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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MoT pumps $6M into air credits

Courtesty of The Nassau Guardian

Tourism officials have pumped an additional $6 million into an ambitious air credit campaign that will run into the first quarter of next year.

In a joint initiative between the Ministry of Tourism and the promotion boards, the discounts come into force next week.  David Johnson, the director general at the Ministry of Tourism, said there is no question that The Bahamas performs better when air credits are in place.

Major hotels in the country made a compelling case for offering the wide-ranging incentive, even during traditionally busy periods, to help fill up empty rooms.

“We are focusing on the winter and beyond, and relaunching the instant credit program for bookings.  This will take us straight through to the first quarter of next year,” he told Guardian Business.  “It is running right to February 18, because those six to eight weeks after Christmas are critical.”

The philosophy is to introduce the program early, knowing that tourists are making decisions on their holidays far in advance.  The Ministry of Tourism is trying to capitalize on this trend.

Johnson noted that the new air credit program, however, will be offered at a reduced rate.  While he wasn’t sure of the exact specifics, he estimated the reduction should translate into about $50 less per booking.

Under the most recent deal, each room night lasting between three to five nights received a credit of $200.  Bookings lasting more than five nights receive $350.

Back in June, the Ministry of Tourism and the promotion boards re-instituted the air credit system shortly after coming under fire by Atlantis.

George Markantonis, the president and managing director of Kerzner International (Bahamas), called the program “critical” to their success.  He said the resort was behind on its summer bookings because the program was temporarily suspended.

The Ministry of Tourism brought the program back for a four-week period, ending August 20, and now it appears to have returned for the long haul.

Robert “Sandy” Sands, senior vice president of administration and external relations at Baha Mar, said yesterday that air credits are “a very important stimulus program to sustain a still erratic and slower than expected tourism recovery”.

“Each time we do it, the market shows a lot of energy.  Traditionally we offer it only in the down months, but we have found it to be a strong stimulant for business.  Hotels that are slightly off their targets have convinced us to be more liberal,” Johnson revealed.  “So we injected these windows of opportunity to stimulate business.”

As an example, the director general explained that hotels running in the 70 percent occupancy range find that a air credit system can bump them up by up to 15 percent.

“It costs a bit more, but we need the business,” he said.

The $6 million expenditure represents an investment on the part of all tourism bodies.

Johnson called it “money well spent,” delivering many more times its value in terms of overall tourism spend on New Providence or the Family Islands.

The campaign is coupled with a “Labor Day sale” at the country’s largest property.  Atlantis is still offering rooms at $99 per night in selected towers, including free breakfast and other meal incentives.

Jeffrey Todd
Guardian Business Editor
jeffrey@nasguard.com

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Minister: Bahamas Tourism on strong rebound

The Bahamas will soon be recognized once again as the leading travel destination in the region, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said while officially charging the newly appointed Hotel Licensing Board.

The Board is responsible for the licensing of all hotels in New Providence. Meanwhile, licensing boards are appointed through local government in Grand Bahama and the Family Islands to carry out the same function.

Minister Wilchcombe said The Bahamas has lost ground in tourism to many regional competitors. However, he was confident that new initiatives will return The Bahamas to its traditional standing as tourism leader. He said regional competitors have learned from The Bahamas, making it necessary to change the way the country operates in tourism.

“They have looked at everything we did as a country and they have gone to our playbook and they have used it very effectively,” Minister Wilchcombe said. “So we are adding some new plays, and we are not going to share them right away. So we are going to be a better country. We are going to be a better tourism organization, and we are going to bring more people to our country.”

Minister Wilchcombe said there will be a focus on all islands, rather than on Nassau alone.

“We must remember that we represent The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, not a single island or a single hotel,” he said. “We represent all the hotels of this country and all the people of this country. We must ensure that all the hotels have occupancy levels that are high and all the hotels are doing well. And once they are doing well, that means that people are going to stay employed.”

Minister Wilchcome said he was confident that the Hotel Licensing Board would be given everything needed to carry out its work. He noted that a comprehensive workshop was arranged by the staff of the Ministry of Tourism’s Hotel Licensing Unit, which he said is doing an excellent job.

The workshop will be conducted over a period of four days.

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Sir Sidney Poitier – best known Bahamian – honored

The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs paid tribute to Bahamian actor and cinema icon Sir Sidney Poitier in an intimate ceremony that drew prominent Bahamian and American citizens in Los Angeles.

