So, last week we held our end of year meeting (postponed from December due to various Mexico-based shenanigans), during which we launched Reuben's Retreat as our new charity partner. We're giving up our favourite things for 40 days and 40 nights (any resemblance to Lent is purely coincidental). We're a gluttonous bunch and this is no mean feat; between us we're giving up our beloved chocolate, sweets, cakes, crisps, take-aways, coffee, wine and even meat!

We wanted to share some fantastic news with you all that we were greeted with last week; we'd been sworn to secrecy until now so I've been dying to blurt it out. Our Gemma (Ops Manager) has been named one of Tomorrow's Travel Leaders and one of the 30 highest fliers in travel! Woo hoo for Gemma!

So, you will know by now that here at Blue Bay we like to be different, stand out from the masses... and to be frank some of us are just plain weird (*cough* Leighton *cough*).

Excellence has selected one of its most recognised five star resorts, La Amada Hotel, to become the first of its kind to be branded in this unique and exclusive category: Beloved Hotels. Following the launch of this new concept from Excellence Resorts, La Amada Hotel was recently renamed Beloved Playa Mujeres (the literal translation of 'La Amada', meaning 'one you love'). Ranked the #2 resort in Mexico, Beloved Playa Mujeres; a property that has been recognised as one of the best five star hotels in the Mexican Caribbean, will offer customers the opportunity to indulge in sophistication within the all-inclusive product.

I'm very pleased to announced that our new Staff Favourites page is now live! If you have ever spoken to one of our team, you will know how much they love to rave about their favourite resorts! So much so that we've given them all the chance to share their favourites with you all.