Albany Staff Meet High Service Standard Despite Investor Concerns

As The Bahamas continues to attract multi-billion dollar investments in tourism, the question of whether we can meet the demands of offering world-class service is top on the minds investors. This issue was highlighted during a ground-breaking ceremony held at Albany recently, which marked a new phase in the development of that project.

Albany’s managing partner, Christopher Annand said that the luxury resort community is at the “absolute highest end of the market” so service expectations are incredibly high and demanding.

“Many people said as we were talking about Albany, ‘you’ll never be able to accomplish the service levels that you need to with Bahamian labour,’ ” the managing partner commented. “There are a lot of experts out there who told me what we couldn’t do. This was another one”.
There are 275 full-time workers currently employed at Albany, and 97 percent of them are Bahamians. The resort also plans to contract an additional 900 construction workers in the near future.

Despite tales of woe from international experts and other interested parties, Mr. Annand reported that the staff at Albany has dispelled those concerns by offering exceptional service.

“Let me tell you one thing,” Mr. Annand said. “Universally, every single visitor to Albany remarks on one thing: how wonderful our staff [is].”

Minister of Tourism, Obie Wilchcombe, who participated in the ground-breaking activities, told Tourism Today that The Bahamas has to fix service generally, not only within the tourism industry. The minister said he is particularly impressed with Asian service standards in areas like China and Singapore.

“I think The Bahamas has to determine that when we say it’s better in The Bahamas, what does that mean? It means that everything we offer is better in The Bahamas, particularly service,” Minister Wilchcombe said.

The Ministry of Tourism is currently working with the University of Houston to develop service standards for the tourism industry. The tourism leader also pointed out that he has been working with local educators to design a new training program that would be an improvement upon BahamaHost and a requirement for all persons working in the industry.

“What distinguishes The Bahamas from the others? It must be the quality of service. You can go other places for sun, sand and sea. Some of the things you can find uniquely in The Bahamas, but what should set us apart from everybody else is service.”

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Bahamian Chefs To Compete at Culinary Olympics

Two Bahamian chefs are set to showcase their Bahamian pride at this years’ International Exhibition of Culinary Art (in German: Internationale Kochkunst Ausstellung or IKA), better known as “Culinary Olympics”, in Erfurt, Germany, October 2-10, 2012.

According to the event’s statement, it is a quadrennial chef competition and the biggest culinary exhibition in the world. It was last held in 2008 and 54 countries and 1,600 participating chefs. This year, 45 countries are slated to compete.

Although budgetary constraints did not allow for a Team Bahamas to be assembled this year, the chefs are representing The Bahamas as individuals to continue the country’s heritage of medaling at the Olympics.
The Bahamas won two bronze in 2004 and a bronze in 2008 as a team.

Chef Sheldon Tracey Sweeting is an award-winning chef who served on Team Bahamas as part of the medaling teams and was co-captain. He was Executive Chef at Cable Beach Resort, Head Chef at Marley Resort and Spa’s Simmer Down Restaurant, He also won various other awards, including at the Bahamas Culinary Classic, Martinique Culinary Arts Festival – where he received the Madin’ Gastro Kannari D’or (Golden Pan) Award and Taste of the Caribbean – where he was Pastry Chef of the Year and is listed in the Taste of the Caribbean Hall of Fame.

Assisting him is Chef Ron Johnson of Savoury Arts Culinary and Consultation Service, a personal and private chef company. Chef Johnson won several Culinary Medals & Certificates and has a Hospitality MBA, Event Leadership Concentration and a Culinary BS, (Magna Cum Laude), Leadership & History Concentration from Johnson and Wales University; an Organisation of American States scholarship recipient; a member of the Bahamas Junior National Culinary Team; a judge for the 2012 New Providence Junior Young Chef Championship and participated in Ministry of Tourism Chef Demonstrations.

Chef Sweeting said that he loves to compete; but, personally, the event is a learning experience for him.

“You have 45 countries from all around the world; so can you imagine the number of chefs that would entail?” he said.
“Just to see all the various categories, the creativity – I get ideas for years.”

Chef Sweeting added that the Culinary Olympics is also a chance for him to “check” himself and see how his ability as a chef ranks internationally.

“I want to see if all my hard work is paying off with a comparison with chefs from around the world,” he added.
Chef Johnson said he feels honoured to be working along with Chef Sweeting in representing The Bahamas.

“I feel very privileged to represent the country and it is an honour to showcase what The Bahamas has to offer, especially in the culinary field,” said Chef Johnson.

