Coco Reef hotel came in for high praise after the daughter of oil giant ExxonMobil vice president Robert Billings and wife Ruth Billings was married there two weeks ago.

The wedding of Manhattan lawyers Laura Michele Billings and David Andrew O'Neil was featured in the New York Times society pages on September 19, the day of the wedding. The couple, who met at Harvard Law School, visited the Island in February, staying at Coco Reef on that occasion also. At that time they met hotel director Andrea Jennings and Stefan Weser, executive chef at Coco Reef.

“We knew immediately that Andrea and Stefan were exceptionally competent and trustworthy, and that we could rely on what they told us,” groom David O'Neil wrote in an email to The Royal Gazette.

“They also struck us as kind and generous - exactly the type of people you would want to entrust with the most important day of your life. So impressed were we with this visit that we decided then and there to book all of the rooms at Coco Reef for our wedding weekend and ‘take over' the hotel for three days.”

Throughout the next seven months, Mr. O'Neil wrote, Coco Reef assisted greatly in the planning of the wedding. “In the process they (Ms Jennings and Mr. Weser) became our trusted friends.”

The wedding party took up more than 60 rooms at the hotel. Destination wedding travel specialist at Bermuda Travel Linda Mitchell was invited to attend after arranging travel for the entire group. “I must say that Coco Reef did a fabulous job, the property looked wonderful ... the staff was right on the money and the guests were being attended to graciously and promptly.”

Mr. O'Neil agreed. “The resort ... looked absolutely stunning for a wedding.”

Extensively praising the grounds, the lobby, the rooms, the terrace and beach, and even the art and colour scheme at the hotel, he said many of their friends remarked on the resort's beauty.

“Andrea and Stefan, leading a staff that was impeccably courteous, helpful and professional, made our wedding a dream come true. Every aspect of the weekend exceeded our expectations.

“In particular, the wedding dinner designed by Stefan and prepared by his kitchen was the best meal we have had in Bermuda. Laura and I have been to a number of the Island's ‘gold-standard' restaurants ... We believe that the restaurant at Coco Reef is better, and our impressions were confirmed by several of our guests who have been to Bermuda many times.”

Mother-of-the-bride Ruth Billings added: “Everything was amazing ... the staff of Coco Reef were so warm and personable, we feel like we've left some wonderful friends behind!”

Mr. O'Neil said he and his wife were aware of the controversy surrounding the Coco Reef lease and some of the alleged problems between staff and management.

“We emphatically disagree, however, with some of the characterisations of Coco Reef that have appeared in the pages of the Gazette ... We found Coco Reef's facilities, staff, grounds and rooms to be among the finest in Bermuda. And ... we have found Andrea Jennings, like the rest of the staff at Coco Reef, to be unfailingly honest, reliable and professional.

“We therefore wish to add our voices to those who believe that in a very short time, Coco Reef will take its rightful place as one of Bermuda's top hotels.”