The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter 

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

RESORT properties in the southern Bahamas are “suffering like hell”, the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board’s (BOIPB) director warned yesterday, crediting their struggles to the lack of airlift.

When asked about the performance of Out Island properties over the 2017 fourth quarter, Kerry Fountain said those in the southern Bahamas continue to struggle. “Hotels in our membership with 50 plus rooms, such as Sandals for instance, are doing very well,” he added. 

“When you look at hotels with over 50 rooms business is definitely up; that’s hotels in the northern and central Bahamas. Properties in the southern Bahamas need help. Those properties are suffering like hell. Mr Fountain said airlift developments were being planned to address the southern islands’ challenges. 

Carlton Russell, the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) president, told Tribune Business that Nassau/Paradise Island resorts capped off a “roller coaster” 2017 with a strong fourth quarter performance driven by positive Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods.

The Grand Lucayan’s 14-month closure in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, and loss of 1,100 rooms representing 59 per cent of the island’s room inventory, continues to impact Grand Bahama’s economy tourism sector.