Dear Friends,

The holiday season is finally here; it is the most wonderful time of the year. The beach is aglow with twinkling lights and the sounds of holiday music fill the nights. It is the time of year when every town has their own holiday parade and when all the children have their Christmas wish lists already made. A time to count the blessings you've received and a time to give thanks for all you've achieved. It is a time to say thanks to the people that you hold near and at the Avista we say thanks to all of you who have helped make 2006 a very successful year. We give thanks for those of you who have recommended us to your friends and family and for the feedback that you have provided that has helped us grow. For those of you who have stayed with us more than once and that we have gotten to know. So from us to you and all you hold dear, we wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

Need a new pitching wedge? Want to try out the latest Titleist ball? Been eyeing those golf shoes Tiger had on last week? This month, we are going to focus on ways to get that new golf equipment you've been wanting without having to justify your purchases to your wife. The Avista Golf Department can customize a golf trip for you based on your new golf equipment needs by recommending golf courses that will claim your old equipment in ways even your wife could not protest. Your first round of golf could be at Man-O-War, built on a 100 acre lake in which you could easily lose all of your golf balls, forcing you to buy those Titleist Pro V1's you've been dying to try. Then a frightening run-in with one of Oyster Bay's resident alligators on the 18th green could cost you your pitching wedge giving you the perfect excuse to go buy that Callaway X-tour wedge you saw online last week. Last but not least a fierce battle for your ball in the marshlands at Glen Dornoch could ruin, if not claim, your golf shoes forcing you to purchase those new Nike SP-8 TW Tour shoes. The possibilities are endless with over 100 golf courses on the Grand Strand so give our golf department a call at 1-800-982-5699 and begin planning and plotting your next golf trip today!

A special thanks to the following groups who stayed with us from October 16 to November 15! Cotuit High Ground, Harding-West Class Reunion, Slapnik-Lee Wedding, Kepner-Dolan Wedding, St. Mary's Baptist Church, Dengler-Wolke Wedding, NYC Transit Retirees of SC, Virginia Carolina Tours, Sunset Harbor HOA Meeting, MAW Airspeed Conference, White Oak Grove, SC Primary Healthcare Association, Universal Forest Products, Keller-Atwood Wedding, Steele-Chapman Wedding, SC Criminal Justice, Gregory Electric Company, Carolina Beach Music Awards, Calvary Evangelical Baptist Church, Ray Johnson Tours, Seaside Plantation HOA Meeting, Batten Birthday Party and Myrtle Beach Hospitality Association.

We would also like to welcome two new staff members to Group Sales team: Diane Carter-Wood, Sales Manager and Christa Phibbs, Event Coordinator. Welcome!

Newly Hatched!
November marked the beginning of Snowbird season at the Avista. We are happy to announce that we have 11 Snowbird families arriving this month. We would like to welcome The Barnhart's, The Beach's, The Futa's, The Guadagnoli's, The Lockley's, The Maki's, The O'Rourke's, The Richey's, The Walter's, The Wilson's and The Zapczynski's! While we have a few more Snowbirds arriving in December, we are expecting a very large "hatching" in January as we already have 43 confirmed Snowbird families for the month! Now that's a large flock!

The Perfect Gift
Are you still searching for that one perfect gift for someone on your Christmas list? Let the Avista be that gift! We realize that you will probably not be able to find enough wrapping paper and tape to actually wrap the building and that the shipping costs would be outrageous but we have put our heads together and have come up with a solution. Gift Certificates! That's right, you can purchase an Avista Gift Certificate for any dollar amount and give it to your loved one! For more information or to purchase a gift certificate, email Vacation-Planner@avistaresort.com or call the Reservations Department at 1-.

Did you know?
Did you know that December's average high temperature in Myrtle Beach is 59 and the low is 35 ? January is the coldest month with an average high temperature of 56 and a low of 33 . The warmest month is July when the average high is 90 and the low is 69 . No word on what the average heat index is during July but one can only speculate it is well above 100 . The wettest month is August when the Grand Strand receives an average rainfall of 7.42 inches.

