We could have announced our expansion into St. Simons Island with a bunch of mailers.

Instead, we threw a party.

Because at its core, Luxury Getaways is a relationship-based business. We would rather do the work of building relationships one person at a time than blanket an island with postcards and hope something sticks.

So on September 17th we opened one of our island homes and invited the people who make this place run. Locals, realtors, builders, developers, attorneys, designers, the DMOs, and business owners. Halyards handled the food. We poured plenty of wine. And we introduced close to fifty guests to who we are and why we are here.

What we are here to do is manage vacation rentals on St. Simons Island differently. Our approach is asset-forward, built around the long-term health of the home and the care that holds up season after season. That is easier to feel than to explain, so we set out a table where guests could pick up and hold the things we put in our homes. [VERIFY: a few specific amenities from the table so this can name what guests actually touched.] The difference lives in those details.

And St. Simons showed up for us.

What was supposed to be a launch party turned into one of the best nights we have had. The room was full. The energy was real. And the support we felt from this community was something we will not forget. Guests stayed well past the hour the evening was meant to end, and everyone left carrying something home: gourmet goods and local gifts drawn from all three of the places we care for, from Glacier to Scottsdale to the island itself.

We are not interested in simply doing business on St. Simons Island. We want to become part of the community here on St. Simons and across the Golden Isles, earn trust, and build a referral-based business with people who care about this island as much as we do.

If this party was any indication, we are off to one hell of a start.

St. Simons Island, Luxury Getaways has officially arrived.