A Vista Villa Couples Retreat under new ownership

Tucked off a leafy street near Kelowna Golf & Country Club is a little enclave of romance.

It's called A Vista Villa Couples Retreat, a three-suite bed and breakfast that's carved itself a niche for lovers' getaways, small weddings, honeymoons, elopements and vow renewals.

From the street, 962 Ryder Drive looks like many of the other beautiful homes with pools in the neighbourhood.

But the difference, behind the discreet sign announcing A Vista Villa, is a 22-year-old business that proprietor Sherry Cote has built and refined into a fan-favourite, award-winning oasis of romance.

Sherry is retiring and has sold the retreat to Andrew Docherty and Josee LaBelle.

For Andrew and Josee this will be a second career after retiring themselves -- him as a senior director with Suncor Energy and her as a realtor.

Generally, the sale of a three-suite bed and breakfast wouldn't make news.

But, A Vista Villa is different.

It's ranked No. 1 best value B&B in the city by the world's largest travel platform TripAdvisor, which also gives the retreat a five-star rating.

AAA has awarded A Vista Villa a best-of-romance certificate and it's received high praise in numerous articles, including one on LoveTripper.com.

Despite COVID, the retreat had one of its busiest years in 2020, a testament that romance is alive and well, couples continue to hideaway whenever and wherever they can and the B&B adapting to pandemic cleanliness standards and social distancing.

"This five-star resort will continue to operate as it has in the past with outstanding, pristine accommodations while offering attention-to-detail service to all their valued guests," said Sherry.

"Andrew and Josee are committed to exceeding expectations as guests enjoy a relaxing, romantic and restorative getaway from their hectic day-to-day world."