The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

ATLANTIS'S top executive yesterday expressed optimism that the Bahamas' upcoming fall/winter 2012 airfare credit would "really stimulate bookings" during peak periods for the hotel industry, after the flagship Paradise Island resort saw a 10 per cent slowdown in its summer booking pace.

George Markantonis, Kerzner International (Bahamas) president and managing director, told Tribune Business that while the decline in bookings for July/August travel had coincided with the Ministry of Tourism's decision not to offer an air credit promotion for those summer months, Atlantis had already initiated plans to compensate for that.

Focusing on the future, rather than dwelling on the past, Mr Markantonis said the Ministry and Nassau/Paradise Island Promotions Board had joined forces to reinstate the airfare credit promotion for travel dates between August 10-December 26, taking the hotel industry through Christmas and with no 'blackout dates'.

Describing the latter two features as significant, Mr Markantonis told Tribune Business: "What is a big deal is that the Ministry of Tourism has come forward with this monster fall special that will take us through Christmas. That is a significant move for all hotels, not only Atlantis.

"There are no blackout dates, which is a first and has never been done before. There are no blackout dates over Thanksgiving, no blackout dates over Christmas, which could really stimulate bookings, as air fares tend to be highest over those periods."

Meanwhile, Mr Markantonis confirmed that Atlantis had seen "a slight slippage" in the pace of bookings for July/August travel, which had come after the Ministry of Tourism was unable to reinstate the airfare credit offered for the same time period last year.

"Last year we had an airfare credit sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism for summer travel, and this year we don't," Mr Markantonis told Tribune Business. "We had asked for it, but the Ministry of Tourism was unable to assist, and they informed me of it a week or two ago.

"We knew from sometime in mid-May that they could not assist. We felt a slight slippage in the pace of bookings, and had to compensate for this in other ways.

"We are holding our own and pulling out all the stops, but were trailing our pace - it was in the region of 10 per cent - for travel in July and August. It was just that the pace was slower for bookings taken for summer."

Air travel is effectively the 'access cost' for stopover visitors coming to the Bahamas, and this nation has been seeking to keep this as low as possible, especially given the depressed economic climate and a market looking for value and discount deals. Keeping air fares as low as possible also helps to increase the amount of money tourists spend in this destination.

Mr Markantonis, meanwhile, said Kerzner International was continuing to focus on entertainment and special events as a way to attract visitor traffic to Atlantis, keeping excitement and interest surrounding the Paradise Island property high.

While its room rates for the summer months are traditionally lower than for the peak winter season, moving in line with demand, Mr Markantonis said that among its current promotions was one where children under 11 ate free, breakfast and dinner. A suite upgrade promotion was also in the offing.

"It's over, and we've moved on from that with other things," Mr Markantonis said of the absence of a summer air fare credit. "We've announced a great fall promotion, and are very thankful for that. Ourselves and the Ministry of Tourism guys are moving in the same boat."