The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE French Leave, Harbour Village’s “unique selling proposition,” has sparked significant buyer interest months ahead of the launch of its actual marketing campaign, Eddie Lauth, CEO of Shaner Bahamas describing the development as the ‘antithesis’ of mega resort projects.

Mr Lauth, the original proponent of the project near Governor’s Harbour, who has teamed up with resort developer/operator, the Shaner Corporation, told Tribune Business that the development’s first three hotel cottages should be ready to hit the market this November.

“Based on what we have seen, based on inquiries to our website, I think this is a unique selling proposition where we are really some what of the antithesis of what’s going on in Nassau with large resort projects. We’re really trying to separate ourselves and we’re really trying to sell the old Bahamas. I really think there is a lot of interest, in that we are not trying to compete with the big mega resorts,” said Mr Lauth, adding, “For us less is more. We’re not trying to do big multi-storey buildings and I think that appeals to a lot of people.”
 The project, situated on 270 acres near Governor’s Harbour and Cupid’s Cay will feature 37 “authentically Bahamian” hotel cottages. Eleuthera-based contractor, Brad’s United, is leading French Leave’s construction.

Mr Lauth said that three cottages in the $17 million development should be ready by November which is when he expected the marketing campaign to be launched.

Mr Lauth noted that the South Florida market is being targeted with Florida’s Florida-based Waypoint Real Estate Consulting chosen to lead the US based marketing and sales campaign. “They will be working with us on the US side and we will also be working with various realtors in The Bahamas as well. We haven’t really done anything yet in terms of advertising. What I find interesting is that we have seen a lot of people from South Florida, Nassau and even a number of homeowners from Harbour Island that have started to look into Governor’s Harbor. I think in the real estate market as a whole there seems to be a lot more interest in The Bahamas right now, especially for Eleuthera,” said Mr Lauth.

“Right now my guess is going to be right around November is when we should really get geared up and that’s when the three cottages will be open and we should be underway with our commercial area at that point. We’re just starting to wrap up all the underground utilities right now. The only delay we have had thus far is we have hit flint rock which set us back a few months because it was so hard, so once we got through that we have been able to move along every quickly. We’re really getting into some good momentum right now,” Mr Lauth said.

Mr Lauth added: “In 2014 we plan to have the first 16 hotel cottages up and going in the hotel programme. We plan to have the 1648 Bar & Grill operational late 2014, we have a wedding pavilion, the pool, the fitness centre, reception and gift shop. We’re anticipating all that the commercial area should be done by the end of 2014.”