  See article in its entirety here

Breaking News!

VICTOR INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH YACHT CLUB COSTA SMERALDA TO UNVEIL NEW YACHT CLUB & MARINA IN BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

(VIRGIN GORDA, British Virgin Islands) – October 28, 2010 – Victor International is pleased to announce a new partnership with the renowned Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), to create a new yacht club & marina, YCCS Virgin Gorda, in North Sound, British Virgin Islands.  The inauguration date for YCCS Virgin Gorda is scheduled for March 2011, in conjunction with the inaugural Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous, taking place from March 16-20, 2011 and organized in partnership with YCCS and Boat International Media.

For more than 40 years, the YCCS has been one of the leading Yacht Clubs in the Mediterranean. Following the expressed wishes of the Club’s Members for access to quality facilities and services on both sides of the Atlantic, YCCS decided to expand. The new location, on a private peninsula on the eastern tip of Virgin Gorda in the protected waters of North Sound, was chosen based on a number of key attributes including the beautiful location, with beaches, protected anchorages and marinas; its accessibility by air and sea; the security and stability of the British Virgin Islands and finally, the region’s renowned sailing waters.

This second YCCS base will enable the international sailing and yachting community to enjoy the YCCS’ expertise in the organization of top-level international sailing events and exclusive hospitality services. Amenities at YCCS Virgin Gorda will include the Clubhouse, several docks, a marina, as well as a selection of restaurants, shops, a pool, outdoor recreation areas, bars and concierge service for yachtsmen. The Club and marina, developed in partnership with Victor International, will be linked to the new Oil Nut Bay Luxury Resort Community and Beach Club, as well as Biras Creek Resort, a Relais and Chateaux property. 

"We are honored to be partnering with the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda,” said David V. Johnson, chairman of Victor International. “We have combined the finest real estate marine property in the Caribbean with one of the world’s leading yacht clubs with decades of tradition and sailing excellence. The YCCS Virgin Gorda and Oil Nut Bay luxury resort community will offer the highest standards and services for owners and guests, and will provide the ideal home base for cruising the Caribbean. Together they will set a new benchmark for the planning and design of a Caribbean resort destination."

The YCCS Virgin Gorda development includes a state of the art marina, designed by ATM and built by Bellingham Marine. The marina, opening in December 2010, will offer up to 38 slips for yachts up to 100 meters in length. The Club and marina will have easy access to the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, as well as the islands and anchorages of the Virgin Islands and the Leeward and Windward Isles.

“The Officers and Members of the YCCS are very happy to see this new initiative come to fruition,” said His Highness the Aga Khan, President of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. “We have aimed to expand our sporting and cruising activities internationally for many years, and this opportunity in Virgin Gorda will give our Members access to wonderful new locations for sailing and yachting, as well as all the services that YCCS offers in its current home base at Porto Cervo.  We intend to maintain the same level of excellence in all our activities that have come to be recognized as a hallmark of the YCCS in the Mediterranean.”

About Victor International

With a 30 year history of integrity and a strong focus on creating environmentally sound principals, Michigan-based Victor International Corporation is a leading real estate developer, founded by David V. Johnson. Victor has created more than 40 developments throughout its history, including, in the U.S., the Urban Land Institute’s Award of Excellence winner, Bay Harbor, Michigan, a $1 billion, 1,200 acre luxury resort community extending along five miles of Lake Michigan; and Turtle Lake, a premier, $400 million low density private community in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. In the Caribbean, Victor International is developing Oil Nut Bay and the new Marina & Yacht Club, and operates Biras Creek Resort, top luxury destinations in the Caribbean and world. Victor International boasts no debt. For more information, call (800) 761-0377 or (284) 495-5400 or visit www.oilnutbay.com.

About The YCCS

The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda was founded in Porto Cervo, Sardinia in 1967 by its current president H.H. the Aga Khan and a group of founder-members as a non-profit sporting association for fellow sailing enthusiasts. The YCCS is renowned for organizing international sailing events such as the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, the Audi Sardinia Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup as well as World and European championships for top one-design fleets. In recent years the Club has focused on promoting new superyacht events such as the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta, the Dubois Cup and the Perini Navi Cup. The Club has also promoted international challenges such as Azzurra - the first Italian challenger for the America’s Cup which became a legendary Italian brand and was relaunched by the YCCS in 2009 with a victorious participation in the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Nice - the participation at the Volvo Ocean Race with a two boat campaign one of which was entirely sailed by a female crew - and the motor yacht Destriero which to this day holds the transatlantic crossing record set in 1992.  www.yccs.com / www.yccs.it

Antique & Classic Boat Society Annual Meeting & Boat Show in Bay Harbor: A Great Success!

