The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

AN 'island hop' incentive is being offered to private pilots in an effort to creater greater access to the Family Islands, a Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board executive telling Tribune Business yesterday that private aviation brought a considerable amount of business to the Bahamas.

The Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board's 'island hop' money saving promotion allows for private pilots to enjoy "another day, another island". The initiative, according to Valery Brown-Alce, senior director of marketing for the Board, allows private pilots to realise real savings while island hopping and experiencing multiple Family Islands.

The Promotion, created by the Board for its member properties, provides a $150 instant credit savings on a two-night consecutive stay at any participating hotel for general aviation pilots travelling to multiple Out Islands on the same flight itinerary.

Ms Brown-Alce said: "Private pilots have a better opportunity than most to visit more than one island at a time, and have expressed to us that they enjoy the experience of, 'Another Day, Another Island', and so we wanted to make it even easier for them to enjoy venturing out."

She added:"One of the (BOIPB) Board's key goals this year is to get more pilots exploring further into the central and southern Bahama islands - islands like Acklins, Crooked Island, San Salvador and Long Island to name a few."

Ms Brown-Alce told Tribune Business that private aviation accounteds for a substantial amount of business for the Family islands, many of which suffered from limited access.

"People can get into the islands from south Flordia and even nothern Florida; that has been an active market for us," she said.

"Considering the amount of rooms in the Family Islands and the ability of private pilots to visit the Out Islands from a Florida market or some of the southern US markets, that's a market we would not have been able to get when you talk about access to the Out Islands. This is all about access to the Out Islands so that more people can get there and stay in those resorts."

The Board promotion is valid for bookings now through June 26, and for travel through June 30, with no black-out dates. The offer is redeemable by a licensed private pilot only.