By DANA SMITH
Tribune Staff Reporter
dsmith@tribunemedia.net
THE government is considering several low-cost hotel developments for Bay Street and, by the end of this summer, the development of a new hotel in San Salvador should be announced.
Prime Minister Perry Christie made the latter announcement after weeks of speculation over a new development on the Family Island.
In July, while speaking on the importance of Family Island development, Mr Christie hinted at an upcoming major investment for San Salvador.
Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Mahogany Hill hotel, the Prime Minister addressed that investment again and suggested several more smaller developments are being discussed.
He said: “We are soon going to announce at the end of this summer, the boutique hotel in San Salvador, a boutique hotel in Bimini. The developers are not just going to stop at what they’re doing there, it’s the whole aspect of smaller entities in the tourism industry - really bringing in those people who would not wish to be in the mega-resort.”
Mahogany Hill is located just outside Lyford Cay and not in the city.
Mr Christie said: “It’s just a wonderful kind of experience... I’m hoping that this happens throughout the Bahamas where we are able to have a more diverse product and therefore more successful industry.”
Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe echoed the Prime Minister’s comments - speaking on the importance of having smaller hotels in addition to mega- resorts. He also spoke on further developments in the works for Nassau.
He said: “I think it’s important to have a diversity. You’re going to see a mixture. You’re going to see some lower-end on the Bay Street strip - we’re working on several right now, Marriot Courtyard will not be a high-end cost, but it will still be of a high-end quality - which is also very important.
“The Prime Minister hasn’t announced San Salvador yet but that’s coming up very soon. I’m sure he’s going to have a major event there to make the announcement. That’s going to be significant. But also Grand Bahama is moving.”
A renovated The Reef is going to open in December.
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