Representatives of Andbank (Bahamas) Ltd paid a courtesy call on Minister of Financial Services, Hope Strachan, at the offices of the Ministry, January 16, 2017.

Members of the business community came together yesterday to attend the Bahamas Business Outlook, hearing from speakers such as Prime Minister Perry Christie, CEO of the Bahamas Financial Services Board Tanya McCartney and president of Baha Mar Graeme Davis (pictured).

At the event, which took place at the Melia resort on Cable Beach, attendees were updated on the progress of the reignited mega-resort development Baha Mar. President Graeme Davis said the resort was on track for a soft opening in April which would include the 18-hole golf course, Grand Hyatt hotel and convention centre.

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Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Travel Marketplace event will return to The Bahamas January 31 to February 2. Watch a preview of the conference here.
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The Bahamas is on track to meet an Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) imposed 2018 deadline on information sharing among international tax authorities, representatives of the financial services industry heard January 20.

The industry briefing in Nassau came 19 days after the Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information Act 2016 came into force.

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Pictured: Minister of Financial Services Hope Strachan delivers opening remarks during the first information session of The Bahamas’ Trade Information Service Desk and Electronic Portal at SuperClubs Breezes January 18, 2017. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

The Ministry of Financial Services conducted an information session on The Bahamas’ Trade Information Service Desk and Electronic Portal at SuperClubs Breezes January 18, 2017.

The official launch of the trade portal is tentatively scheduled for early March 2017.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) sponsored the event.

Minister of Financial Services Hope Strachan was in attendance.

She told attendees that the portal was of great importance to the country and reiterated the government’s commitment to diversifying the economy and expanding trade.

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With just under 100-days to the start of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017, members of the Local Organizing Committee have said that the new stadium is on schedule and will be ready to host thousands of local and international spectators.

During a tour of the construction site for the state-of-the-art beach soccer facility to mark the 100-day milestone this week, Bahamas Football Association president Anton Sealey predicted that The Bahamas would host the most successful edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

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The Bahamas National Trust, the National Audubon Society and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism have developed a joint bird-based tourism initiative to help Bahamians take advantage of a growing, multi-billion-dollar global market.

Prime Minister Perry Christie will be the keynote speaker at the official launch of the bird tourism initiative to an environmental and travel industry audience at the British Colonial Hilton January 26.

Other speakers will include Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe; Deputy director of Audubon’s International Alliances Programme, Matt Jeffrey; BNT president Larry Glinton; and a tour guide spokesperson.

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Prime Minister Perry Christie says that major infrastructure projects around the archipelago are progressing well under his administration.
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Hiring is now ongoing at the Baha Mar resort on Cable Beach with 1,500 positions available. Baha Mar officials say that the megaresort is on track for the soft opening scheduled for April this year.
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ATLANTA, Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ – Vacation Express is thrilled to announce new, direct service to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island from New Orleans! Beginning May 27, 2017, exclusive non-stop flights to Grand Bahama Island will depart weekly from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport through June 26, 2017 for quick four-night escapes.

“Travelers are sure to be excited about the Airport’s eighth international destination with new non-stop flights to Freeport, The Bahamas,” said Mark Reis, Interim Director for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. “We are pleased that Vacation Express continues to provide great options for our passengers to visit beautiful vacation destinations like The Bahamas.”

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