The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Atlantis executives yesterday said the resort is “slightly ahead” of last year’s Thanksgiving bookings as it gets set to host the sixth installment of the ‘Battle 4 Atlantis’ basketball tournament today.

Ed Fields, senior vice-president of public affairs, told Tribune Business: “Adjusting for the Coral Towers rooms, we are slightly ahead of last year’s bookings.”

The Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, which is known to be the richest Division I men’s pre-season basketball tournament, is set to begin today and run until Friday.

The tournament is expected to generate an influx of hotel guests to the Atlantis resort, boosting the Bahamas’ attraction as a sports tourism destination. This year’s tournament will feature  the Michigan State Spartans, the Louisville Cardinals, the Wichita State Shockers, St John’s Red Storm, Virginia Commonwealth University Rams, Baylor Bears, LSU Tigers and Old Dominion Monarchs.

Other Nassau-based properties also reported a ‘bump’ in their occupancies for the Thanksgiving period. Gary Williams, the Sandals Royal Bahamian general manager, told Tribune Business that the resort’s occupancy level would be at 84 per cent for the Thanksgiving period. 

“We will be running at 84 per cent for Thanksgiving. As we have said before, it’s shaping up to be a very strong winter,” said Mr Williams.

The Warwick Paradise Island’s general manager, Lorenzo Symonette, told Tribune Business that the resort was anticipating a ‘bump’ in occupancy over the Thanksgiving period.

“We are still in the introductory stage of what we call a soft opening. It’s going quite nicely. We have relatively quiet occupancies but it is increasing over the Thanksgiving period, and that’s customary around this time,” said Mr Symonette.

“We know that we will perhaps take a dip shortly thereafter and, just after Christmas going into the New Year, things will pick back up and take us into the high season expected in the latter part of January all the way through to April. It’s relatively quite now but we anticipate a bump in occupancies over the Thanksgiving holiday.”

Jermaine Wright, the Comfort Suites general manager, told Tribune Business: “Comfort Suites Paradise Island’s business is positive.  We hope the trend continues through the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday period, with individual guests and groups coming to enjoy some Bahamian sunshine and relaxation. 

“We will also be hosting special Thanksgiving activities around the property with holiday food and beverage offerings in Crusoe’s Restaurant for both in-house guests and patrons from the local community.”