We Want to Hear From You!

That’s right, Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club is holding a “Share Your Experience” monthly contest for all of its guests. It’s real easy to enter, and you could win a FREE stay! Here’s how: submit a photo and short paragraph describing your amazing experience while staying at Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club. Your entry must also be posted to TripAdvisor.com. The winner earns a chance to win a free stay at our resort by spinning the Mike Ditka Resorts online prize wheel! Sorry kids, must be 21 to enter. Go to our website http://www.runawaybeachhotel.com/ and click on “Share Your Experience”.

Ch-Ch-ch, Changes…

You may have noticed we’re re-vamping our social media sites. We’re pretty proud of our re-designed blog. Not only is it more informative—everything you need to know about Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club(and a little more), but now get the local weather forecast, calendar of coming Central Florida events, Twitter updates, news headlines and a whole lot more. Whether you’re planning on visiting us, or already here, our blog will keep you ‘in the know’ on a daily basis. Check it out today by visiting http://mikeditkaresortsrunawaybeachclub.blogspot.com/

EVENT: Kenny Rogers Christmas & Hit Tour 2009

Kenny Rogers Christmas & Hit Tour 2009 is coming to the Theater at Silver Spurs Arena this November 30th at 8:00 p.m. Kenny Rogers will be singing many holiday classics, along with many of his biggest hits. Having become a tradition over the course of Rogers’ storied career, the tour is now in its 28th year, making it one of the longest running and most popular Christmas tours in history. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 18th at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster (800) 745-3000 or by visiting their website at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices are $65 and $45. The Theater at Silver Spurs is located 1875 Silver Spur Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34744-6105. For more information call (321) 697-3333.

2009 Fantasy Football Event is a great success!

At points during the event, we had a line extending from our booth halfway through the ballroom! See accompanying pictures. Participants were entering our drawing for a chance to win one of five autographed Mike Ditka footballs, but also, a chance to win a free stay at Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club in Kissimmee, Florida. Throughout the day, we were giving away Mike Ditka Resorts merchandise, including caps, visors, and koozies.

Mike Ditka Resorts helped sponsor the Fantasy Football event at the Chicago Marriot Oak Brook this past Saturday, August 29th. Autographed football winners include, Jeff Jenkins of Naperville, IL., Otto Miller of LaGrange, IL., William Healy of Tinley Park, IL., and Ryan Walker. Ray Lunz of Chicago, IL. was the winner of the free stay at Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club.

Please click here for photo album

Mike Ditka Resorts Sponsors 2009 Fantasy Football Championship

Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club is helping to sponsor this year’s Fantasy Football Championship at the Chicago Marriot in Oak Brook, Illinois on Saturday, August 29th between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The event is expected to draw five-hundred attendees, all having a shot at being crowned the “Best Fantasy Football Player in Chicago”, with a grand prize of $5,000 in cash and prizes, including a two night, three day trip to Las Vegas.

Adding to the excitement, Mike Ditka Resorts will hold a drawing each hour giving away an authentic autographed Mike Ditka Resorts football. Participants will also have the chance to be drawn for a two-night stay at Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club in Orlando, Florida. Attendees can enter the drawing by visiting the Mike Ditka Resorts booth to fill out an entry form. They can also pick up a free Mike Ditka Resorts gift, while supplies last.

The event will open this year with a live broadcast at 8 a.m. of Fantasy Football Island, followed at 10 a.m. by “Da Coach” Mike Ditka himself opening the program. Throughout the day, a panel of experts will provide participants with information and analysis to help assist in their picks for the upcoming season.

Mike Ditka Resorts Contest Winners Set to Enjoy Dinner with “Da Coach” Mike Ditka

Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club announced today Mike Ditka Resorts contest winners will enjoy dinner and conversation with “Da Coach” Mike Ditka on August 27th at 7:00 p.m. at his namesake restaurant, Ditka’s of Oakbrook. The winners participated in various contests, awarding them the once in a lifetime opportunity to wine and dine with the iconic former NFL Coach of the 1985 Super Bowl Champions, the Chicago Bears.

The occasion will give each of the Ditka fans the chance to talk one on one with the coach in a personable environment over all-American food and drinks. With his commanding, larger-than-life colorful personality and presence, guests are sure to have an unforgettable evening.

Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club frequently holds contests. People can visit http://www.mikeditkaresorts.com/ for current contest information, and see how to be the next big winner.

Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club is located 2.5 miles from the Walt Disney World resort and just minutes from other Central Florida attractions. The resort offers luxury villas with modern amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center, large pools, 24-hour business center, and a full-sized indoor basketball court.

Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club is managed by Geneva Hospitality, LLC, a premier hotel/condominium management company.

Welcome!

Steve Antonio is General Manager for Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club and Lighthouse Key Resort & Spa.

Richard Strode is Front Desk Manager for Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club and Lighthouse Key Resort & Spa.

Everyone here at Mike Ditka Resorts welcomes both gentlemen to our team!

Runaway Beach Club is located near the Lake Buena Vista Area of Orlando, and only 2.5 miles from Walt Disney World Resort. Lighthouse Key Resort and Spa, located 3 miles from Walt Disney World Resort© directly on the beautiful magnificent shores of Turtle Lake.

Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club & Lighthouse Key are both managed by Geneva Hospitality Group. For more information on their management services, please visit http://www.genevahospitality.com/

We’re Greener!

Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club recently completed replacing the traditional incandescent light bulbs in use throughout the luxury suites with the highly efficient, energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFL’s. Using less energy is beneficial in that it lessens our carbon footprint on the environment.

We are very excited about this change over, and currently examining and considering other green projects that will benefit our environment.

You may be curious to know the average lifespan of a CFL bulb is 8 to 15 times that of incandescent, averaging 15,000 hours!

We encourage everyone to learn more on the different ways you can help preserve our environment. Please visit EPA

Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club is managed by Geneva Hospitality Group. For more information on their management services, please visit http://www.genevahospitality.com/

Custom Mural To Be Installed

Pictured above:

Artist rendering of custom mural to be installed in the club house at Mike Ditka Resorts--Runaway Beach Club

Mike Ditka Resorts Provides All Expenses Paid Dream Trip to 7-year Old Girl Who Had Lemonade Stand Shut Down

Mike Ditka Resorts is providing the 7-year old girl who had her lemonade stand shut down last week by authorities in Tulare, California, with an all expense paid trip for her and her family to Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club in Orlando, FL. The trip includes roundtrip airline tickets to Orlando, Three Day Hopper Passes to Disney, and a three night, four day stay in a two bedroom luxury villa at Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club.

The 7-year old entrepreneur, Daniela Earnest, set up shop this past Monday to earn money for a family vacation to Disneyland. That same day a city code enforcement officer saw the stand and had it shut down for not having a permit and operating on a busy intersection.

The next day, Daniela and her father went in front of the city council to appeal the decision. To date, a compromise has not been reached.

Upon learning of Daniela’s predicament, Mike Ditka Resorts immediately contacted the family to offer and help Daniela achieve her goal of taking her family to Disney. The girl’s father, Edward Earnest, was absolutely elated, but thought it important Daniela still work to earn the trip.

“The whole point of the lemonade stand was to teach her that we all must work for something—nothing is for free” her father told Executives at Mike Ditka Resorts. With that, a compromise was made.

Mike Ditka Resorts has a close relationship with Give Kids the World Foundation, a Central Florida charity that fulfills the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses by bringing them and their families to Florida for a cost-free memorable vacation. Daniela will earn the trip by setting up her lemonade stand at Mike Ditka Resorts – Runaway Beach Club one afternoon and donating her time and her lemonade to these kids and their families.

Children and their families from Give Kids the World will all meet up at Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club to enjoy an afternoon of fun and food by the pool—and of course— Daniela’s lemonade!

Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club is located just 2.5 miles from the Walt Disney World resort and just minutes from other Central Florida attractions. The luxury resort offers luxury villas with modern amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center, large pools, 24-hour business center, and a full-sized indoor basketball court.

Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club is managed by Geneva Hospitality, LLC, a premier hotel/condominium management company.

Mike Ditka Resorts is Offering Three Night Getaway Monthly Contest

Mike Ditka Resorts is offering a monthly contest giving one lucky individual a chance to win a three night getaway for two at Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club in Kissimmee, Florida.

Individuals can enter the contest by filling out an entry form at any one of Ditka’s three restaurants located in Chicago, IL., Oakbrook Terrace, IL., or Pittsburg, PA. No purchase is necessary to enter, but contest entrants must be at least 21 years of age.

One winner will be selected per month for the three-night, four day getaway to Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club located just 2.5 miles from the Walt Disney World Resort and just minutes from other top Central Florida attractions. The contest, which began this past April 2009, has had four lucky winners to date.

Mike Ditka Resorts holds frequent contests. Earlier this year, the resort held the “Biggest Ditka Fan Father’s Day Contest,” and a “Coach Ditka Look-a-Like Contest”.

Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club is managed by Geneva Hospitality, LLC, a premier hotel/condominium management company.