The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) is expected seek bids to develop a small hotel at the Bahamas' premier airport in the 2018 first quarter, its chief executive has revealed.

Vernice Walkine, speaking on the sidelines of a recent cocktail reception to celebrate American Airlines' 30 years of serving the Bahamas, said additional retail offerings are also planned for Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA).

She confirmed: "We are going to very shortly issue request for proposals for an on-site hotel. That will be happening some time in the first quarter of 2018."

Tribune Business exclusively revealed plans for an airport hotel back in October 2011. The original developers were the owners of the Atlantic Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, who were looking to construct the hotel on a three-acre site immediately to the south of Windsor Field Road, right between the two entrance and exit roundabouts for LPIA.

The project was anticipated to create between 100-150 full-time jobs, and the developers were aiming to construct a facility of 'four-star' standard, rather than the typical 'two-star' airport hotel, targeting the private aviation market and foreign directors of Bahamas-based companies who fly into LPIA for Board and other meetings.

George Allen, one of the principals in the original developer group, subsequently told Tribune Business they had elected not to pursue the LPIA 'airport hotel' because feasibility studies showed it could sustain only 50 rooms.

Mr Allen, though, did not rule out responding to an RFP should NAD issue one.

"The feasibility was not that good," he said in explaining why the project was not pursued.

As for the addition of retail offerings Ms Walkine said: "We are going to be doing some exciting things in our US terminal. Due to the fact that we expect our passenger numbers to grow incrementally we are looking to add some additional retail offerings.

"We recently issued an expression of interest for a master duty-free concessionaire because we recognise that we are under-served, particularly in the area of duty free retail. We are looking at some available spaces within the terminals where we can offer more duty-free products. We know that that is a real revenue creator for airports. We are looking to see that happen sometime maybe in the second quarter of 2018."

Addressing new fees levied on taxi drivers last November, Ms Walkine said: "We have a much more streamlined and reasonable experience for people as they come out of the terminals and approach their grand transportation choices.

"Overall I think we had a very good winter. December was extremely strong . We are looking to a very productive year."