Meeting News - October 20, 2008 - (Page 42)

Destination Insider: Bahamas Edited by William Ng william.ng@nielsen.com Baha Mar Declared Going Forward, As Developer Seeks New Financing The $2 billion Baha Mar megaresort in Nassau, Bahamas, is still a go despite the withdrawal of financial partner Harrah’s this past spring and a troubled economic climate, said its developer and Bahamas officials. The megaresort, which would encompass most of the current Cable Beach resort area and include 200,000 sf of meeting space, as well as a range of Starwood-branded hotels (W, St. Regis, Westin, and Sheraton), originally was slated for completion in 2011. The Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort (renamed from Sheraton Cable Beach Resort) has been open since mid-June, and Starwood remains aboard, but most other aspects of the project have been put on hold until new financing is secured. “The project will be going forward as planned, but the launch has been delayed,” said Baha Mar Resorts president Don Robinson, who recently met with Chinese banks and construction companies interested in the development.“All we can say at the moment is that our talks with the Chinese delegations were very productive and that talks are ongoing.” With the loss of Harrah’s went plans for a centerpiece Caesars Palace resort at Baha Mar. Robinson said a search is on for a new gaming partner for the megaresort. In addition, he said the scope of the project remains the same, including plans to have over five acres of convention center space. “The design of the 1,000-room casino resort may be modified slightly based on the requirements of our new gaming partner, but other than that, the only changes that are envisioned is to potentially increase the number of timeshare units (from 50 to at least 200) as we proceed in talks with potential timeshare partners,” said Robinson. James Malcolm, executive director of group travel for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, said the addition of Baha Mar would open up the market and boost Nassau’s appeal to meeting planners. “We need more meeting space,” he said.“We need a second major resort destination in addition to Atlantis. We need two major convention resorts. . .competition. “This traditionally has been a seller’s market, and it needs to become more of a buyer’s market,” Malcolm said. “Atlantis is so popular that they have basically told planners,‘Here’s the price, take it or leave it.’ I’d like to see that dynamic change.” Group business in Nassau rose about 5 percent between 2006 and 2007, but was flat in 2008. Bimini Bay Resort Adds Conference Facility The resort, which debuted in 2007, currently has an assortment of studios, suites, and treehouses. Bimini Bay has a marina pavilion and about 10,000 sf of outdoor event space, including a 6,000-sf lawn and a 1,670-sf covered porch. It has plans for a 250-room Conrad hotel and a Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course. The new conference center will be a glass-enclosed pavilion with a main ballroom for 400 banquet-style, a breakout room, and a boardroom. Allison Robins, Bimini Bay’s spokeswoman, said the property is marketing to pharmaceutical groups and others for company retreats and small conferences. “We are adding a conference facility because there seems to be a heightened interest in corporate and small group retreats,” she said. “They are looking for locations that incorporate relaxation and island ambiance to facilitate better brainstorming sessions. Exclusivity and adventure are huge factors, and we offer both as a small island with fishing and other adventure-related activities.” Island Off Eleuthera Will Be Home to New Montage Resort Montage Resorts, known mostly for its coastal California luxury retreats, is planning a 70-room resort and residential community on 430-acre Royal Island just off the island of Eleuthera. The Montage Royal Island resort, slated to open in 2010, will cater to small board meetings and conferences, as well as leisure travelers and private social events. Plans call for indoor meeting rooms with ocean views and a grand ballroom with an adjacent event lawn. Border Preclearance at Nassau Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport now allows U.S.-bound passengers to avoid customs back in the States by clearing them first before departing. For many travelers, this is a welcome respite from hauling baggage through the corridors between baggage claim, immigration, and customs at Miami International Airport. The Nassau airport also is slated to get a new U.S. departures terminal by 2010. r —Section written by Bob Curley www.meetingnews.com Bimini Bay Resort has a room lineup of suites, studios, and treehouses. A new conference center at Bimini Bay Resort and Marina could help put the island of Bimini on the map for meeting and incentive planners in the next few years. The resort is adding about 7,000 sf of indoor conference space in 2009 and is marketing to groups of up to 450. 42 MeetingNews October 20, 2008 http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - October 20, 2008

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