The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

New Providence’s major hotels yesterday said they had suffered “minimal” impact from the blizzard conditions in the north-east US, with visitor cancellations offset by those who had to extend their stay in the Bahamas.

George Markantonis, Brookfield Hospitality’s president and managing director, said Atlantis had seen “very minimal” impact despite the numerous inbound and outbound flights that had been cancelled in a core visitor market for the Bahamas.

However, the storm appeared to have spared New York and New Jersey the worst, and with those markets “returning to normal”, Mr Markantonis said the main disruption was occurring in the Boston and Connecticut areas - both of which were less important to the Bahamas.

“I’m expecting us to have a nice lift-off for Super Bowl weekend,” Mr Markantonis told Tribune Business, adding that the impact would have been worse had the blizzard hit later in the week.

“Although some travellers weren’t able to make the journey, and weren’t able to make it, a more than equal amount are stuck here. It’s not hurt us in any measurable manner, I’m pleased to say. It’s really a minimal amount.”

Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice-president of government and external affairs, told Tribune Business the snowstorm had created “some negative impact with the cancellations” at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort.

“We’ve had some impact at the Melia hotel,” he confirmed. “I know we had some cancellations yesterday, and some today. That’s impacted inbound and outbound, and we’re in the process of assessing the net effect.”

Shonalee Johnson, the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) spokesperson, said as of mid-afternoon yesterday some three return flights - all involving JFK Airport - had been cancelled.

These included two Jet Blue and one Delta flight.