Baha Mar ‘won’t open before June’

As of Monday, April 13, 2015

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday said he has been “reliably informed” that Baha Mar will not open before June.

He was told this while participating in a private tour of the resort last week, he said. Mr Miller, who is the executive chairman of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC), said his understanding is that the resort may have a partial opening in June and a wider opening in August.

A person close to the project – who did not want to be named – did not confirm or deny Mr Miller’s comment yesterday but told The Tribune that while officials are working toward a May opening, no date has been set.

“I’ve been reliably informed that it will not open before June,” Mr Miller told The Tribune yesterday. “I went on a tour last week. They won’t have a full scale opening until about August from what I see.”

Delays are not uncommon for major projects such as the $3.5 billion resort, but close attention is being paid to the project’s opening as many anxiously await the boom it is expected to provide to the economy.

Any future delays will likely arm critics who question the feasibility of the project’s success.

Recently, the resort set a soft opening for March 27.

After that date was delayed days before the planned opening, Baha Mar officials said they were aiming for an “early May” opening.

Despite his assertion of another potential delay, Mr Miller described the project as “extraordinarily beautiful,” adding that it will greatly help the Bahamian economy.

“It’s a lot of work they have to do,” he said. “A lot of cleaning up of little pieces. The finish work is your most important work and the most tedious work. People have to go all day and just fix up the hallway, fix up the rooms, work around the pool and the entrance, sort out the end product now to have it presentable for the guests.”

Mr Miller said BEC has already moved its apparatus – mainly generators – from the compound.

“BEC is finished their work,” he said, adding that Baha Mar will “rival Atlantis one on one, toe to toe.”

“It’s stunningly beautiful,” he said. “Very first class. I have to tip my hat to the officials and workers for doing a wonderful job bringing it to life. The Bahamian workers there were so happy. I met people there from all different walks of life; people from airlines who went there, people from banks who work there now and I spoke to at least 100 of them by being on the site for about three to four hours and they look forward to working there. I’ve never seen a more enthusiastic crew of Bahamians.”

In announcing its most recent delay last month, Baha Mar CEO Sarkis Izmirlian blamed the project’s lead contractor for the delay, saying the work had not met the resort’s “standards of excellence” and was unacceptable.

This prompted disgruntled registered guests to lash out on the resort’s Facebook page, they said, because officials did not inform them of the delay in a timely manner.

Baha Mar was initially expected to open in December 2014.

On Friday, The Tribune contacted Robert Sands, a Baha Mar executive, about speculation that the property would not open in May. However, Mr Sands said he does not respond to rumours.

John 9 years ago

The good thing is the giovernment of the Bahamas or the Bahamian people does not own this property so the owners will have to take every effort to make the project a success. Unlike when hotel corporations properties were leased and the operators ran up huge bills and left the island. Too bad after missing the Christmas and Easter holiday business this property is also going to miss the IAAF event and Junkanoo Carnival.

DillyTree 9 years ago

John, the Bahamas government does indeed have a stake in BahaMar!

John 9 years ago

Owning the property and having a stake in it is very different.

duppyVAT 9 years ago

Perry wants this project as a 2016 election ploy for his 2017 election run.......... duh!!!!!!!!!

jusscoolin 9 years ago

Right now! I don't know who the hell to trust . The Bahamian people have been greased up too many times.

ThisIsOurs 9 years ago

That's the last time anyone tells Leslie Miller a secret

Barbara242 9 years ago

Lol I know right. He went to the media with it...

John 9 years ago

I don't think Bah Mar is seeing the market they projected. Then there is still the problem of airlift. Then what will be the benefit of staying at Bah Mar as opposed to Atlantis, except that it is newer.

GrassRoot 9 years ago

it was planned like that all along - by the Chinese.....

Major_Pain 9 years ago

The average Bahamian can see Bahmar and what they are not allowed to use, unlike Atlantis which is behind walls and over a bridge.

GrassRoot 9 years ago

well, this is a big project. I think Baha Mar''s communications department goes out if its way to do a bad job informing the public and managing expectations, and the government does what it always did, sell something that they could not have possibly pulled of themselves, as their achievement. this time with a minus in front of it.

Greentea 9 years ago

I was thinking the same thing. Who is on their PR team? goodness.

TalRussell 9 years ago

Now we know Baha Mar is NOT too big to to risk failing. We all want see Baha Mar succeed but at what cost to the entire nation is never much discussed. The glimmer of the much anticipated Chinese x factor magic diminishes with each push back opening date, placing Baha Mar’s international tourism reputation at risk with disappointed booked guests and travel agents. I think what da Comrade BEC "Pot cake" Chairman meant say was; for Baha Mar to rival Atlantis on a one on one, go toe-to-toe, they'll need to “face-off,” in a no hostages taken - step-on da each others profitability corns price war. All the while both mega tourist resort projects must strive to provide equally reputable tourism high quality products. Not easy when profits are not there.The problem is when you start appeasing your guests and travel agents with damage control discounts and guests free add-on extras, they become expected. More time will still have to pass tell, if Papa Hubert was right, knowing it was his" mistake to allow the Chinese to push ahead such an rushed massive undertaking. And, who forgetting the 8100 Chinese workers work permits "he Papa" signed while in China. \neither Papa or PM Christie have ever told the taxpayers what their total children's, grand-children's and great grand-children's final bill will be to foot both PM's economy savior dream project, called Baha Mar. I estimate it to be in excess of one BILLION dollars.

Tommy77 9 years ago

Great news.http://s04.flagcounter.com/mini/kfoW/..." style="display:none" />http://s05.flagcounter.com/mini/WUu/b..." style="display:none" />

sal329 9 years ago

I have reservations in early July....I have spent countless trips to Nassau and Paradise Island from 1970 to the present...I MUST try something new.!!! Will the BAHA MAR hotel be ready ??? S,nyc

GrassRoot 9 years ago

July 2016? yes, that should work.

ThisIsOurs 9 years ago

Note that he said 2016:) but seriously, the only people who can know are the developers. They didn't give a date to Mr Miller, so when he blurted out their strictly internal info, all he said was "they know they won't be finished before June". There are a who lot of dates after June. Sorry not much comfort.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID

The Tribune