The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

WHILE a Four Seasons hotel on Eleuthera could be prove to be a "shot in the arm" for that island's economy, its Chamber of Commerce president told Tribune Business yesterday that obtaining the 'critical mass' necessary to make properties in the Family Islands successful remains a major challenge.

Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham told a rally in Eleuthera on Saturday that the Government is "very close" to finalising a deal with the Four Seasons hotel group and Colombian billionaire, Luis Sarmiento, for a new resort in Eleuthera.

And Thomas Sands told Tribune Business: "We definitely welcome Four Seasons here on the island of Eleuthera. It can be seen as a positive. The construction that is necessary to deliver that quality and standard should help in the process of rejuvenating the communities. There are persons who have left the island because they can't support their families here, so it would definitely be a shot in the arm for it to take place."

Mr Sands added: "The scepticism from an Eleuthera standpoint is going to be there. Eleutherans have heard too many stories over the years, and for them it has not come to fruition.

" I hope at the same time we can deal with some of the critical issues." Mr Sands, an investor in the Cotton Bay project, said that getting the critical mass to support real estate and hotel development when the economy slows down is a challenge.

Mr Sands said: "You have a few hotels here that have had their challenges to stay profitable. One of the real challenges, as Family Islands as a whole, is how do you develop the critical mass and have the infrastructure to promote the destination.

"There are a number of larger discussions that need to take place. I am one of the investors in the Cotton Bay Estates and Villas, which is next door and where we have put $45 million in the ground. The challenge has been: Where do we get the critical mass to support it in the time when the economy has slowed? There needs to be, from a government standpoint, a proactive approach to helping the communities to upgrade their offering."

Mr Sands added: "If a Four Seasons is coming here in, say three years, you must create the environment and revitalise the amenities and services. Eleutherans are resilient people. If you create the positive environment, Eleutherans will make the investment necessary to prepare themselves for the future."

Looking at the performance of the island's tourism sector, Mr Sands said: "We had a few months like March and April, where there were more vacation homeowners. It's is now slowing down again. It was welcome to have that bump, but we will have to see how it continues.

"You need it on a consistent basis; that's a challenge for businesses. The season has become smaller, and what tends to happen for business is that in the off-season what you have made during the on-season, you have to use to survive until the next time."

Mr Sands said there needs to be a proper development plan for each Family Island.