Bay Harbor, MI, September 2010 – Bay Harbor was honored to have hosted the Antique & Classic Boat Society 35th Annual Meeting and 9th Annual International In-Water Boat Show during the week of September 11 – 18.  Pre-events were hosted by Water Wonderland Chapter of ACBS in Bay Harbor, as well as many excursions to our great harbor towns in the area.  The International In-Water Boat Show took place on September 17 & 18, and the feedback that was received was phenomenal.  Classic boats were displayed from across the United States and Canada at the event, and hundreds of people came to see the exceptional beauty these vessels emulate.  The Bay Harbor Team enjoyed having Antique & Classic Boat Society members here for the entire week.  Their enthusiasm for our community was exceptional.  We welcome them back anytime they would like to come and visit us again.  Thank you to all the volunteers and staff that made this event a great success. 

See slideshow of photos of the International In-Water Boat Show here.  

A few testimonials we have received from members of the group on their stay here:

Wow, I don’t know how many times I said, AND heard, “I’ve never been to something like this before”... The boats, the venue, the efforts on all fronts. Both Carla & I wish to extend our personal and professional thank you to all involved. I have to make a special call out to Kirk on the docks and the launch and haul crew…there should have been admission to watch that operation! I have to say I am really honored to be part of ACBS and the Water Wonderland Chapter. Thank you ALL for this great event.  Safe boating!

Chris Schmaltz,
Sales & Marketing Manager
Hagerty Classic Marine Insurance Agency, Inc.

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Congratulations and THANK-YOU for a job well done. One of our chapter goals for this year was:  "Host a great ACBS Annual Meeting and Boat Show". I think we did better than that. It was fantastic! The Bay Harbor staff and their fine facilities were top notch. We are definitely in the running for the best one ever.
 
The Pre-Events got rave revues. Not only were they entertaining, but the food was always great. It was a little windy, but the launch and retrieval crew went above and beyond all expectations. We even had reserved parking on a city street during a cocktail party in the most impressive room where I've ever drank a beer.
 
The Boat Show had the best selection of spectacular boats that we have ever had at an ACBS International Boat Show. It also had the most boats registered at 128. Plus a lot of people from the surrounding area came to see the boats. And when it was over, the retrieval crew brought them safely out of the water in record time.
 
The Scholarship Auction was a great success, as was the Awards Banquet, due in part to the Bay Harbor Yacht Club's staff and facillity. The Lange Center is one of the best venues we have ever had for these events.
 
But the real reasons that everything went so well were the many volunteers that we had to organize and staff everything; and the Hospitality Crew that made sure everyone knew where they were going.
 
THANK-YOU ALL !
 
Gerry VandeVusse, President
ACBS Water Wonderland Chapter

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John, Thanks to you and your staff at Bay Harbor for taking such good care of all the ACBS visitors.  You have a beautiful facility, run very professionally, with a great customer service attitude.  Great job on the show!  

Gil Maringer, ACBS Member

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The work and organization was obvious and the enthusiastic welcome to the Bay Harbor area was felt and appreciated by all.  The pre-events set the stage for a grand week.  The outings were wonderful in providing for us a glimpse into the Michigan waterways.   What a beautiful area this is!  The meals and planning to go along with this event were so well orchestrated......my thanks to all.

Your team volunteers, the planning, the attention to details made for such a successful Annual Meeting and Boat Show.  I am sure each attendee is spending this Monday much as I am, which is remembering over and over again all the wonderful events and how enjoyable they were.   I am sure everyone had such a grand time that they grinned all the way home! 

Not only the high level of quality in the events and activities, but the warm welcome, enthusiasm, and obvious team effort of your chapter touched each person there that will always be remembered.  Even the final hours with the boat retrieval process becoming an event that was the "talk of the town," it is so obvious what a fabulous chapter you have.

The Bay Harbor property is outstanding and was a wonderful setting for our event.  We do appreciate your vision and support in making this happen.

Gail Turner,
Antique & Classic Boat Society Immediate Past President

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Thank you all for the terrific weekend and for being such great friends of the boat school!
 
Dave Lesh
Cedarville Boat Building School

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Thank you for all you and your crew did to make the Water Wonderland's hosting of the Annual Meeting such a huge success.  I truly enjoyed working with all of you.

Bill Ballard, ACBS Water Wonderland Chapter

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John, Jacque and I thoroughly enjoyed our time at Bay Harbor Resort.  We’ve been attending ACBS events since the beginning of the national shows inception 10 years ago, and found this event to eclipse all others.  A large part of that compliment was due to your company’s efforts in facilitating the logistics of what turned out to be the largest ACBS Boat Show ever.

