The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A senior Atlantis executive yesterday said the resort enjoyed a “better than anticipated" Christmas season and was looking ahead to improving numbers in the 2021 first quarter.

Russell Miller, the Paradise Island mega resort’s executive vice-president of hotel operations, told Tribune Business that occupancies for the holiday period exceeded expectations.

He added: “Numbers are coming in better than we originally thought. Guests are very happy; they are very excited to be here. They like the fact that it's not that usual, hustle and bustle with the crowds."

Christmas arrived just two weeks after Atlantis re-opened and brought 2,500 staff back to work. More are likely to return in February 2021 given plans to re-open the 600 suite Cove property.

Mr Miller, meanwhile, said Atlantis was responding to local demand with its "staycation in paradise" promotion for the New Year.

"Because people want to come over and utilise the restaurants, and they want to take advantage of the New Year's celebration, we have a discounted rate of 21 percent off the rate for the room, two nights minimum, complimentary parking, and they get to enjoy all of the facilities and amenities that the resort has to offer," he added.

"They can go to all the restaurants and take advantage of the New Year's celebration, which includes the fireworks as the highlight of the evening.”

The COVID-19 health protocols require the presentation of a negative rapid antigen test. Mr Miller said: “Once you check into the hotel, you can utilise all of the facilities and we will be coming out with something very shortly on the wider access to the resort. For this period, this is what's available to the locals.”

Baha Mar, in a statement to Tribune Business, said: “We have seen a slow but steady pick-up for this festive season and the first quarter [of 2021], paired with increased website visits showing an appetite for travel in our key feeder markets.

"We recognise the ever-changing global situation surrounding the coronavirus, and are observing that travellers are making decisions much closer to their desired vacation dates due to the evolving nature of international restrictions.”

The Cable Beach mega resort added: “Our reopening on December 17 was a first, and necessary, step in the direction of economic recovery for the country and towards the financial stability of our 1,800 associates returning to the resort in Phase one.

“The health and safety of our guests, associates and the community continues to be our highest priority, and we are grateful for our partnership with Doctor’s Hospital that allows us to create outstanding safety protocols and procedures to welcome guests and Bahamian residents in a secure way.”

“We are confident that we have a bright future ahead of us, and that Baha Mar and The Bahamas will return to soaring tourism numbers once again.”

Graeme Davis, Baha Mar's president, confirmed that the resort and wider tourism industry face a slow recovery and ramp-up in visitor numbers due to COVID-19. He told the Travel Weekly website that the resort, which presently has only the Grand Hyatt property open, will likely start the New Year with occupancies in the mid-teens before recovering to 50 percent by next year's third quarter.

He added that revenue per available room (RevPAR), a key indicator of hotel performance, will likely not match 2019 numbers until the end of 2022. A full recovery, Mr Davis added, will likely only occur come 2023.