Sir Sidney, The Bahamas’ ambassador to UNESCO from 2002 to 2007 and ambassador to Japan from 1997 to 2007, was thanked for his contributions to film, pop culture and The Bahamas. Deputy Prime Minister of The Bahamas Philip Davis led the tributes by presenting Sir Sidney with a crystal plaque along with Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell.

“Every Bahamian grows up knowing of Sidney Poitier,” the Deputy Prime Minister said to guests at the event. “Every Bahamian knows the greatness of the man, achieved over an extraordinary lifetime, and Americans and Bahamians can agree: Sidney Poitier is one of a kind.”
Minister Davis said Sir Sidney has laid out an exemplary path that others can follow. The path suggests that those who want to be successful should work hard, study, be excellent and be honest, he said.

“His remarkable achievements in the motion picture business and in literature are a testament to what can be accomplished by a person brave and principled enough to follow this wise advice,” he said. “Sir Sidney has enhanced the cultural life of his two states of citizenship- the United States of America and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”
Minister Mitchell said Sir Sidney is the best known of all Bahamians. However, he pointed out that his connection to The Bahamas is not as widely known in the world as would be expected.

Minister Mitchell said he was grateful to have gotten to know Sir Sidney as they worked together in an official capacity over the years. The time reinforced his iconic notion of Sir Sidney, he said.

“Some in this generation have asked ‘What has he done for The Bahamas?’ My answer is, ‘He is.’ That is enough,” Minister Mitchell said. “Even the blind can see. We are proud of this native son whose roots are strong in Cat Island and in Nassau.”

In response to the honor, Sir Sidney recalled the lives of his parents – Reginald and Evelyn Poitier. He attributed his character and accomplishments to their training.

“I have been a very, very successful actor,” he said. “But I could only be a successful actor, I believe, because I lived by the values I saw unfolding in them on a day by day basis. I honor you, our country and its citizens. I believe that there was a purpose to it all. I will not try to explain it to you because I can’t, but I will tell you that at the foundation of my life are these two people.”

Several of Sir Sidney’s family members, including residents of Nassau and Cat Island, Bahamas, attended the event. Other guests included Mychal Thompson, the Bahamian who won two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers; Rick Fox another former NBA star of Bahamian descent, who won three championships with the Lakers; and John Salley, former NBA star, actor and sports analyst.

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Bimini’s sweeping tailor

Though he has been a tailor for more than half a century, providing garments for President Richard Nixon and other prominent personalities, Howard Saunders has become even more famous for his part time work on Bimini. Day after day, the 81-year-old is seen throughout Bimini on what seems like a one-man crusade – sweeping Bimini into pristine condition as he voluntarily cleans areas of the island.

It is a job he has done every morning since 1958. He would get up, clean a block near his home then clean one further away. He does it, he says, because he loves doing it and he loves Bimini.

“My part time (job) is to keep the island of Bimini clean,” he says. “It is a beautiful island, but sometimes it is not as clean as I would like it.”

Already, Mr. Saunders has logged more than 16,000 days of work. By his conservative estimate, he has put in more than 3 million strokes with his tool of choice – the yard rake.

“I have done with the scratch rake, 3 million strokes,” he says. “I am doing that from Monday through Saturday and doing 900 strokes a day. I worked it out and it came to 3 million, not including Sundays. But that’s where it is at now.”

Mr. Saunders says the exercise keeps him healthy. It also satisfies him because he likes seeing Bimini looking tidy.

“I come on and I rake and I will push with the broom,” he says. “I push the sand out of the road with the broom, and that is one of the joys of my life, after church. Church is first and then your family and then the raking is third.”

Mr. Saunders believed there is often a challenge to keep the island clean because of a litter problem. At times, people simply dump items or throw trash on the ground, he says.

For him, it is natural to want to keep his island clean. He says it was instilled from him and his contemporaries from they were children.

“That is in me,” he says. “When I was a boy, we had to clean and clean every day. Then we would clean Saturday and you wouldn’t have to clean Sunday.”

Mr. Saunders hopes to return to the days when there was a greater sense of personal pride in one’s environment. He believes it would make it easier to keep the surroundings clean. Meanwhile, he plans to continue doing all he can to help for as long as he possesses good health and strength…at the rate of 900 strokes a day, seven days a week.

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Brookfield injects $25M into Atlantis

The conglomerate that acquired Atlantis has injected an additional $25 million in capital into the property after brokering a deal with Kerzner International.