We enjoyed our stay so much, several friends who live in the area have invited us back next summer; so we intend to return to Bay Harbor.

Guy McCollum
McCollum Consulting

Bay Harbor Ice Festival - Back in 2011

The Bay Harbor Ice & Spice Festival is cancelled for 2010, but will be back and bigger and better than ever in January 2011.   Bay Harbor has always believed that the Ice Festival was one of the Premier Events and one that many people always looked forward to year after year. It was decided by the Events Committee to take a year off and “re-invent” the festival and brainstorm some exciting ideas for 2011. 

We appreciate all the calls that we have been getting about the event. Be sure to come back to the website for updates on the reinvention of the Bay Harbor Ice Festival! 

Victor International Wins Prestigious 2009 CNBC Property Awards!

Best Development USA - Bay Harbor

Best Marina Development Caribbean - North Sound Yacht Club 

(Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands) - November 24, 2009 Leading real estate developer, Victor International, announces that two of its developments have won esteemed CNBC International Property Awards.  North Sound Yacht Club has been named Best Marina Development and Bay Harbor has been named Best Development USA.   Slated to open in fall 2010, North Sound Yacht Club is one of the most luxurious and technologically advanced super-yacht marinas in the British Virgin Islands.   Bay Harbor is a 1,200 acre luxury resort community in northern Michigan. 

The CNBC Property Awards, in association with CNBC Arabia and the New York Times, are judged by a panel of 52 independent professionals whose collective knowledge of the property industry is unsurpassed by any other property awards. The International Property Awards are also supported by 12 professional bodies and many of these are represented on the judging panel.

As well as entries from across the USA, the Caribbean, Mexico, Panama, Brazil, Canada, Belize and Bermuda were represented this year. There were 36 different residential and commercial categories in total. These international accolades were announced at a gala presentation dinner in San Diego.

Victor International creates upscale residential, resort and commercial real estate, and provides the highest quality lifestyle and leisure experiences through its developments. Victor International's mission is to create and facilitate unique living and working environments in ecological harmony with the land.

Situated on the North Sound of Virgin Gorda, well known for its safe harborage, North Sound Yacht Club is a world-class facility opening in November 2010. Featuring a state-of-the-art marina with up to 38 slips for super-yachts from 100-350 feet (35-100 meters), as well as on-site dining and boutique shops, North Sound Yacht Club can accommodate any super-yacht, both power and sail, offers privacy and optimal vessel security, and has been built in environmental harmony with the land, with deep water berthing and no dredging.  In addition to all the amenities offered by NSYC, founding members will also receive access to Biras Creek Resort, a Relais & Chateaux property, and membership to the exclusive Oil Nut Bay Club, where amenities included hiking trails, a secluded beach, tennis, fine dining, a spa, and a nature center (Nuthouse for Kids).

A world-renowned, $1 billion resort community in northern Michigan, Bay Harbor was once the site of an abandoned century-old cement plant and limestone quarry. Bay Harbor is now a 1,200 acre luxury resort community extending along five miles of the Lake Michigan shoreline, featuring a world-class deep water harbor and marina, the Olympic caliber Bay Harbor Equestrian Club and the 27-hole Bay Harbor Golf Club.

Having earned these high accolades, winning developments including North Sound Yacht Club and Bay Harbor are now entitled to display the CNBC Property Awards logo with pride. This symbol of excellence has become recognized and appreciated by property buyers the world over. 

About Victor International Corporation
With a 30 year history of integrity and a strong focus on creating one development at a time, Michigan-based Victor International Corporation is a leading real estate developer, founded by David V. Johnson. Victor has created more than 40 developments throughout its history, including, in the U.S., the Urban Land Institute’s Award of Excellence winner, Bay Harbor, Michigan, a $1 billion, 1,200 acre luxury resort community extending along five miles of Lake Michigan; and Turtle Lake, a premier, $400 million low density private community in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. In the Caribbean, Victor International is developing Oil Nut Bay, a generational family community featuring 88 homesites on 300 acres (www.oilnutbay.com), as well as North Sound Yacht Club, and operates Biras Creek Resort, top luxury destinations in the Caribbean and world. Victor International boasts no debt. www.victorintl.com

About North Sound Yacht Club
Sitting adjacent to Oil Nut Bay and Biras Creek Resort, awaits the North Sound Yacht Club, a Victor International luxury mega-yacht marina that will accommodate 100 ft. to 350 ft. yachts. A state-of-the-art marina facility, this boutique club will also host villas and upscale retail shops. www.northsoundyachtclub.com

