Meet Tanya Cleary | Resort & Wedding Venue Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tanya Cleary and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tanya, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor in our success is high quality customer service and the ability to bring our client’s vision to life. Every wedding and event is unique, but at Dream Bay Resort, we have years of experience hosting events that “wow” people, both aesthetically and with our attention to detail. My staff and I truly love what we do! There’s something so special about being a part of a couple’s big day, helping them make memories with their family and friends. Our venue is absolutely gorgeous, so that helps, but what really sets us apart is our amazing staff and how hard they work to deliver the exact experience that our couples and event planners imagine.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I never intended to go into business, although I scored high on business aptitude and had a brief yet successful career in radio broadcasting and sales. Still, I originally planned to be an artist and attended an art college in NYC. But I married a businessman and gradually drifted more into the day-to-day bookkeeping and management of properties that we owned. It was my idea to go onto the wedding/event side of things, and I pretty much learned as I went along from the various professionals and event planners how to create a successful venue. Looking back, it was pretty risky, and I guess it was good that I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know, or I might not have moved forward.

My first husband passed away in 2012, and I rose to the challenge of managing everything alone. It wasn’t easy, but I’ve overcome so many challenges, from oil spills to the pandemic that I gained confidence in my abilities as a business owner. Today, at Dream Bay Resort, we do about 80-100 events per year, and we also host vacation rental travelers from all over the world. I’m proud to have been a part of building such a thriving business, and especially proud of our incredible reviews. In hospitality, we get pretty much instant feedback on how we’re doing and receiving so many 5-star reviews from happy couples and guests lets us know we’re getting it right.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The Florida Keys is full of amazing places to hang out, grab a cocktail, and enjoy the spectacular water views. I tend to take my friends to local watering holes in the Upper Keys, like Sharkeys Dockside or The Pilot House, which are laid-back, relaxed places where I almost always see other Keys people I know. On Sundays, we love to go to brunch at Snappers and listen to live music. Of course, Key West is so fun to visit too. If there’s enough time, and it’s not a holiday with lots of traffic, I would take visitors there for some shopping on Duvall Street, with stops at Sloppy Joes or Captain Tonys.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I couldn’t be successful without the dedication of my wonderful staff. I pride myself on being the kind of boss that gives them the support they need to do the best job possible. It’s always a team effort, and, at this point, we’re like a family. I know business owners often say that, but I genuinely feel that way, and I’ve had that feedback from others. Our guests can tell that our staff enjoys where they work and that they feel respected and appreciated. Beyond that, I have the unwavering support of my family. My husband, who is retired from his own hospitality business, takes on a large share of the household duties, so I can concentrate on work. His love and support are critical to my ability to focus on the multitude of tasks needed to run a successful business.

Website: www.dreambayresort.com

Instagram: @dreambayresort