The disclosure, included within Brookfield Asset Management’s interim report, details how a real estate fund – namely, Brookfield Real Estate Finance Fund – completed the $175 million debt-for-equity swap last April.

The report revealed how the total investment, however, was approximately $200 million, after an additional $25 million of capital was injected.  Brookfield Asset Management, the parent company, only contributed $70 million towards the Paradise Island takeover.

“Atlantis is owned by the Brookfield Real Estate Finance Fund, a former lender to the resort.  Brookfield Asset Management manages that fund, and is a major investor in the fund.  There are also a number of institutional investors in the Brookfield Real Estate Finance Fund,” said Andrew Willis, Brookfield’s senior vice-president of communications and media.  “What Bruce Flatt (CEO of Brookfield) explained in the Q2 shareholder letter is that Brookfield Real Estate Finance Fund took part in the transaction at Atlantis with a total value of $200 million, and of that total, Brookfield Asset Management’s share is $70 million.”

Willis was unable to elaborate on how the additional $25 million was spent at the mega resort.

George Markantonis, the president and managing director of Kerzner International (Bahamas), was unable to comment before press time.

However, Guardian Business understands that the renovation of 600 rooms in the Royal Towers is considered a major capital expenditure over the coming year.  The $25 million, however, would fall 50 percent short of the $50 million expected capital injection budget, as laid out by the government at the time for the transaction.

The former government also imposed certain employment expectations and a budget for marketing endeavors.

Listed in the New York Stock Exchange, the Canadian multinational generated $244 million of funds from operations and $272 million of total return for common shareholders during the quarter.

As with Atlantis, Brookfield’s objective is to invest in high-quality, simple-to-understand assets which earn a cash return on equity and high appreciation potential.  Low interest rates and hard economic times have only intensified the company’s hunt for valuable assets.

Back in April, Markantonis announced Brookfield was “open minded” concerning projects at the Paradise Island resort.  He confirmed to Guardian Business that apart from the Royal Towers, there are no plans for new attractions at the resort this year.

Brookfield also acquired a 100 percent equity interest in the One&Only Ocean Club through the deal with Kerzner International.

Jeffrey Todd
Guardian Business Editor
jeffrey@nasguard.com

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MOT embarks on private aircraft initiative

Attracting more business into The Bahamas with private airplanes is a goal for tourism officials, as it presently generates more than 400,000 room nights annually.

Greg Rolle, chief aviation specialist and pilot at the Ministry of Tourism, confirmed to Guardian Business that this specialized area accounts for more than 456,000 room nights on an annual basis, which he believes indicates that the sector generates a big chunk of business.  Rolle pointed out that the goal of his department is to educate as many professionals as possible in the aviation industry, particularly those in the Florida market, about the benefits of flying to The Bahamas.

“It’s all about educating the flying public, having a better understanding of who the traveling consumer is.”

The chief aviation specialist further told Guardian Business that the ministry has partnered with smaller airports which are fixed based operators (FBO), to encourage business through the aviation sector.

“An example of this would be Odyssey in Nassau.  Most of the private aircrafts funnel through FBOs to get their fuel, information, weather and flight plan.  We found out that a lot of these pilots would go to the front desk, to customer service professionals and ask them for information,” Rolle noted.

“Baring that in mind, we started to educate customer service individuals, so that when the pilot walks to the front desk and asks for information about flying to The Bahamas, they will be in a better position to tell them how it’s done, so that’s our main focus.”

While numbers have been promising over the years and most of the business is coming from locations in Florida, such as Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando, he revealed that many pilots are still very concerned about the hefty additional costs that are associated with flying their aircrafts to The Bahamas.  It’s an issue Rolle said his team is looking to address.

“We have a lot of pilots who will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their aircraft, but when you consider various fees like landing fees, overnight fees, packing fees and even the departure tax they complain about, which has gone from $15 to $25, they believe we need to minimize these additional charges as much as possible.  These are some of the things that drive pilots away.  Prices in Grand Bahama are even higher.”

Tourism officials have planned a familiarization trip for a group of aviation professionals that could benefit from flying to The Bahamas.  The delegation will travel to Ft. Lauderdale, Grand Bahama, Great Harbour Cay, the Berry Islands, Georgetown, Exuma and San Salvador from August 16 to  19.

“Trips like these allow aviation professionals to see the product, so that they are able to speak with conviction once they go back because they have experienced it,” Rolle added.

