The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Bimini Big Game Club has been booked out for the Memorial Day weekend two months' in advance, its general manager telling Tribune Business that this represented a marked departure from the normal two-week booking pattern.

As a testament to the 51-room resort and marina's performance, Michael Weber said Bimini Big Game had also received a No.1 ranking for Bimini resorts from the popular travel website, TripAdvisor.

He told Tribune Business: "We have always been striving to do better in our customer service, food quality and our amenities. We have been training the staff about customer service, and how important it is to take care of our guests and show pride in what they do.

"So far, it seems to have worked. Out of 54 reviews, we have 49 that are excellent and very good. It just shows we are getting better. Since I got here in July of last year we have always been at No.2 and have done well in trying to engage the guests. People that leave the Big Game Club love to spell out the good news, and we like that."

Mr Weber said occupancy levels for May thus far have been around 60 per cent, with Memorial Day weekend booked out two months ago.

"Occupancy levels for the entire month of May are probably about 60 per cent right now," he added. "We're at 70-80 per cent this week. Our weekends have been picking up very well. We have been sold out for memorial day weekend for two months already, which is nice to see. Typically, the booking pattern is two to three weeks ahead of time. It's good to see that people are booking out for a holiday two months in advance."

The owners of Bimini Big Game announced on Wednesday they had mutually agreed to end their two-year resort brand licensing agreement with Guy Harvey Outpost.

Guy Harvey's president, Mark Ellert, said the brand had turned its interests to other locations, particularly its Rum Cay operation.

Mr Ellert said: "Guy Harvey Outpost was not the owner, contrary to common belief. The owner is an individual from Fort Lauderdale who is in default on a loan made by another private individual from California.

"That person is foreclosing on the Fort Lauderdale owner. This has been ongoing for over four years now. We could not - and did not - buy the property because the foreclosure process prevents that from happening."

Mr Ellert added: "The Fort Lauderdale owner closed the club and defaulted on its loan. After remaining closed for two years, to protect the property from complete deterioration, the California lender, The Hankey Group, decided to reopen the property.

"It hired Guy Harvey Outpost to create a renovation plan, oversee start-up operations and licensed the right to use our Guy Harvey brand, and that of our brand partners, in operating the Club, all in order to instill credibility about the club's renovation and reopening. Our brand partners brought world-class diving and bonefishing programs to the Club."

Mr Ellert said that developing a Guy Harvey research station on the Club's grounds was an important part of Guy Harvey's interest in becoming involved.

"Because this cannot occur until the foreclosure is finalised, and given the repeated delays in the foreclosure process, our interest has turned to other locations such as Rum Cay. This contributed to our decision to part ways," Mr Ellert said.

After being closed for two years, the Bimini Big Game Club, which was founded as a dinner club in 1936, was re-opened in 2010 following completion of a $3.5 million renovation that included all guest rooms, the new Bimini Big Game Bar & Grill, Hemingway Rum Bar and Social Lounge and the Outfitter Shop.