The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

ATLANTIS’s top executive said yesterday that the second-annual Pure Silk-Bahamas Ladies Professional Golf (LPGA) Classic is expected to generated “in excess” of 1,800 room nights, with the resort coming off a “very busy” Christmas/New Year’s period.

Brookfield Hospitality’s president and managing director, George Markantonis, said the television coverage and promotional value of the event was a “major plus” for the destination.

“This year’s Pure Silk LPGA tournament has generated just in excess of 1,800 room nights at Atlantis and the Comfort Suites. This is very significant in a month that is known to be traditionally a bit slower than any other month,” Mr Markantonis said.

“What is even more significant is that this tournament will be televised on tape-delay, and live in the United States in the month of January, a month that is traditionally one of our busiest booking months of the year. This tournament comes after Atlantis had a vey busy Christmas and New Year’s where we saw exceptionally high occupancies.”

The Pure-Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic is scheduled for January 20-26, marking the first time in 13 years the tournament will begin in January.

The second annual version will serve as the tour’s season-opening event, returning to the Ocean Club Golf Course. The Golf Channel will feature four-day live coverage of the 72-hole, $1.3 million tournament.

Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe told Tribune Business: “The change of the date of the tournament had a lot to do with the weather that we see in the US right now.

“We want to capitalise on that. We’re excited to be hosting this event. The exposure that an event like this will bring is huge and it also generates room nights. We want to get the word out there and position ourselves as a destination for golf and other sporting events.”