Scieska Adderley
Guardian Business Reporter
scieska@nasguard.com

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Minister at AA Civil Rights Museum

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Obie Wilchcombe recently visited Memphis, Tennessee to attend the 51st Annual Session of the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC).

 

During his visit, Minister Wilchcombe toured the African American Civil Rights Museum; he is pictured viewing a Klu Klux Klan display at the museum.

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Tourism Minister Launches Bahamas Speed Week 2012

Bahamas Speed Week organizers have added more components to this year’s event in hopes of achieving its five-year plan to make it the “must do social event” of the year.

One priority for these wealthy gearheads is the inclusion of vendors at Arawak Cay. Organizers are working feverishly to develop and improve Speed Week, which means, among other things, creating a race route that would allow spectators easy access to the vendors during the race.

Instead of racing through Arawak Cay, participants will drive their antique race cars behind the restaurants.

At the official launch during at a press conference yesterday, Minister of Tourism, Obie Wilchcombe stressed the value of having the support of the local community.

“I believe your involvement of the vendors and the Bahamian people generally, is without question, the right thing to do,” the Minister said. “If the people aren’t involved then you are likely not be as successful as you want to be”.

Minister Wilchcombe said his Ministry will make greater contributions in marketing the event to ensure international exposure is maximized. He also mentioned that tourism officials are aware of the ripple effect Speed Week can have resulting in more investments for the country.

Bahamas Speed Week 2012, which is a series of social, racing and cultural events, will be held between November 24 and December 2. This time period was chosen to generate business during this typically slow tourism season.

According to Speed Week President, Jimmie Lowe “everything is bigger, better, faster and more ambitious this year starting with the schedule”.

Speed Week 2012 will kick off with a concert on November 24 and the Miss Bahamas Speed Week pageant will be held the following day. Organizers have also increased go-karting activities, which Mr. Lowe said, is how many race drivers get started.
Other activities include a 007 Island Tour, Pictect Gala Ball and Auction of Promises, which will raise funds for Bahamian charities.

Ticket prices to watch the race at Arawak Cay are 30 dollars for general admission.

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Harbour Island Tourism Sector Resilient Despite Economy

HARBOUR Island’s tourism sector has been holding its own despite a slow economy according to Betty Bethel, tourism general manager of North Eleuthera and Harbour Island who said that some operators had reported numbers exceeding last year’s performance.

“Harbour Island does a very good job of marketing itself. It’s established itself as a high end destination. I won’t say it is recession proof but certainly while the rest of the Bahamas suffered from the slow economy Harbour Island has continued to hold its own,” said Bethel.

“Many of the operators expected not to have as good a season as they did coming off the slow economy but they have reported to me that their numbers have been very good and in some instances exceed last year. It’s a resilient area of our tourism product in the Bahamas and it’s an area that we always have to pay a lot of attention to because it’s where the revenue that’s generated from tourism is highest, in that part of the tourism product,” said Bethel.

Bethel added: “It’s certainly right up there with the revenue that’s generated across the board in the Bahamas. While we have small boutique properties you are looking at average room rates of a minimum of $250 a night and that’s kind of your high end budget properties so the resorts use the slow season when they close around late August and September to refurbish their properties, give vacations and do training so they could maintain their standards, maintain their rates and service delivery.”

Bethel said that ensuring that visitor experience matched the destination was important.

“My initiatives are really to make sure that the experience that the visitors have match the destination and Harbour Island is a really high end product. Right now we are engaged in Bahamas ‘host training’ to elevate the service levels again to complement the hotel product that’s on the island. I am spending time looking for activities that really meet the needs of the customers. One of them I have identified is an art and wine festival and I will be partnering with Bahamas National Trust so it will take place on the US Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The response from artists throughout Eleuthera and around the Bahamas has been overwhelming.”

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

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Ministry Allocates $20-$30k To Boost Small Hotel Vision

The Ministry of Tourism is allocating $20,000-$30,000 to help provide small hotel properties, particularly in the southern Bahamas, with the technical support to improve their marketing and on-line visibility.

David Johnson, the Ministry of Tourism’s director-general, said these resorts were challenged by the lack of an effective on-line distribution system.

He added that $20,000-$30,000 was being allocated to a fund to provide the necessary support.

Mr Johnson told Tribune Business: “With the southern islands there are some distribution issues for the smaller hotels, and we have committed that we will contribute to a fund that will enable them to have a much more effective distribution system and, with that, improve their marketing because awareness is also a challenge for them.

