The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas’ major resort expects to be fully operational today, and ready to welcome more than 3,000 group guests to Paradise Island this week.

Atlantis said it had only sustained “minimal” damage from Hurricane Matthew, with all guests able to return to their rooms on Friday, October 7, following an inspection of the property.

“Our dedicated Atlantis staff has been working to get us back to normal operation as quickly as possible. We want our guests to enjoy the full Atlantis experience, and we are thrilled that we will be ready to welcome over 3,000 group attendees to the resort this week,” said Howard Karawan, Atlantis’s president and managing director. 

“I couldn’t be more proud of the team and the passion they have shown to our property, and the compassion they have shown to our guests over the past week.”

Atlantis said that from now until October 31, it will match all donations received, up to $250,000, dollar for dollar, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to the Bahamas Red Cross.

    “The outpouring of support from our fans and guests during and after Hurricane Matthew has been overwhelming. While Atlantis was minimally affected, others in the Bahamas and Nassau, Paradise Island, were not as fortunate,” the resort added.

Among thse is likely to be Atlantis’s adjacent property, the RIU Paradise Island, which lost a section of its outer wall to Matthew’s winds and rain.     

The Warwick on Paradise Island, in a notice on its website, warned that due to damage caused by Hurricane Matthew it has been forced to delay its soft opening until a later date. 

“Reservations may be made as of today from 18 November, 2016, onward with availability updated as soon as confirmed dates are available for repairs,” the Warwick said in a statement on its website.

    Jermaine Wright, general manager at Comfort Suites on Paradise Island, told Tribune Business: “We incurred no major damage due to the passage of Hurricane Matthew.  We have returned to normal hotel operational mode and have launched post-hurricane clean-up and restoration activities. 

“We are up and running and open to accept bookings.  We have already begun to receive feedback from guests that stayed with us for the duration of the storm.  They have complimented the staff for an incredible job of providing outstanding service during a trying period.”

    On Freeport, the Grand Lucayan reported that it remains closed until a complete assessment of the property is done. Also closed are Memories and Vuva Club Fortuna, while Castaways remains open despite suffering some roof damage.

But UNEXSO, which offers scuba diving and interactive dolphin activities to visitors, reported minimal damage and resumed operations on Monday.

The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), in a statement issued yesterdau, said “most of the Bahamas is open for business, and we are already beginning to see visitors return to enjoy the beauty and hospitality which the Bahamas offers”.

“Overall the Bahamas fared relatively well, with the exception of Grand Bahama and Andros, where the impact of Hurricane Matthew was felt the most,” said Stuart Bowe, BHTA president.

“The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association continues to liaise with the Ministry of Tourism and partner organisations to gather and distribute information key to recovery efforts, including but not limited to protocol for providing relief supplies to affected areas in a manner which would meet requirements for relief of customs duty, VAT and processing fees.

“We are committed to doing our part to aid in the recovery efforts of our industry partners in Grand Bahama and Andros, and look forward to the date in time when they are open and 100 percent operational once again, welcoming guests to their establishments.”

The BHTA said it was assisting the Government and Ministry of Tourism with the collection of data from hotel properties in order to determine the status of the Bahamas’ tourism product.

It added that reports to-date show that most properties suffered relatively minor damage, with the exception of resorts in Grand Bahama and Andros.

New Providence-based properties reported some damage to roof structures; more significant damage to landscaping and, in certain cases, issues with water intrusion. Some marinas, though, were badly damaged.