The Tribune

SANDYPORT Beaches Resort and Hotel is enjoying a record-breaking year, with weekend occupancy levels often at 100 per cent for the seaside and Sandyport Marina Village hotel.

Vernon Moss, the general manager at the west Nassau resort, said that year on year, occupancy levels are higher overall than previous years since opening in 2000.

“Especially since Easter we’ve noticed an increase in bookings and very often have sell-out weekends,” Mr Moss said. “We’re seeing lots of guests from the Family Islands who come to Nassau for events or family gatherings and in June for instance, officials involved with the IAAF World Relay, pushed us to a 98 per cent occupancy rate and we’ve continued with an average of 82 per cent occupancy since then with forward reservations looking stronger than usual for August and September.

“Traditionally in September it slows down and I know many of the smaller hotels close in September. But we won’t - we’re too busy.”

Cincinnati Hall, the reservations manager, says the Cable Beach strip hotels are all-inclusive, apart from the Melia, which means the Sandyport Hotel fits the bill for those not wanting an all-inclusive deal.

“All inclusive doesn’t suit all international travellers and we also find that locals from Grand Bahama and the Family Islands and even our corporate and ex-pat regulars from Nassau, very often prefer the freedom of the self-catering option our suites offer or to go to the nearby restaurants, like Spritz, Twisted Lime, News Caf�, Olives and all the others.”

Mr Moss said there were several factors which contributed to rise in occupancy at Sandyport.

“Certainly a rise in the number of repeat guests and I think their comments on Trip Advisor has helped attract new guests’” he said. “Also, the fact that we won the RCI Gold Award gives people confidence in the resort and the service. Our upgrades are about 75 per cent complete too, where we put in new kitchens with stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops in the bedrooms and new bed linens.”

The New York Times travel section on March 13 recommended Sandyport Beaches Resort and Hotel as a “serene” place to stay when in Nassau. Travel writer Brendan Spiegel included the popular resort in an article featuring 11 of the Bahamas’ best attractions for the tourist seeking a subtler, more authentic experience.

Mr Spiegel praised the popular Sandyport resort for its “picturesque collection of villas in a gated marina community near Cable Beach with waterfront views and a serene atmosphere.”

Sandyport Beaches Resort and Hotel’s colonial-style villas house 72 studio rooms and suites between the Lagoon Beach and the ocean-side Sandyport Beach on West Bay Street near luxury canal-front residences and the commercial centre of Sandyport Marina Village.

The Sandyport Resort recently won the coveted RCI Gold Crown Resort award, the highest of the RCI designations as determined by industry expert evaluations and vacationers’ comments. It is one of only three resorts in the Bahamas - and a select number worldwide - to meet RCI’s requirements for this recognition.