The Tribune

The Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina yesterday said total revenues for 2013 to-date had increased 20 per cent year-over-year.

“We are pacing to be one of the better performing properties in the Bahamas this year,” said general manager Michael Weber. “And 2014 is off to a great start, with several weekends already sold out.”

Closed for two years, the Big Game Club, which wasfounded as a dinner club in 1936, re-opened in 2010 following completion of a $3.5 million renovation that included all guest rooms, the new Bimini Big Game Bar & Grill, Hemingway Rum Bar and Social Lounge, Gulfstream Conference Centre and the Outfitter Shop.

Mr Weber and his wife, Diana, who handles sales and marketing, credits “hardwork and creative thinking” for positioning and promoting the 51-room, 75-slip marina property located in Alice Town.

“We continue to exhibit at various boat shows and other trade shows to generate more business to the resort,” said Diana Weber.

“We’ve also re-established big game tournaments drawing large turnouts; created the world’s first dockside Bull shark cage experience; increased our group dive booking,s drawing European and Canadian visitors; and improved our food and beverage offerings, adding a Shark Bar, private labeled Big Game Club Ale and introduced holistic menus for those requesting gluten-free and vegetarian meals as well as meeting other dietary requests.

“We’ve also seen an increase in our marina business thanks to seasonal discount specials and long-term slip rentals.”

Also joining the Big Game Club in 2013 is the Bimini- Quebec Watersports operation, which offers a variety of watersports, including back country kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, bicycle rentals, sailing and bareboat rentals.

“Especially popular with families is our free pool ‘Intro to scuba dive’ class for all guests with a PADI dive instructor,” said Mrs Weber.

The Webers continue to plan more events to attract guests in 2014, including a return of the highly popular Wahoo Smackdown tournament in February and, in April, the first ever NFL Hall of Fame Billfish Invitational.