The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE country’s major resorts are looking to a “healthy” fourth quarter, having witnessed positive gains over the first six months of the year.

Carlton Russell, the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) president, speaking on the sidelines of the organisation’s recent AGM said: “I think 2018 has been very good the industry. The average daily rate (ADR) is up, revenue per available room, (RevPAR) is up, hotel revenue is up, airport arrivals are up and so the industry has been very healthy particularly for the first six months of this year. July was a little shaky but I think most properties are on track. The question is what happens in the fourth quarter?”

Mr Russell added: “We do see reservations building up and so we are looking for a very healthy fourth quarter. A lot of our neighbours in the south who had been closed due to hurricanes are now opening up. In the last 90 days, we must have had about six or seven properties reopen across the Caribbean.”

Russell stressed the importance of quality service to the country’s tourism product.

“We have to look at what kind of service we are delivering. We need to ensure that visitors receive great service and are inclined to return. We want to ensure this year’s success is sustained,” he said.

He also noted that apart from labour costs, the cost of energy is the largest expense to hotel operators. Works Minister Desmond Bannister recently gave hotel operators an update on developments within the country’s energy sector.

“We will watch over the next few years to see how this positive reform affects our bottom line bottom line,” said Mr Russell.