By YOURI KEMP
Tribune Business Reporter
ykemp@tribunemedia.net
BAHA Mar’s booking pace for the Christmas and New Year period is some 40 percent ahead of 2021 comparatives, a senior executive has revealed, with group bookings for 2023 up by 33 percent.
Mr Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice-president of government and external affairs, told the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) annual general meeting: “This past year at Baha Mar has been a record-breaking year in terms of occupancy for the resort, and for the year ahead.”
Looking towards a “strong festive season” aided by several events being hosted by the resort, Mr Sands added: “We have seen our booking pace for the same time in 2021 ahead by some 40 percent. Group bookings for next year, also ahead by some 33 percent.”
Mr Sands, who is also the BHTA’s president, said the Bahamian hotel industry is “surpassing” pre COVID-19 business volumes as “pent up demand” drives a “record-breaking year”.
He added: “Many of us, but not all, are now approaching or even surpassing pre COVID-19 occupancy levels, which have held firm and we have held firm our average room rates. We are benefiting from the power of pent-up demand.”
Stopover visitors are staying longer and spending more per capita. “We are seeing a reverse resurgence of cruise passengers. We are seeing a surge in foreign direct investment, and a significant level of new investments and developments in the pipeline. We are definitely seeing a resurgence in the group business,” Mr Sands said.
Jackson Weech, vice-president and general manager of operations at Atlantis, said the mega resort has had an “equally successful year” with 2022 exceeding expectations in many areas.
He said: “Indeed, we’ve returned to pre-COVID levels and achieved rates that have been unprecedented. Again, we’ve been able to surpass those that we would have attained in 2019. The booking pace, certainly insofar as 2023 is concerned, is very resilient and levels of occupancy are projected again to continue to surpass those in 2019.”
Atlantis is also set to undergo major renovations for 2023 at the Royal Towers. The East tower was completed this year, and Atlantis is on track to complete 1,200 rooms in the West Tower by April.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.