About Bay Harbor
A world-renowned, $1 billion resort community in northern Michigan. Once the site of an abandoned century-old cement plant and limestone quarry, Bay Harbor is now a 1,200 acre luxury resort community extending along five miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, featuring a world-class deep water harbor and marina, the Olympic caliber Bay Harbor Equestrian Club and the 27-hole Bay Harbor Golf Club. www.bayharbor.com

Bay Harbor Lake Marina Receives Recertification as Certified Clean Marina

Bay Harbor, MI - September 24, 2009 - Bay Harbor Lake Marina, a Michigan marina located in the resort community of Bay Harbor, four miles west of Petoskey, Michigan, has been recertified with the honorable designation of a Michigan Clean Marina by the Michigan Clean Marina Program (CMP) Committee.  The announcement came from David V. Johnson, Chairman of Bay Harbor Company.  Bay Harbor was originally certified in 2006 for three years.  The recertification is for 5 years.

The Clean Marina Program (CMP) is a joint undertaking by the Michigan Boating Industries Association, Michigan Sea Grant, and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.  It is the policy of a clean marina to protect the health of boaters, staff, and the environment by preventing the discharge of pollutants to the water, land, and air.

We are elated to receive this admirable certification and just as honored to have qualified for recertification.  The consistent mission for Bay Harbor has been to create environmentally sensitive neighborhoods that are designed in ecological harmony with the land.  We are pleased to do our part in protecting the natural surroundings and pristine waters of the northern Michigan, said David V. Johnson, Bay Harbor Company Chairman.

The clean marina certification begins with a pledge to participate in the program, followed by workshops where the marina management and staff receive a marina handbook, overview of the designation process, and a review of best management practices.  The facilities then conduct self-evaluations of their environmental practices to determine their strengths and weaknesses.  After implementing improvements and reaching a level of competencies, the marina requests a visitation by a CMP consultant, which serves as an evaluation of the facility's environmental stewardship.  When the facility reaches established goals, they receive their designation.

The management and staff of Bay Harbor Lake Marina have implemented excellent policies and procedures addressing environmental practices and protections they have in place within their marina, stated Van W. Snider, Jr., CAE, President of Michigan Boating Industries Association. 

Bay Harbor is situated on 1,200 picturesque acres along the Lake Michigan shoreline and exceeds previous standards for planning, quality, and luxurious world-class amenities.  Bay Harbor is proud to be a recipient of the 2003 ULI Award for Excellence.  For more information, contact Bay Harbor at 231- 439-2000, or visit bayharbor.com.

Victor International Welcomes Mike Lorence as Vice President of Sales

On August 31, Victor International announced the addition of Mike Lorence as the company’s Vice President of Sales.

Lorence will oversee sales and marketing of Oil Nut Bay and North Sound Yacht Club in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), as well as Bay Harbor and Turtle Lake in Michigan. Oil Nut Bay is a vast and stunning 300 acre community, offering freehold whole ownership with a limited 88 lots, and is destined to be the Caribbean's premier family community. The neighboring North Sound Yacht Club is a premier mega-yacht club, fitted with 38 slips from 150-350 ft.

Lorence has nearly 25 years of experience in sales and marketing of domestic and international luxury properties including golf, beach and second home communities. Lorence most recently came from Traditions Management, where he spent six years overseeing the on-site sales of 12 communities in seven states and the Bahamas. He specializes in training and leading sales teams of high-end projects.

During his tenure at Traditions, he has overseen $1.5 billion in sales. Previously, Lorence held senior sales positions at Discovery Land Company, and IMI Resort Sales. Lorence is also a member of the Urban Land Institute. He will split his time between Michigan and BVI.

Victor International Corporation develops upscale residential, resort and commercial real estate, and provides the highest quality lifestyle and leisure experiences through its developments. Victor International's mission is to create and facilitate unique living and working environments in ecological harmony with the land.

With a 30-year history of integrity and a strong focus on creating one development at a time, Michigan-based Victor International Corporation is a leading U.S. real estate developer. Victor has created more than 40 developments throughout its history, including the Urban Land Institute’s Award of Excellence winner, Bay Harbor, Michigan, a $1 billion, 1,200 acre luxury resort community extending along five miles of Lake Michigan; Turtle Lake, a premier, $400 million low density private community in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It also operates Biras Creek Resort, a Relais and Chateaux property, one of the top luxury destinations in the Caribbean and world. Victor International boasts no debt.

Gourmet Magazine honors Fat Virgin Cafe at Biras Creek Resort

Fat Virgin Café at Biras Creek Resort, and more specifically Owner Esther Wheaty was just given a great review of her island cuisine which the writer stated was the “fanciest and finest” of the dinners critiqued over a five day trip that was part of British Virgin Islands annual Winemakers Dinners.

Please click here for the entire article that appeared in Gourmet Magazine.

