Billy’s Rentals honored by Benacquisto with Award of Excellence
Billy and Salli Kirkland, owners of Billy’s Rentals, were recently presented an Award of Excellence by state Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto.
The couple were nominated for the award by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce for going above and beyond to make the community an amazing place to live.
“I wanted to take time this summer to honor some of the wonderful businesses we have in our area,” Benacquisto said. “Billy and Salli Kirkland represent outstanding service to their community, from their customers to their neighbors. This Award of Excellence is a fitting tribute to them.”
The presentation took place on June 14 at the original Billy’s Rentals on Periwinkle Way. It opened in 1999 and the full-service rental operation grew to include sales and service at Billy’s Bikes & Segway of Sanibel, located across the street. In 2014, the couple opened a second location, Billy’s at Bailey’s.
Throughout the years, the Kirklands have been honored with several accolades for their generosity and success, including the distinguished Blue Chip Community Business Award and E Award. The Sanibel Captiva Rotary Club recognized the couple as the Business Person of the Year in 2018 for their exemplary professional standards and going the extra mile to serve the community.
“We are grateful to those, including the chamber, who have recognized our dedication to growing our business and serving the community we love,” they said. “However, it is the businesses and leaders that came before us that laid the groundwork for such a wonderful community in which to live and work.”
Billy’s Rentals sponsors several events benefiting island non-profits and Billy Kirkland often shows random acts of kindness, such as purchasing a glass of lemonade for any Billy’s bike renter in April at a lemonade stand ran by two children donating the proceeds to F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva or providing his boat to help the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation rescue a distressed sea turtle in June.
The couple frequently donate their time, as well.
“Billy and Salli Kirkland have been leaders in our community for more than three decades,” Chamber President John Lai said. “There is not much they don’t know about the islands and how to best enjoy it.”
For more information about Billy’s Rentals, visit billysrentals.com.
For more about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org.