Minister of Tourism the Hon. Obie Wilchombe said he encouraged The Bahamas’ participation in the Culinary Olympics and said that winning medals at the event has something to do with the uniqueness of The Bahamas.

The Ministry of Tourism is providing support to the two chefs in assisting their taking part in the Olympics. However, the chefs still need support from the private sector to obtain what they need to be in the competition.

“We are trying to get our people believing in a simple theory, that we could be the best in whatever we do,” Minister Wilchcombe said.

He said that that requires that those representing The Bahamas appreciate that they have unique dishes throughout the world. For example, he said, The Bahamas should be the conch capital of the world because of the country’s diverse use of the seafood.

“We should find ways to create the unique dishes to draw people to our country and distinguish The Bahamas,” Minister Wilchcombe said. “When you go to France or when you got to Latin America what you look for are particular dishes that promote the country.”

Chef Johnson said that being in the Caribbean the tropical “flavours” that The Bahamas has is very strong, especially in the tastings.

“To introduce those different nations that will be there to our flavours, that’s something to look forward to,” he said.

Chef Johnson is known for one of his signature dishes, a deconstructed conch salad.

“I was brainstorming the idea of an everyday dish, something that is very popular and make it into something new,” Chef Johnson said.

He used all the elements in the regular conch salad and updated it into a form that a five-star restaurant could consider using.

“Although it does not look the same as it does at the ‘Fish Fry’, it has basically the same flavours, same elements,” he added.

“With all the new products in cooking and additives, we are also trying to be, in a sense, a little cutting edge, trying to take a guava and turning it into a guava oil or a foam – doing a bunch of crazy things just to push ourselves,” Chef Sweeting said. “That’s one of the things that this is all about: it ever-evolving, ever-changing.
“If you want to stay current, the Olympics is the place to do it.”

Chef Sweeting offered words of advice for young chefs coming up in The Bahamas.

“If you have a dream and a goal, do not stop,” Chef Sweeting said. “If I had listened to people and what they told me, I would never have amounted to anything in this field. I would never have competed on an international level.
“I didn’t listen to them and, with God’s guidance and the support of my family, this is where I am now.”

Minister Wilchcombe added that the chefs competing in the Culinary Olympics have to find ways to better their craft and, at the same time, think about the uniqueness of the dishes they have to offer.

“Once we are able to do that, we would be able to see more of those dishes appearing on the menus,” Minister Wilchcombe said.

Minister Wilchcombe said that one of the concerns that his Ministry has is that more Bahamian products and dishes, developed locally, should be placed on the menus and they have to find ways to ensure that happens.
“Tourism is our number one industry and I feel that a lot more emphasis must be placed on our cuisine, giving it more exposure,” Chef Sweeting added. “When tourists come here, most of them want Bahamian food, what we eat, what we make here.”

“We could do it and that’s where we, as Bahamian chefs, come in. We have to be creative.”

“We have some work to do; but I am so glad that we are still competing,” he said.  

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Tourism honors longtime visitor

Every year for the past 25 years, Edmund Scott has found himself in a very familiar place – the beaches and streets of The Bahamas.

The Ministry of Tourism recently honored Mr. Scott and his wife, Theo, as longtime visitors. He has been coming to the country every year since 1987.

“I love the country,” he said. “I feel a kinship here. That’s why I always come back.”

Mr. Scott owned a timeshare in Hawaii in 1986. When his sister wanted to visit The Bahamas that year, he convinced her to join him in Hawaii and he made the trip to The Bahamas with her and other family members in 1987. He has made the trip every year since then.

“I liked it more here,” Mr. Scott said. “I was more familiar with the people. When I came here, I liked it so much. I decided I would buy a timeshare here.”

Mr. Scott said he has seen many progressive changes in the country over the years. He also has many outstanding memories, which include being in the country during general elections and during his masonic organization’s convention.

The Scotts are pictured with their authentically Bahamian gifts. Pictured (from left) are Bernadette Saunders of Ministry of Tourism’s Visitor Relations unit, Theo Scott, Edmund Scott, Dr. Patricia Rodgers, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Percy Scott, Mr. Scotts brother.

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$30bn Fund Offers To Acquire Hilton, South Ocean Hotels

Courtesy of The Tribune. A $30 billion New York-based asset manager has made offers to acquire the British Colonial Hilton and South Ocean resort properties, the Prime Minister confirmed yesterday, with both New Providence hotels on the market for sale.

Confirming that the asset manager had made a “significant offer” to acquire South Ocean, Prime Minister Perry Christie told Tribune Business: “I have met recently with the owners of the Hilton hotel, that is the pension fund and the Swiss developer. They have placed it for sale.