Bravo Bay Harbor!

Published as an "Our View" editorial in the PETOSKEY NEWS REVIEW - July 11, 2009:

Go out to the Web site at Guinness Book of World Records and TADA! there is Northern Michigan under the Latest Adjudicated Category for going quietly along the street.

Bravo to the Bay Harbor Foundation’s effort to set a Guiness record for the most electrical vehicles in a parade on June 26, when 218 vehicles, most of them GEM vehicles, paraded before an official Guiness adjudicator.

It’s a brand new category for Guiness, but in this age of “green this” and “green that,” how cool is it that the first entry for an electric vehicle gathering is from Bay Harbor?

Those familiar with the Bay Harbor community are acutely aware of the GEM vehicles’ presence.

Just about anywhere you go in the sprawling resorts you can see them being used shuttling residents and guests from homes and condos to other areas of the resort quietly and efficiently.

Tucked away in the garages of many of the homes in the resort can be found some of the fastest and most exotic cars in the world — right next to a bay featuring a GEM or other electric vehicle.

 “It’s a statement around the world from little Bay Harbor — it shows that great things can happen in Michigan; that people can make a difference and they can change the world,” said Bay Harbor developer David Johnson.

And kudos go out to the foundation, which provided “a great idea — this is what we look for, making something ordinary into an extraordinary, world-class record event,” according to Danny Girton Jr., executive adjudicative manager for the Guiness Book.

Bay Harbor has received many accolades over the years.

This recognition carries a seriousness with it, but also a high quotient of fun.

Congratulations to all who pulled this event off, and for putting Northern Michigan once again on the world stage.

For a direct link to the record on the Guinness Book website, click here.

Developer David V. Johnson receives GEM Visionary Award

On Saturday, June 27 during the Vintage Car & Boat Festival, Chairman of Victor International and Developer of Bay Harbor, Mr. David V. Johnson was awarded the GEM Visionary Award for his outstanding contribution to the application of alternative fuel vehicles in planned communities. The award was presented by Richard Kasper, President and Chief Operating Officer of Global Electric Motors.

Twenty-five years ago others stood in this location and saw a virtual wasteland following years of mining and cement processing.  David Johnson saw what could become a luxurious and vibrant resort community with an active harbor, an Equestrian Center, a world-class golf course and a Yacht Club…a truly wonderful place to live and celebrate life.  Where others looked around and saw coal dust and kiln dust, David Johnson envisioned green landscapes, a marina, and a place with clean fresh air and residents committed to a lifestyle focused on the appreciation and preservation of the environment.

Global Electric Motorcars was fortunate to have been a part of David’s vision for the Bay Harbor Community when GEM cars were selected as the electrical vehicle of choice for Bay Harbor, from the very beginning, and now thanks to the many residents of Bay Harbor that own GEM Vehicles, Bay Harbor boasts the highest number of GEM Cars per capita in the world!

Congratulations to David V. Johnson for receiving this truly remarkable award!

Bay Harbor Sets World Record!

WE DID IT! Bay Harbor has set a Guinness Book of World Records for the largest parade of electrical vehicles in the world!  It is very exciting to be part of history and to have Bay Harbor in record books. The final tally of electrical vehicles was 218.  We are very proud of this, not only from a record stand-point, but the GREEN initiative that Bay Harbor takes very seriously. 

Bay Harbor would like to thank the hard work of the Bay Harbor Foundation and its volunteers for making this record happen.  They spent countless hours rounding up vehicles and drivers and putting together the large amounts of paperwork that was needed to make it official.

See write up from Petoskey News Review here.

See slideshow of this historical event here.

Blog Posted on Bay Harbor Resort

A GREAT BLOG REVIEW POSTED TO THE INTERNET

Northern Michigan Q Tips 
Friday, May 8, 2009
Bay Harbor: Northern Michigan Jewel Resort

I have to make an admission before I continue this blog. I had the good fortune of spending some summers growing up in a great resort town called Petoskey, Michigan.  Less than a decade ago, a developer named David Johnson created a world-class resort on the shores of Little Traverse Bay, called Bay Harbor. Bay Harbor does have year round residents and many residents that have second homes there. I'm going to give the reader a good idea of the experience that you can expect on a vacation visit to Bay Harbor.

Bay Harbor is located just a few miles south of Petoskey, Michigan. To stay at Bay Harbor, you have many choices available to you. It's anchored by the Inn at Bay Harbor. The Inn at Bay Harbor is modeled on the look of the famous Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego. With it's white buildings and red roof, it's a very impressive hotel architecturally. The Inn has very well-appointed rooms, including suites on the upper floors. Every time I've stayed there, the staff has been very courteous and helpful in every way. The Inn is located directly on Little Traverse Bay, which provides you incredible views across the bay at Harbor Springs and the best sunset views that you can find north of Key West.

