The Tribune

INCENTIVE planners responsible for bringing almost $1 billion in business to the Bahamas each year were hosted at Sandals Royal Bahamian last week as part of the Nassau/Paradise Island Promotion Board’s (NPIPB) most recent incentive planners FAM (familiarisation) trip.

George Brice, Vice President of Groups for the NPIPB, said almost 20 of the 25 incentive planners who undertook site visits to several resorts on New Providence and Paradise Island have already expressed interest in bringing groups (mostly corporate) to the Bahamas.

“We have 25 meeting planners from the US and Canada,” said Mr Brice.

“We bring them down here in order that they in turn would potentially bring major meetings or conventions. Twenty of them already have RFPs (Requests for Proposal) to one of our destinations - one of the major hotels - so we look good for this particular group.”

Sandals Royal Bahamian was selected as the host resort for this latest group of incentive planners and held a beach party on its private island for the group last Thursday. Junkanoo, grilled lobster tails and fire dancing were served up as only Sandals can.
 “As long as the travel trade - travel agents, incentive planners - come down to see the business first hand that is the key shot,” said Patrick Drake, Sandals Royal Bahamian’s General Manager. “We held a tremendous party out on the island for them. We wanted them to feel the spirit of what the Bahamas is all about and there is no better way. Once they have done that, they are hooked - believe me.”

The Promotion board brings incentive planner FAMs about four times a year, according to Mr Brice, who added that incentive and corporate groups usually account for about 20 per cent of the individuals who travel to the Bahamas.

Mr Brice hosted a number of events for the group this weekend to promote the Bahamas. He started them off with a breakfast with Arlene Nash Ferguson, who gave the guests a historic view of the culture and heritage of The Bahamas. A visit with Anthony Stuart apprised the group of ongoing and new developments throughout the islands.

Mr Drake said that while Sandals has not always hosted incentive group FAMs through the NPIPB, Royal Bahamian can offer something different for the types of groups that visit the Bahamas. Some of the planners have already considered Sandals Royal Bahamian for future group visits. “We want all the hotels to benefit. It’s not just about Sandals,” he said. “What might be a great group for us will be very different for Atlantis and different for Sheraton.”