Employee Spotlight
This month we are spotlighting our Director of Housekeeping, Gina Long. Gina, who is originally from Winston Salem N.C. moved to Myrtle Beach in 1987 and has been cleaning the beach ever since. Before coming to the Avista when it opened, she was Director of Housekeeping at our sister property Grande Shores. Gina has received a Gold Star each year from the Myrtle Beach Hospitality Association for the past six years and has been involved with writing housekeeping policies and procedures for housekeeper training courses at Horry-Georgetown Technical College. When she is not winning awards, she enjoys spending time with her 2 children and 2 grandchildren.

Congratulations!

The Avista Resort would like to offer best wishes to the following couples that were married at the resort during the past month:

        Mr. & Mrs. James Lee     October 21, 2006
        Mr. & Mrs. Derrick Dolan     October 21, 2006
        Mr. & Mrs. Donny Lee Atwood     November 4, 2006
        Mr. & Mrs. Louis Chapman     November 4, 2006

Until then…
Staff/Management
Avista Resort

North Myrtle Beach Christmas Festivities
Join the North Myrtle Beach natives for some Christmas festivities the first 2 Saturdays in December. On Saturday, December 2nd the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting will take place in McLean Park at 6pm. There will be live music, carolers, and a chance for children to talk to Santa. Then on December 9th, the Annual Christmas Parade will be held on Main Street at 6pm.

What's happening at Broadway at the Beach?
Concierge Abbey's must see event on the beach this holiday season is the Festival of Trees at Ripley's Aquarium. On display inside the Aquarium are 50 7-foot trees decorated to represent each state. Abbey's favorite trees were Nevada (Vegas themed), Alaska (pure white and glistening) and Kansas (The Wizard of Oz)! Located near the Aquarium is the Musical Tree of Lights, where there is a show everyday at 5pm. If you are in the mood for a show, don't miss the Le Grande Cirque Holiday Special at the Palace Theatre. There is something in this show for the entire family! To purchase discounted tickets for the Ripley's Aquarium or the Le Grande Cirque Holiday show, stop by the Avista Front Desk or Concierge Desk! For more information on Broadway at the Beach, visit www.broadwayatthebeach.com.

The Alabama Theatre | Barefoot Landing, U.S. 17, North Myrtle Beach, "One: The Show," featuring dancing, comedy and a variety of music, including country, Broadway, bluegrass and gospel. Shows this week at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Tickets $31.60-$36.25 for adults and $15.80 for ages 3-16. Call 1- or visit www.alabama-theatre.com.

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show | Northern intersection of U.S. 17 and U.S. 17 Bypass, Myrtle Beach, featuring fast-paced competition between North and South with music, games and performers on horseback. Shows this week at 6 p.m. today, Saturday and Wednesday. Tickets $36.99 for adults and $19.99 for ages 4-11. Call 1- or visit www.dixiestampede.com.

Legends in Concert Theater | 301 U.S. 17 N., Surfside Beach, featuring tribute artists paying homage to Garth Brooks, The Temptations, Trisha Yearwood, Elvis Presley and Louis Armstrong. Shows this week at 8 p.m. today, Saturday, Monday-Thursday and also at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets $31.95-$35.95 and $14.95-$18.95 ages 3-16. Call 1- or visit www.legendsinconcertsc.com.

The Palace Theatre | At Broadway at the Beach, U.S. 17 Bypass and 21st Avenue North, Myrtle Beach, featuring Le Grande Cirque with acrobats, contortionists, trapeze artists and aerialists. Shows this week at 8 p.m. today, Saturday and Monday-Thursday and also at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Tickets for 8 p.m. shows $33-$44 and $10 for ages 3-12; $26 ages 13 and older and $10 ages 3-12 for 10 a.m. show. Call 1- or visit www.palacetheatremyrtlebeach.com.