There are other places to stay at Bay Harbor. There is a hotel located in the marina area as well. This allows you to be literally steps away from the eateries and shops of Bay Harbor. You also have the option of staying in Bay Harbor's cottages which are located next to the Inn at Bay Harbor. These are 2 or 3 bedroom cottages that are perfect for families or couples that want to stay under the same roof.

A stay at Bay Harbor offers you a chance to relax and unwind right on property. Bay Harbor boasts a world-class spa that is sure to leave you feeling relaxed and well-taken care of. Bay Harbor has several boutique shops, art galleries, specialty shops and eateries to allow you a great shopping experience. I especially enjoy the Galley Gourmet shop. They feature a huge collection of wines and cheeses. I've even walked in and asked them to prepare a picnic basket for an afternoon picnic at the beach. They also have wood oven pizzas that are fantastic. Another huge favorite in the Village of Bay Harbor is the Pancake House. The Pancake is always packed with hungry customers and their food never disappoints….Knot Just a Bar is also a great place to have an after-dinner drink. You can sit outside on their patio and watch the yachts come into the marina. A night at the marina in Bay Harbor is a night very well spent.

I have to talk about the golf that is available at Bay Harbor. They boast 3 distinctly different 9 hole courses, The Quarry, The Links and the Preserve. I'm not overstating it at all when I say that it's 27 holes of great golf. Each nine boasts different topography and the holes that are built along Little Traverse Bay will truly find you paying more attention to the scenery than to your next shot. Much like Arcadia Bluffs, Bay Harbor is a pricey round of golf. But in my opinion, there is no doubt that you should treat yourself to a round at Bay Harbor. It's a golf experience that you'll remember for a long time.

Bay Harbor is also located in a perfect location. The resort towns of Charlevoix, Petoskey and Harbor Springs are all within a half-hour drive. These towns represent the best of Northern Michigan small towns and each boast incredible shopping, eateries and water views that are unparalleled. Trust me, a vacation trip to Bay Harbor is something that you'll always remember and will definitely leave you wanted to hurry back.

Posted by Quay Chilcott

Galley Gourmet Featured in Northwest Michigan Wedding Guide

ALL IN GOOD TASTE

By Beth Anne Piehl, Special Sections Writer

Weddings make people hungry. Maybe it’s all that hugging and kissing and conversation. After that, there’s a noticeable shift toward the chafing dishes.

The wedding day is a chance in a lifetime for couples to get creative and have fun with food creations and presentation, according to Karen Williams, owner of and chef at Galley Gourmet in Bay Harbor.

“We generally tend to go toward fresh and elegant, and we try to be in step with the times,” said Williams. “We also like to incorporate local items into our dishes. … We market ourselves as more of custom menu, rather than having a cookie-cutter. We feel that everyone has a different vision, and that’s what makes it fun for us.”

Theme events present opportunities for myriad food options. Williams recalled one event last summer on the beach at Bay Harbor where the couple entertained guests for the rehearsal with interactive dessert stations, including fill-your-own-doughnut-holes and Bananas Foster.

“People strolled around and it was a really nice event,” Williams said. “We had a bonfire with gourmet s’mores and people had a great time.”

On another occasion, Galley Gourmet combined the flavors of Polish and Mexican, the couple’s backgrounds, for various taste experiences. “We like to think of ourselves as the go-to shop if you want to do something that’s different,” she said.

Williams said most couples take one of three main routes for serving their guests: the traditional sit-down meal, a family-style meal with bowls of food on each table, and a small-plate buffet that presents a variety of tastes and options in a tapas-style format. A spicy twist involves having cooks prepare the food at the stations fresh for the guests, such as mini-lamb chops on a Hibachi and pasta stations with a variety of fresh toppings.

In Northern Michigan, she has found the small-plate buffet and appetizer buffets to be popular with brides and grooms. “It lets your guests mingle a lot more and it’s a really good option if you have a broad range of ages,” the chef noted.

Galley Gourmet can cater weddings held at any location, and group sizes up to about 300; they also cater rehearsal dinners and morning-after brunches. The staff can arrange wine tasting events either on their own or as part of a meal service.

Plus, Galley Gourmet can also provide elegant pastries, wedding cake and other dessert options, made and baked fresh in-house, including hand-made chocolates that work well as wedding favors for guests, Williams added.

