The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net SANDALS Resorts International yesterday disclosed it is expanding its high-end, luxury boutique resort on Fowl Cay in the Exumas by 50 per cent through adding three villas, having invested up to $23 million in the property to date. Speaking at the official opening of Sandals Royal Bahamian's Balmoral Tower, the hotel chain's chairman, Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, said that with the expansion the resort would offer a total of nine villas. Mr Stewart said: "Fowl Cay has very nice villas. Plans for expansion are in the works. We are putting in three more villas, so the villas will go from six to nine." He added that Sandals had invested some $23 million in the property to date. The Fowl Cay Resort, which sits in the Exuma chain, boasts a casual vacation experience with all the quality amenities of a full-service resort. Mr Stewart said: "Fowl Cay has come so far. The occupancy has been full the whole time; that's why we are building. That's why I want to fix up the restaurant because there is nowhere down there to really get gourmet level food. I want to go there in May, and there are only four days I can get in." Sandals has invested between $84-85 million in its Emerald Bay property in Exuma to date, according to Mr Stewart, who told Tribune Business that the resort's occupancy levels were in the 70 per cents range.