Here follows remarks by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Perry Christie at the re-opening of the One&Only Ocean Club Paradise Island 13 February, 2017:

Salutations…

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to, first, publicly congratulate the owners, management and staff of the One&Only Ocean Club for the wonderful distinction of being named to Travel & Leisure’s coveted “IT” list of best hotels on the planet last year and to know that, as a result of this recent $12 million capital development project, the resort will continue to maintain its ranking as one of the top 10 resorts in the region.

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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development Philip Davis has said that the strategic plan for Bahamasair is focused on addressing a restructuring of the domestic routes and the potential outsourcing of low density routes to reduce the airline’s losses.

The national flag carrier is also exploring expansion of the international routes to open up new markets to service our tourist economy, Davis added, speaking at a reception announcing the appointment of the new managing director Tracy Cooper and other executive managers at Bahamasair Holdings, February 9, 2017.

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Japan and The Bahamas have signed a new protocol as part of the bilateral Tax Information Exchange Agreement. Watch a ZNS Network news report here.
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Pictured: Local realtor and Bahamas Realty’s top producer for 2016, Monica Knowles. (Photo courtesy Bahamas Realty)

High-net-worth individuals are not interested simply in grand homes anymore when looking to buy property in The Bahamas; they want the “all-around package”, says local realtor.

HNWIs searching for homes in The Bahamas are seeking a “place to play”, says Bahamas Realty’s top producer for 2016 Monica Knowles.

“A decade ago, high-net-worth clients wanted to know how many bedrooms and baths in the house. They would ask about a great room, the height of ceilings, how many people the formal dining room could seat. It was about size and show,” said Knowles.

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Caribbean tourism fared well in 2016 and industry stakeholders are generally upbeat about the year ahead.

Announcing the results of the second annual Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Industry Performance and Outlook Study, Frank Comito, director general and CEO of the private sector association, stated that “more than four out of five (81 per cent) hoteliers have an encouraging outlook for tourism in 2017.”

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Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Co Ltd is expressing confidence in the economic climate of Grand Bahama by announcing a $2 million expansion.

Company president, James “Jimmy” Sands made the official announcement during a press conference at the Ministry for Grand Bahama 6 February.

Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville said he was delighted with the news and pointed out that construction is well underway for the additional storage facility at the Queen’s Highway-based plant.

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Caribbean-based aviation services provider Odyssey Aviation has expanded its network back into the U.S., partnering with the Quantem FBO Group to rebrand its locations at Detroit’s Willow Run Airport and Orlando’s Kissimmee Gateway Airport as Odyssey FBOs.

Steven Kelly, CEO of Odyssey Aviation Bahamas, and Quantem CEO Ken Allison were formerly partners who established the Odyssey Aviation brand in 2008. Allison sold off his seven U.S. FBOs in 2011, while Kelly continued to operate the locations in the Bahamas, which now number three full-service FBOs and two ground handling stations.

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SuperClubs Breezes on Cable Beach has been named Expedia’s Top Producing Partner in The Bahamas for last year. Watch an interview with vice president of marketing at the resort Zein Issa Nakash.
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Warwick Paradise Island hosted a luncheon for 24 international journalists who were in The Bahamas last week for the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace.

The luncheon was sponsored by the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board and the Paradise Island Tourism Development Association (PITDA).

“We appreciate the opportunity to showcase Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas to the international media who had the opportunity to tour the resort and see first-hand the enhancements made as part of the US$50 million transformation into a four-star deluxe adults-only all-inclusive hotel,” said Benjamin Davis, general manager of Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas.

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