Oil Nut Bay and North Sound Yacht Club Celebrate Ground Breaking

On January 5, Victor International rang in the new year by welcoming a new member to the Victor Collection – Oil Nut Bay and North Sound Yacht Club, just next to Biras Creek Resort on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. Under perfect Caribbean skies, a ground breaking ceremony was hosted on the pristine beach of Oil Nut Bay with local government VIPs including His Honorable Premier Ralph O'Neal and His Excellency Governor David Pearey. The ceremony was complete with the firing of a cannon, a yacht club tradition. 

The event was followed by a luncheon at Victor's Biras Creek Resort. Oil Nut Bay, Victor’s new resort community offering freehold home ownership, sits on 300 acres of free and clear land on the eastern peninsula of Virgin Gorda. No road access creates a remote private island feel and paramount privacy. Much like other Victor developments, Oil Nut Bay’s plan focuses on nature and wellness, learning and family and  provides owners an unparalleled combination of distinctive architecture, outstanding Caribbean lifestyle and personal attention.

The Oil Nut Bay Beach Club will act as the family social center of Oil Nut Bay; it will be the heartbeat of the resort community. This main building, a dramatic open air palapa, will accommodate weddings, cocktail parties and special events. The resort community will be filled with other unique amenities including a state-of-the-art Nature Center. 

The North Sound Yacht Club sits adjacent to Oil Nut Bay and Biras Creek Resort. The Club will feature a state-of-the-art marina with 23 slips for mega-yachts ranging in size from 100 to 350 feet, as well as villas, retail boutiques and dining. 

During the ceremony, The Victor Foundation, established by David and Pam Johnson, donated $10,000 to the Robinson O'Neal Memorial Primary School, a great surprise to the school’s staff! The donation will be used toward a new much-needed library and playground. 

"We are thrilled to be a part of this special community and are grateful for the opportunity to be able to give back,"  said David V. Johnson, Chairman of Victor International and co-founder of the Victor Foundation. "We have found nothing but a warm welcome from the people of Virgin Gorda and the staff of Biras Creek Resort. Donating to the school that teaches their children is a natural way to support those who help support our endeavors as well." 

www.oilnutbaybvi.com

Petoskey City Council Approves Proposed Property Purchase for Fire/Police Station

Bay Harbor received some wonderful news from the Petoskey City Council in December!  A site for a long-proposed fire/police station along the Bay Harbor corridor was voted unanimously in favor of a $1.1 million city purchase of a 6.5 acre site along U.S. 31 near Bay Harbor’s main entrance for the station.

A building on the property — formerly home to Western Concrete Products — is proposed to be renovated and expanded into a second station for the Petoskey Department of Public Safety.

The council also unanimously approved a proposal to use proceeds from a future bond sale to replenish the reserve funds which initially will be used to buy the property.

Including the land acquisition and development costs, the city’s total cost for the station project has been estimated at about $2.8 million.

The Bay Harbor station is proposed to include three double-stacked bays for fire apparatus as well as storage for other vehicles and equipment. One scenario for it would involve moving three current city fire trucks there. Facilities that could be used for police needs, such as meeting, report-writing, detention and property-storage spaces, would be included at the station as well.

Developing a detailed station proposal could take a few more months, as city officials still need to seek information from financial consultants and bond counsel.

Bay Harbor Welcomes Tracy Bacigalupi as Director of Merchant Sales and Leasing

Tracy Bacigalupi joined the team in 2009 as the Director of Merchant Sales and Leasing for the Village at Bay Harbor. In this role she is responsible for attracting unique boutiques and new restaurants to our village along with the overall ambiance of the shopping and dining experience.

While living in Manhattan for most of the past decade, Tracy and her husband decided to find a summer home in Northern Michigan where they and their two daughters could be closer to family and lifelong friends. After a weekend visit to Bay Harbor, they fell in love with the truly unique beauty and amenities that Bay Harbor offers. They've been summer residents of Bay Harbor since 2005 and have recently made the decision to become permanent residents of the community.

Tracy comes to us with over ten years of highly successful sales experience. Most recently, Tracy was an Enterprise Solution Specialist at Microsoft in NYC where she negotiated and closed over $63mm in sales. She also managed 15 sales representatives for Software Spectrum where she and her team were responsible for over a quarter billion dollars in annual revenues.

Her diverse background includes the co-ownership of a private dance studio where she trained over 360 students annually in ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary.  She holds her Level I and Level II Professional Ballet Certification from the Royal Academy of Dancing, examined by the former Prima Ballerina Margot Fonteyn. She also received training and performed through Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The Ailey School in NYC, The American Ballet Theatre and the Royal Academy of Dancing.

Tracy is a Board Member and active volunteer for the Bay Harbor Foundation where she is also a member of the Performing Arts Committee. Despite her very busy schedule she continues to be a weekly volunteer for Hospice of Little Traverse Bay.