“I know they are receiving offers of some significance. The pension fund, in meetings with them last week, indicated that they were receiving offers for South Ocean. They are assessing those offers, and a part of those assessments is a new valuation of the property itself, so that they could really look in context at what is being offered.”

South Ocean is owned by the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP), which also has a substantial equity stake in the British Colonial Hilton. Its joint venture partner at the British Colonial Hilton is the Swiss/UK boutique investment house, Adurion.

Mr Christie added: “They [CCWIPP] have assured me they taking steps rapidly to see to the sale and new investments in that area [South Ocean].

“They are flexible, meaning that they have before partnered with persons who were investors, and I think what they would want to do is to ensure that they get the maximum offer for the property from someone with the capacity to develop it. I am aware that a major equity fund has made a significant offer.”

Tribune Business was told by sources close to developments that the Government and CCWIPP met in Nassau last Friday to discuss the latter’s plans for both resorts, and what it planned to do with the offers received to-date.

This newspaper was told that a $30 billion, New York-based asset management fund had “made an offer to buy both the British Colonial Hilton and South Ocean. The Government is very supportive of that effort”.

Tribune Business was told that in relation to South Ocean, which has effectively been closed for some six-seven years, CCWIPP promised to get an appraisal, seek “a fair price and sell it”.

The pension fund has promised to respond to the Government by mid-end September, with the latter having warned that it “can’t commit” to the property’s casino licence, development rights and road re-routing unless some developent takes place.

As for the Hilton, Tribune Business was told that Adurion and CCWIPP had “agreed to market the property” at a certain agreed price. The asset manager’s offer has come in at that price, and the two existing owners now have to decide whether they will accept it and move on.

Last year the Bahamian Court of Appeal overturned a Supreme Court ruling that prevented CCWIPP from foreclosing on a defaulted $72.5 million mortgage held on South Ocean.

The foreclosure had previously been stopped on the grounds that the Central Bank had not granted exchange control approval for repayment of the loans.

By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

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Albany Breaks Ground On Marina Residences

As Albany nears its second anniversary, the luxury resort community is expanding by starting construction on its first phase of Marina Residences.

The groundbreaking of the first three buildings occurred earlier today with all three buildings slated for completion throughout 2014.

“This important second phase of construction at Albany is a terrific vote of confidence for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” said Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie. “The sales success that Albany has experienced is also a resilient validation of The Bahamas and its international appeal.”

Twenty of the 35 residences have already been sold through Albany’s preconstruction sales program that launched during the first quarter of this year. The three six-story towers, totaling 275,000 square feet, were designed by leading architects Morris Adjmi Architects, Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman & Associates Architects and HKS Architects. Albany’s Marina Residences combine the best in waterfront living with unparalleled luxury and extraordinary views across Albany’s marina and out to sea.

Offering both modern and classic profiles, the floor plans range from two to four bedrooms with movie theaters to large penthouses with private swimming pools. Two of the three marina buildings will offer ground floor office space.

“We are very excited to begin construction of this important phase of development at Albany, and we are gratified at how well-received the Marina Residences have been,” said Christopher Anand, Albany’s managing partner.

The Marina Residences at Albany overlook one of the finest marinas in the Caribbean with 71 slips and state-of-the-art floating concrete docks that can accommodate boats from 50 feet in length up to 300 foot mega-yachts. Each slip offers electric, cable and internet connectivity, while marina attendants are available seven days a week to provide docking assistance to vessels. Albany marked the sale of its 40th marina slip this quarter.

“Albany Marina is one of the finest deep-water marinas in the world and has been designed for the most demanding yacht owners,” said Todd Turrell, principal of marine, environmental and coastal engineering firm Turrell, Hall & Associates. “The Marina Residences at Albany are a wonderful complement to this already majestic harbor.”

Jointly owned by Tavistock Group, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, Albany is becoming recognized as the ultimate yachtsman’s retreat highlighted by a modern mega-yacht marina, Ernie Els championship golf course, a luxury boutique hotel, a fitness center and spa, an adult pool and bar, a family water park, a kids’ clubhouse and casual and fine dining restaurants.

Albany Marina enjoys a prime location amidst The Bahamas’ 700 islands. Pristine beaches, world-class fishing destinations and an international airport lie minutes from Albany Marina.

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Deputy Prime Minister Pushes the Pedal for Arawak Cay Improvements Ahead of Bahamas Speed Week

With less than three months to go before the familiar cry of ‘Gentlemen, start your engines,’ is shouted, the Deputy Prime Minister today threw Government’s support behind Bahamas Speed Week and pledged to accelerate improvements to the site of the prestigious event at Arawak Cay.

