The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian resorts say they have already begun to see bookings rebound post Hurricane Irma, with one executive predicting an even bigger boost as travellers re-book.

Ed Fields, Atlantis's senior vice-president of public relations, told Tribune Business: "We have absolutely seen bookings rebound over the last few days as flights have resumed regular schedules."

With The Bahamas' major resorts and tourism assets having escaped Hurricane Irma largely unscathed, tourism officials have moved to dispel the suggestion by some international media that the most of the Bahamas had been devastated by the storm.

Gary Williams, Sandals Royal Bahamian's general manager, said that with the chain's Beaches Turks and Caicos property having been impacted, along with the planned pre-Irma closure of its Antigua resort, its other hotels would naturally pick-up the business.

"We were at 40 per cent after the storm, but things have already started to rebound," Mr Williams said. "We have a very good second half of September on the books. Monday, we are at 73 per cent, and by the weekend we are back to 88 per cent. I'm sure we get will get a bigger pick-up when people start to re-book, people who were at Turks and Caicos for instance."

Mr Williams said it was important for the Bahamas to get the message out that it is open for business. "Our chief executive has been on CNN, and he was telling them that the majority of the Caribbean is up and running, and only a few islands were impacted," he said.

"We are going to get an increase in business from folks who were scheduled for Antigua, and Beaches Turks and Caicos at our resort and Emerald Bay. Given what we had on the books before we should do even better with relocations. We are putting the word out to all our travel agents to say that we weren't impacted in New Providence and Exuma. We dodged a bullet for sure."

The Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort is closed until December 14, due to damage from Hurricane Irma. Back in July, Sandals announced the temporary closure of Sandals Grande Antigua from September 20 for maintenance, with the resort expected to re-open on December 17.