The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Bimini Big Game Club enjoyed a 20 per cent room revenue increase in 2012, its general manager said yesterday, telling Tribune Business that the resort was looking forward to a busy 2013.

Speaking with Tribune Business at the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Marketplace, Michael Weber said that year-over-year, the historic 51-room resort and marina was seeing more than gradual growth.

“Right now, in the off season, we are running at about 30-35 per cent on the weekdays, and up to 50-55 per cent on weekends,” he told Tribune Business.

“It’s building from year to year. Year-to-year growth is more than gradual. We did 20 per cent better in 2012 than we did in 2011 with our room revenues. The marina wasn’t so big of an increase, but our room revenues were significant year-over-year, so if we can do 20 per cent better every year we are looking pretty good.”

Mr Weber added: “Part of the plan, especially in our off-season, is to put the media plan in action; to put the word out there on all the new stuff that we have going on.

“We have the Wahoo tournament in February, the movie production in March, the bonefish bonanza in May, and a country to country stand-up paddle board from Bimini to Fort Lauderdale in April.

“We are just trying to get the word out there because when we do hit season we are going to be really busy. Already, three of the weekends out of June are sold out ,so what we are doing is working.”

Mr Weber said the resort has been expanding its customer base. “We have changed the layout of our customer base from simply divers and fishermen to families, couples, meetings and retreat,” he added.