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Hotels ‘even stronger’ than touted 13% bookings leap

The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) president yesterday disclosed some resorts are enjoying “even stronger” growth than the near-13 percent jump in advanced bookings through to February 2024.

Tourism reaps double digit summer growth

A senior hotelier yesterday asserted that the industry’s “greatest growth opportunity” lies in increasing room inventory with summer rates and occupancies ahead of 2022 comparatives by double digits.

Condo hotel tax now takes ‘effect’

The Bahamian resort industry was yesterday said to have “got 90 percent of our asks” over the new condo hotel tax which has now come into effect some eight months after it was first unveiled.

Hotels eyeing ‘unprecedented forward bookings’ during 2023

The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) president yesterday disclosed the industry is eyeing “unprecedented levels of forward bookings” for the 2023 first half and full year after December beat historical trends by 10 percent.

COVID non-factor: Winter tourism season up 10-15%

Forward bookings for The Bahamas’ peak winter tourism season are 10-15 percent ahead of 2022 numbers, a leading hotelier disclosed yesterday, with the industry “satisfied” there will be no return to past COVID restrictions.

Fair share: Hotel rental unit tax not in effect yet

A key Budget measure designed to ensure hotel rental pool units pay their fair share of taxation has yet to be implemented amid the wait for legislation to give it lawful effect.

‘Headroom for growth’: Tourism forecast to hit regional average

A senior hotelier yesterday said The Bahamas “still has some headroom for tourism growth” post-COVID amid forecasts its annual expansion rate will merely match the Caribbean average for the next decade.

Nicole: Tourism suffers no ‘overwhelming shrinkage’

The Bahamian tourism industry has not suffered a “material” reduction in bookings and guests despite now-Hurricane Nicole striking Grand Bahama and Abaco, a senior hotelier said yesterday.

BPL gives resorts nod to explore renewables

Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) has given the go-ahead for the resort industry to “explore” cost-cutting renewable energy options although the details remain to be agreed, a top hotelier said yesterday.

Two-thirds of hotel staff in minimum wage boost

Up to two-thirds of the hotel industry’s workforce may benefit from the 24 percent minimum wage increase unveiled by the Prime Minister, it was revealed yesterday, amid hopes the sector’s rising business volumes will offset the extra cost.

‘We will pay the price’ until crime controlled

Tourism leaders are warning The Bahamas “we will pay the price” unless rising crime is brought under control while branding last week’s downgrade by the US as “a warning sign we must heed”.

Hotels fear BPL hikes set to ‘derail’ rebound

Bahamian hotels yesterday warned that Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) planned fuel charge hikes of up to 163 percent have caused “outright anxiety” in the sector and could “derail” the post-COVID return to financial viability.

‘Sooner the better’ for end to mask mandate

A top hotelier yesterday asserted that the Government will “secure tourism’s continued upward momentum” if it eliminates the remaining COVID travel restrictions, adding: “The sooner we do it the better off we will be.”

‘Put shark victim family before tourism fall-out’

A top hotelier yesterday said The Bahamas must prioritise “comforting the traumatised family” of Tuesday’s fatal shark attack and worry later about any negative impact to the tourism industry.

Tourism ‘market mix’ can beat Fed’s interest hike

The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) president yesterday voiced optimism that “pent-up” travel demand and a high-end “market mix” can sustain the post-COVID rebound despite the Federal Reserve’s latest tightening.

Tourism hopeful major strike damage avoided

The Bahamian tourism industry was yesterday hopeful that widespread, long-lasting damage from the Airport Authority strike may have been avoided even though most of the agency’s employees still failed to show for work.

Fragile tourism fearing ‘long lasting’ airport strike damage

Bahamian tourism yesterday called for “a speedy resolution” to the strike action impacting the country’s major airports as it warned of potential “long-lasting” damage to a “fragile industry rebounding from a long period of nothing”.

Hotels ‘close to living with’ rental pool minimum tax

The Bahamian hotel industry yesterday asserted it is “coming close to a position we can live with” by ensuring that the Government’s ‘minimum tax’ on rental pool units is not too “onerous”.

‘We cannot give it all away’: Hotels’ rising energy fears

Bahamian hotels were yesterday growing increasingly fearful that rising electricity costs will wipe out their profitability “breathing space”, with one saying: “We can ill-afford to give it all away.”

Minimum wage: Hotels ‘intervene’ over gratuity

The Bahamian hotel industry has “intervened” over the upcoming minimum wage increase to propose that employees earning the bulk of their income from gratuities receive less than the full rise, it was revealed yesterday.

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