“It’s not much more than $20,000 or $30,000 to provide them with the technical support to get them in the digital realm with their booking solutions and their website. That is what we are talking about. We have agreed that in principal. This is really for the smaller hotels within the Family Islands, and most of them are in the south-east islands.”

Charity Armbrister, tourism director for the central and southern Bahamas, acknowledged that web-driven booking engines were a challenge.

“When visitors go on-line to book a flight to the Bahamas, and then they want to connect to one of the islands, there is no real global booking engine for them and so they don’t get to see Pineapple Air, Western Air or Southern Air for example,” said Ms Armbrister.

“We are still struggling with a lot of the further southern islands, and that’s largely because of the challenge we have with airlift. Until we can really fix the airlift into the southern islands it’s going to be difficult for them to be where we think they ought to be. We have persons coming in from the UK, for example, and the connecting flights are just not there and they have to overnight in Nassau. That’s really not what they want to do. They are coming into the island and they want to get there as quickly and as inexpensively as they can.”

Mr Johnson told Tribune Business: “The airlift solution will take some time, but with these rebate programmes we are offering we are looking to make an adjustment because their airfares are even higher than that of the other islands. We are reviewing how we can make an adjustment to the amount of the rebate in order to make them more competitive.”

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

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Junior Minister begins tourism mentorship

Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe began a mentorship process with Junior Minister Iant’a Stubbs by introducing her to his senior staff. Minister Wilchcombe, Tourism Director General David Johnson and Permanent Secretary Dr. Patricia Rodgers met with Ms. Stubbs, welcoming her to the Ministry of Tourism.

Ms. Stubbs emerged as the leader of the annual Junior Minister of Tourism competition in April, earning the national title and entitling her to understudy Minister Wilchcombe for a year. She is a student of Anatol Rodgers Secondary School. As a good mentor, Minister Wilchcombe pointed out that Ms. Stubbs’ school carries the name of Dr. Rodgers’ mother.

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Bahamas explores film collaborations

The Bahamas Film and Television Commission entered talks with film commissions from around the world recently, with possible film collaborations in view.

The Bahamas was one of the delegates participating in the II Encounter of Filmmakers from Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean and their Diasporas (Cinema ABCD), which was held July 15-18 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The meetings brought relevant organizations together to focused on the mechanisms that would enable co-productions between the countries of the region and their various diaspora. This would result in more film and television products being developed for screening in member states.

Delegates also concentrated on consolidation of cinematography from Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean to encourage their governments to pledge full support through the articulation of cultural policies that promote and support production, distribution and exhibition.

Countries participating in the gathering included Aruba, Angola, Barbados, Burkina Fasso, Cuba, Mali, Trinidad & Tobago, Egypt, Cape Verde, Senegal, Mozambique, Jamaica, Haiti, Suriname, Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe. Prominent actors attending the event included American actors Tim Reid and Danny Glover along with Dominican actor, Juan Fernandez. Dominican president, Leonel Fernandez also made several appearances during the meetings.

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Tour teaches tourism

NASSAU (July 20, 2012) – Participants in the Ministry of Tourism’s Summer Employment Program got more familiar with the tourism product through a tour of Nassau’s historic landmarks.

The tour included visits to Fort Charlotte, Fort Fincastle, the Queen’s Staircase and the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, where the summer staff took part in the “Paint Like Amos Ferguson” activity. The Summer Employment Program concludes on July 27, after its participants would have gained substantial knowledge about The Bahamas’ tourism industry.

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Bahamas secures partners for boating business

Partnerships with reputable nautical organizations and marinas are netting thousands of boating visitors for The Islands of The Bahamas, according to a tourism boating specialist.

 

Earl Miller, general manager for Vertical Markets in the Ministry of Tourism’s Florida office, said the Ministry has forged meaningful partnerships that have brought lucrative business to Bahamian islands. The strategy was a major part of landing more than 157,000 private boating arrivals for the country in 2011.

Mr. Miller pointed to the example of the Ministry of Tourism’s major partnership with Sea Ray boat manufacturers. A joint venture brought a group of 60 Sea Ray boats and 365 participants to Atlantis Paradise Island in June, when the group took part in a variety of organized activities.

“Also, we partnered with Marine Max that bring us about eight groups every year, the largest being one that just went on Memorial Day to Bimini – 80 boats and 400 participants,” he said. “So those are the kind of partnerships we are looking for.”

