This is poised to be a very big year for the Bahamas. On March 27, Baha Mar, the Caribbean's biggest new development, will open its doors on Nassau. Representing a $3.5 billion investment, it encompasses a total of 2,200 rooms spread over four hotel properties -- the 1,000-room Baha Mar Casino & Hotel; the 200-room Rosewood at Baha Mar; the 300-room SLS LUX at Baha Mar; and the 700-room Grand Hyatt Baha Mar -- as well as the largest casino in the Caribbean, and a 200,000-square-foot convention center space with 83,700 square feet of indoor meeting space. It will also feature its own Jack Nickalus-designed golf course, an ESPA spa, various pool and beach experiences, restaurants, and shops. All of the hotels, with the exception of the Grand Hyatt, will open this month; the Grand Hyatt is expected to open soon.
The Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center is adjacent to the Grand Hyatt and will also be managed by the Grand Hyatt with 200,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space, as well as a 2,000-seat entertainment venue. "The convention center will be hosting its first event on the 28th," says Yvette Edwards, director of sales and marketing for the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. She says that she is working with various meeting and incentive groups that have already booked Baha Mar for this year, some of whom have groups with 1,500 rooms on peak nights. "They work with just one convention services manager and they can book all of their rooms and events with [all four properties]," she explains.
With Baha Mar's opening, the resort has also invested heavily in increasing airlift to Nassau. Edwards points out that they have worked hard to ensure it is easy to get to the destination. Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas, too, shares a similar focus, says John Washko, vice president of group marketing and sales.
"Our hope is that Baha Mar's opening will expand our markets, especially as it relates to increased airlift into the destination," Washko says. "For 20 years, we've been working in conjunction with the government and tourism office. We're excited to have someone share this great story about this tremendous destination that's so easily accessible to the U.S. We're looking at this to be a positive for the country, specifically in the group market because of the specialty air component and exposure."
Atlantis is not content to rest on its laurels, either. The massive 3,400-room property will embark on key renovations of its accommodations, public areas, and restaurants. Washko also notes that planners can expect to see new restaurant openings and concepts.
Last fall, Atlantis also joined Marriott's Autograph Collection of independent properties. Washko says that the property is working on a "game-changing" groups meetings package to be revealed this year.
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This article appears in the March 2015 issue of Successful Meetings.