The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business 
Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Guy Harvey Outpost is looking to brand three-four more properties and take its collection of Bahamian resorts to between seven and eight, a co-founder yesterday saying it had established a northern Bahamas “trifecta” through its agreement with Old Bahama Bay.

Explaining that the branding/marketing tie-up with Old Bahama Bay gave Guy Harvey the “northern entry point to the Bahamas” for boaters transiting to the Abacos, Mark Ellert said the company was also looking at opportunities on other islands - particularly in Andros and Exuma.

Confirming that Guy Harvey had been “kicking around” Andros and Exuma in search of suitable bonefishing lodge properties that it could brand, Mr Ellert said: “There are probably another three-four opportunities to be had, but by far and away the Abacos are a great destination and to have three properties - with one being the front door to Abaco - has an immense effect.”

Adding that it was Guy Harvey’s intention to increase its Bahamas portfolio to seven-eight branded properties, Mr Ellert said the company’s pillars were “fishing, diving and discovery”.

It looked for unique properties that had these characteristics, and shared Guy Harvey’s values, and Mr Ellert said: “We’ll try and do a couple more bonefishing lodges.

“For us, I certainly see we have more opportunities to build on the reputation the Bahamas has and create one, two, three of those.”

Apart from Old Bahama Bay, the Guy Harvey brand already adorns the Green Turtle Club and Blackfly Bonefish Lodge at Schooner Bay, while the company is also involved in a venture with Bobby Little to renovate and upgrade Rum Cay’s Sumner Point Marina.

Mr Ellert compared Rum Cay to Old Bahama Bay, describing it as “the entry to the south. If you’re transiting the Bahamas to the southern Caribbean, you have to go past Rum Cay”.

Indicating that Rum Cay was focused on a slightly different market than the Abacos, Mr Ellert said it was positioned more to go after the diving, ecological research and extreme sports market.

“We’re trying to take all the unique properties out there,” he added, pointing out that what Guy Harvey brought to the table was its huge customer base, and strong reputation for quality vacation experiences.