Philip Davis, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development, met with media, toured the site in a 1970 Jaguar XKE and revealed government’s hopes to widen roads, improve landscaping and help transform the area of West Bay Street known as Fish Fry where come late November millions of dollars of exotic cars will gather as Bahamas Speed Week 2012 gets set to take off.

“On behalf of my government, I would like to say that we fully support Bahamas Speed Week and recognise the value that Speed Week represents, creating an environment that combines the best of two worlds, attracting high net worth individuals to the island and bringing events right to the centre of Arawak Cay for the benefit of local vendors and Bahamian businesses, creating economic benefit and tremendous international exposure,” said Davis. “I look around and can see the benefits an event like this will have and see the potential for what it can mean to local business and to the country as a whole.”

Davis arrived in suit and tie, but shed his jacket when invited to ride in a 1970 cranberry red Jaguar XKE with Speed Week President Jimmie Lowe.

Courtesy of The Tribune

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Coastal Awareness cleans Berry Islands beaches

The National Coastal Awareness Committee is passionate about its mission.  And keeping the Bahamas clean, green and pristine is a cause to which they are ardently dedicated. 

Joined by corporate supporters, volunteers, local government representatives and a goodly amount of youngsters, they descended on beaches on Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands last weekend (August 18 -19) with the zeal of a crusader.  And when they let they carted away piles of debris that were washed ashore or left by careless picnickers. 

There were plastic items, oil containers, iron products, 55-gallon drums, ropes, nylon lines. 

“Care of our environment is firstly our responsibility,” said Earleston McPhee, head of Coastal Awareness. “If not us, who? We are the beneficiaries of it so we have to do it. If not now, when? When it is too late?” 

The Berry Islands is a cluster of 30 cays lying about 50 miles northwest of New Providence, a short hop from Grand Bahama, Abaco and Bimini. They rest on the eastern edge of the Great Bahama Bank, starting with Great Stirrup Cay and extending to Chub Cay in the south.

It attracts international sports fishermen.  Great Harbour Cay, the administrative centre and home to most of the islands’ local population, is the largest of them at 8,300 acres. It was once a major golf resort where the rich and famous came to play. Winter residents and second home owners flock there. The Berries boast many miles of pristine beaches nestled along horseshoe coves. It has one of the best protected harbours in The Bahamas, Bullock’s Harbour, adjoining Great Harbour Cay. 
The National Coastal Awareness Committee is celebrating its 10th anniversary. It was established to create awareness and an appreciation of the social and economic value of the country’s coastal resources. 

“For a country of over 100,000 square miles we are very, very blessed,” said Mr McPhee, “but the environment with which we have been blessed, our heritage, is very fragile.  While sometimes we take it for granted, if we don’t manage it properly, we can actually lose quite a bit of it. We need to have a better appreciation of it and take care of it.” 

Half of the visitors selected The Bahamas over competing destinations because of “pristine beaches and crystal clear waters,” a Ministry of Tourism survey showed. 

“If these beaches become inundated with garbage it will take away from the beauty of our beaches and therefore impact our tourism product,” said Mr McPhee. 

He is satisfied that the message is finding fertile acceptance, especially among young Bahamians. 

“We are targeting mainly our youth because they are the future and if we do not educate our children today to manage our resources we are going to be in trouble,” he said. 

Bahamian beaches bordering international shipping lanes tend to be more polluted, he noted. 

“International vessels dump a lot of debris which end up washing up on our beaches,” he said. 

Joseph A. Dargavage, Sr, island general manager of Great Harbour Management, welcomed the team. 

“The waters of The Bahamas and around our island are extremely important. If we don’t protect it today it would not be there for us in the future,” he said. “Here in The Bahamas, we have some of the most amazing waters found anywhere in the world.” 

He told of more development coming to the Berry Islands. 

“We are working on our new project which will bring a new 30-room boutique hotel to the island and restore our golf course to its original status by bringing a partner of (golf icon) Jack Nicklaus to help us redo the course,” he said. 

Jan Knowles, manager of public relations and communications represented the Royal Bank of Canada. 

“The company has a focus on the environment,” she said. “So, it is a pleasure to help and support these coastal cleanups. The Bahamas is known for its beautiful waters and anything we can do to keep this pristine and beautiful and wonderful we are happy to do it.” 

The Royal Bank, which has had a presence in The Bahamas for more than 100 years, also supports the Bahamas National Trust, the Andros Conservancy and Trust, the Friends of The Bahamas, and the Blue Water project to protect and preserve the fresh water lenses in the west side of Andros.

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