Bay Harbor Welcomes the Antique & Classic Boat Society, Inc. in 2010

Bay Harbor Resort & Marina, Hotel and Conference Center is excited to announce its selection to host the Antique & Classic Boat Society, Inc.’s 9th Annual International Boat Show and Meeting, to be held September 12-18, 2010.  Bay Harbor has been chosen as the group’s 2010 host venue amongst some of the finest locations throughout North America including Lake Tahoe, CA, Lake of the Ozarks, MO and Coeur D’Alene, ID, where the group just recently completed their 2008 meeting.

This international event will attract approximately 500 antique boating enthusiasts from fifty-five regional chapters throughout the United States and Canada.  This event is the largest group Bay Harbor Resort & Marina has had the opportunity to host and is predicted to greatly benefit the entire northern Michigan area through tourism; generating a high demand for hotel accommodations, dining and entertainment. 

The group will also host their annual boat show at Bay Harbor Lake Marina on Friday, September 17, 2010 and Saturday, September 18, 2010.  This show is open to the public and will feature 120-140 antique and classic boats.  This fantastic show will be in addition to the annual Bay Harbor Vintage Car & Boat Festival, held in the Village at Bay Harbor every June.  Next year, the annual festival will take place June 26-27, 2009.

The Antique & Classic Boat Society, Inc. is an international group designed, amongst other missions, “to bring people together with a common interest in historic, antique and classic boats, sharing fellowship, information, experience and exchange of ideas”.   For more information, please visit the Antique & Classic Boat Society, Inc.’s website at www.acbs.org.

Bay Harbor Resort & Marina, Hotel and Conference Center is Michigan’s premier year-round family destination.  With the exquisite balance of natural beauty and world-class luxury, Bay Harbor Resort & Marina offers superior accommodations, including spacious suites, charming vacation rental homes, and elegant wedding and conference services.  Bay Harbor Lake Marina has been deemed the “Nautical Center of the Great Lakes”, one of the “Top Ten Ports” by MotorBoating Magazine, and has received the Clean Marina Designation from the Michigan Boating Industries Association.  For more information, please call (231) 439-2400 or visit bayharbor.com.

Bay Harbor Golf Club - Named as a Michigan Top 10 Course

The Links/Quarry at the Bay Harbor Golf Club has received one of Northern Michigan’s Top 10 courses as chosen by The Oakland Press in Oakland County, Michigan.  Every year, the publication prints their annual rankings of the ten best Northern Michigan courses. Their article stated, “The design that put Arthur Hills on the national map.  The Links/Quarry nines are the best combo on this 27 holes layout along the shores of Little Traverse Bay providing some spectacular scenery.”  Now is the time to visit Bay Harbor Golf Club and see why these amazing courses are recognized as some of the most beautiful places in Michigan to enjoy a wonderful day of golf.

Bay Harbor is Green...Are You?

Did you know that Emmet County provides a free curbside recycling program? While the county offers ten drop-off sites located throughout the area, residents can also elect to use the free curbside program and have their recyclable items picked up at their home.

Recycling pickup in the Bay Harbor community is on Thursdays, and residents must have their items outside by 7 a.m. to ensure regular pickup. Any interested households that don’t currently have a recycling tote can get one by calling Emmet County Recycling at 231-348-0640.

For more general information about the Emmet County Recycling Program, click here.

For information specific to the curbside recycling program in Emmet County, click here.

Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2007

Travel + Leisure
World's Best Awards 2007

Top 5 Islands in The Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas
Virgin Gorda ranked number 1 with a score of 78.43%.
Follow this link to see the results.

Top 25 Hotels in The Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas
Biras Creek was ranked 18 in the top 25 with a score of 85%.
Follow this link to see the results.

Biras Creek featured in Maco Caribbean Living

Biras Creek owned by Victor International was recently featured in Maco Caribbean Living Magazine.  Recognized as one of the top luxury destinations in the Caribbean, Biras Creek Resort features 33 Suites situated among 140 acres on beautiful Virgin Gorda.  The latest upgrades have given the exclusive resort a peaceful and relaxed environment for any traveler to enjoy.

To read the complete article select the link below.

Maco Caribbean Living

Golf Course Mansion

Bay Harbor residents Ross and Donna Roberts opened their home to Beth Anne Piehl from Home Life Magazine.  The Roberts’ magnificent home, located on the 4th hole of the Preserve golf course, was featured in the Extraordinary Homes section of the July 2007 issue.  The Robert’s inspiration for their “castle on the course” focuses on practicality, comfort and traditional design.

To read the complete article, select the link below.  

 Home Life Magazine Article

Bay Harbor Equestrian Club one of the leading clubs in the country

Stratos Magazine Article