The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Baha Mar yesterday said its group booking pace was “meeting expectations”, with conventions featuring more than 1,000 guests and different industries already set for the 2015 first quarter.

Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice-president of government and external affairs, told Tribune Business that while the $2.6 billion Cable Beach developer could not reveal client names for ‘competitive reasons”, it had taken group bookings from different sectors.

“We’re very encouraged,” Mr Sands said. “We’re making good booking progress. I think we’re meeting expectations.

“ Our group bookings start in first quarter 2015, and we have bookings in each month moving forward.

“The largest group is 1,000-plus, and we’ve booked groups from the pharmaceuticals, insurance and financial industries.”

He added: “We’re booking groups in the shoulder season as well, September to November. We’ve got many new leads for 2015.”

The presence of Hyatt, which is renowned as a group and convention hotel, among Baha Mar’s brand line-up is likely to be a key factor driving these bookings.

Elsewhere, Mr Sands said Baha Mar’s reservation website for leisure travel bookings would open imminently.

“Our reservation website will be open for bookings very soon. Our new booking engine will allow guests to book seamlessly at all Baha Mar hotels,” he added.

“We’re working though our testing to make sure the site runs smoothly, as we want to ensure our guests have a fantastic first impression.”

Mr Sands said the entire project was still on schedule to open in December 2014 as planned.