The groups that arrive through the Ministry’s partnerships bring a financial windfall for Bahamian islands, Mr. Miller said. He said boaters have a lot of disposable income and their contributions are distributed to many vendors on the islands.

“If you know anything about boating, especially the smaller boats, we love the open fisherman boats because when they go over to The Islands of The Bahamas, they have to buy gas,” he said. “They have to stay in a room. They have to buy food. So the economic spill is huge.

“A small boat going over to Bimini, which is only 50 miles from here, is going to spend an average of about $3,000 to $5,000 for that weekend. So multiply that by 80 on the low end. Because those types of groups, when they go, we have boats anywhere from 40 feet to about 95 feet going over, and they average about six persons per boat.”

Mr. Miller said the Ministry of Tourism has developed several devices that help make boaters comfortable with venturing into international and Bahamian waters from Florida. One of their developments is a nautical map and chart that is distributed to boaters and marinas in Florida. He explained that the maps allow boaters to see how near Bahamian islands are to Florida. They also show navigation routes to the islands, giving boaters more information and confidence for their voyages.

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Bahamas Film Commission courts emerging filmmakers

The Bahamas Film and Television Commission got acquainted with emerging filmmakers in the northeastern United States recently, when it hosted an evening reception at the Fourth Annual Urban Suburban Film Festival.

The African American Museum in downtown Philadelphia was the site of the film networking event, which was attended by new and emerging filmmakers from northeastern states, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Massachusetts. The festival’s screenings included shorts, documentaries and narratives on contemporary themes.

“Cofounders George Blackmon and Andrew Harmon have established a network of Black professionals in the film industry, who have devoted considerable time to making the Urban Suburban Film Festival a success,” said Craig Woods, Bahamas Film and Television Commissioner. “The festival seeks to bring together filmmakers of all ethnicities, to expose them to the challenges they all face at home, throughout the diaspora as they attempt to tell their stories on the world cinematic stage.”

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Disabilities Council targets sports, awareness

Sporting events will be an integral part of the Bahamas National Council of Disabilities’ conference, which will be held in Nassau from November 28 – December 4. Members of the council recently met with the Ministry of Tourism’s Sports Tourism leaders to update them on their plans for the conference.

Sheila Culmer, president of the council, believes the conference will be a great way to get family and friends involved.

“We’re hoping to focus on the educational component,” she said. “Currently in The Bahamas, there is a lack of involvement of the public and awareness. We hope to change this.”

Pictured (standing from left) are Sheila Culmer, president of The Bahamas National Council of Disabilities; Tyrone Sawyer, director of Sports Tourism and Virginia Kelly, general manager of Sports Tourism. Seated is Andrew Houghton, adviser to the Bahamas Council of Disabilities.

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Judge Brown shares wealth of experience with Bahamians

Television reality show star Judge Joe Brown visited with several Bahamian officials while on a recent trip to Nassau.

Judge Brown’s stops included a courtesy call on Prime Minister Perry Christie and another on Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes. He capped off his stay by addressing lawyers in the Office of the Attorney General, offering advice on crime prevention and legal procedures.

“The Bahamas has great potential. You’re small enough and close enough to work together. In the United States there is a lack of utilization of resources,” said Judge Brown. “We don’t have the right attitude or the right drive. But you have it here in the Bahamas.”

Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson thanked Judge Brown for freely sharing his experience and professional ideas with her staff.

Judge Brown is pictured with Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes. (Photo: Derek Smith/BIS)

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CEO: Booming business for Bimini Bay

As Bimini Bay Resort gets into its second phase of development, the resort is reporting a booming business that is poised to add a world-class casino, aggressively market its property and take advantage of coming infrastructural improvements on Bimini.

Alejandro Capo, CEO of RAV Bahamas, reported that 13 of Phase Two’s 131 residential homes have already been sold – six months after the start of the expanded development. Construction has already started on six of them and it is expected that construction will begin on another six before the end of August. Meanwhile, demand for properties like the upscale and environmentally sustainable Bimini Bay homes continues to grow in “secondary markets” as Bimini Bay has not yet launched its comprehensive marketing effort in primary markets, Mr. Capo said.

“We’re really going to go with the great marketing effort for the second part of this year to see if we can get the up northerners because right now our primary markets are South America and South Florida,” he said. “We really haven’t hit any of those northern markets like New York, New Jersey, the Metro area.”

