Faro Blanco Yacht Club & Resort receives ValvTect Marina of the Year Award

Faro Blanco Yacht Club & Resort received the ValvTect Petroleum’s 2016 Marina of the Year Award, presented at the International Marina & Boatyard Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

The ValvTect Marina of the Year Award is presented annually by ValvTect Petroleum to a ValvTect Certified Marina for outstanding operation, total commitment to customer service and environmental stewardship. The Florida Keys Faro Blanco now holds the honor.

Conceived of and constructed during a time when architectural whimsy was still a much-employed-motif, the centerpiece of Faro Blanco in Marathon was – and remains– a 50-foot-high, functioning lighthouse.

For more than half a century, the resort and its lighthouse have served as a hub of social and commercial life for residents of the Middle Keys. A quick survey of archived press and social media commentary reveals wistful accounts of fine dining in the resort’s restaurant, treasured childhood memories of learning to swim in the resort’s pool, and tender vignettes of family vacations and romantic escapes made long ago.

“The revival of Faro Blanco has been fifteen years in the making; our company and our team, with the help of the City of Marathon, were deeply humbled to have the opportunity to restore the property” said Bill Spottswood, who led the redevelopment effort on behalf of Spottswood Companies. “As lifelong Keys residents, every effort was made to remain true to the resort’s legacy and its place within the community.  Part of that effort meant bringing the marina into the 21st century and providing the next generation of Keys’ boaters with a clean, efficient and state-of-the art marina experience.  Our relationship with ValvTect is part of that vision.  We are tremendously proud of the end result.”

The lighthouse became a fully functioning aid to navigation shortly after the original resort opened. Since that time, the light has been guiding Monroe County’s boating community and other southbound sailors through the channel and safely into the marina.

“We are pleased to present the 2016 ValvTect Marina of the Year award to Faro Blanco Yacht Club & Resort who have made such a dedicated commitment to return Faro Blanco to it’s former glory, while preserving the historic and environmental aspects of their surroundings. That dedication continues as they strive to provide quality services and products to their clientele” said Marvin Griffin, president of ValvTect Petroleum / Marine Fuels.

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Jose Olivera and Karen Thurman of Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club

Today, the Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club offers a 74-slip marina that can accommodate yachts up to 120 feet in length, as well as two heated outdoor pools, a 6,500-square-foot events lawn, indoor meeting space for up to 100 guests, the Lighthouse Grill Restaurant and Bar and a new 125 room Hyatt Place hotel.

ValvTect Petroleum presented the award to General Manager Karen Thurman and Harbourmaster Jose Olivera at an award dinner held in Ft. Lauderdale.

 

“We value our partnership with ValvTect very highly and are truly honored to receive this recognition. ValvTect allows us to provide our boaters with what we believe to be the best quality and most efficient fuel products,” said Thurman.

For more information on Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club, visit www.faroblancoresort.com. For more information on ValvTect Petroleum Products, visit www.valvtect.com.

Featured image: From left to right: Paul Craufurd (VavltTect), aren Thurman (General Manager – Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club) and Jose Olivera (Dockmaster – Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club).

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