With a new casino on schedule to open in December, Bimini Bay executives expect even greater focus to be on the property. With Malaysia-based Genting Group as a partner, Mr. Capo believed that Bimini Bay will become a world-renowned destination instead of a property that is extremely popular mainly in South America and South Florida. In the process, he said, employment on the island will increase. He estimates that the casino will need to hire another 100 people in Bimini. Indirectly, he said, the need for more casino regulators and other spin off jobs will result in a total of 250 to 300 new jobs.

Meanwhile, even without the casino, Bimini Bay’s marina is doing brisk business. While most boating destinations have seen reduced business over the past five years due to recession, Bimini Bay has seen increased business, Mr. Capo reported.

“People stopped using their boats to go further distances, and since we’re so close to South Florida, all the boats that have never come here before started coming because it was cheaper than spending the amount of gas it was to get to the Eleutheras and the Exumas,” he said. “Our boating business is up 40, 50% from last year which is huge. Our prices are up another 20% from what we use to book at and all of our major holidays have been sold out months in advance. So we’re really not seeing that downturn in our marina business.”

Mr. Capo was pleased that plans for a new airport terminal have been announced for Bimini. He said air transportation to Bimini had been the biggest obstacle to the hotel portion of Bimini Bay for the past 7 years. A new terminal with an extended runway will allow the resort to attract guests from further points of origin than South Florida in large numbers, Mr. Capo said.

Overall, he said, the future looks very bright for Bimini Bay.

“I think that we are about to launch into a new direction,” Mr. Capo said. “We’re going to become, I think, the diamond for all the Family Islands. It’s been a dream of my father’s since we got here 20 years ago, and I think that right now we’re at the precipice of what I think is going to be a great thing for not only The Bahamas (but) Bimini (and) the Caribbean in general and allowing such a unique and beautiful destination to become world renowned and put us on the map.”

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Bimini improvements outlined for second homeowners

Second homeowners in Bimini heard plans for island improvements recently as they celebrated community participation through the Ministry of Tourism’s Second Homeowners Reception.

Anthony Stuart, general manager of Ministry of Tourism in charge of the Bimini Tourist Office, told the crowd at the reception that several important improvements are on the way. At the top of the list are developments for transportation to the island, he said.

“Over the next 18 months to two years, the airport will be totally renovated,” he said. “A new terminal will be put in, an extension to the runway put in.”

In a few months, Bimini will welcome a new ferry service from Ft. Lauderdale. This will come along with a renovated and extended dock, Mr. Stuart said.

“That ferry will be coming over four times per week and it will take under two hours, from Ft. Lauderdale to Bimini,” he said. “The plan is for them to leave Ft. Lauderdale at 8 o’clock in the morning to be here at 9:45, to leave here at 7pm in the evening, returning back to Ft. Lauderdale. That is going to add more business to Bimini. It is also going to add an extra transportation hub for you.”

Mr. Stuart thanked the homeowners for choosing to purchase property in Bimini and spending time in the community. Although they could have chosen to purchase or build a home on another island or in another country, he said, they chose to be in a place with significant history and beauty.

The homeowners add more to the country than their economic contributions, Mr. Stuart said.

“The one thing that you offer us, that you may not even realize that you are doing as second homeowners who come here month after month and year after year, you are our walking, talking, living billboards,” he said. “You are advertising and promoting The Bahamas.”

Posting photos of Bimini online, speaking about The Bahamas to relatives and friends and inviting them to visit Bimini amounts to extensive promotion of Bimini, he pointed out.

Manny Messeguer is a Bimini second homeowner who became a Bimini advocate more than half a century ago. He first came to Bimini as a teenager with his fiend Billy McDougal and Billy’s father, Bill.

“It was the first time. That was back in ’58, ’59,” Mr. Messeguer said. “I was in junior high school and I’ve been coming back very year since then.”

Mr. Messeguer said it was easy to think of things he loved about Bimini to keep him returning.

“The best question is what I don’t like because I don’t think there is anything I don’t like about this place,” he said. “I like so much stuff it would take me all day just to say what I like. But I love the people. I love the water. I love the attitude of everybody here. I like how everybody is kind of laid back. No worries.”

Ministry of Tourism personnel provided homeowners with gifts and souvenirs as tokens of appreciation during the reception.

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Tourism efforts steer boaters to Bahamas

The Ministry of Tourism continues to work to get boaters visiting the Islands of The Bahamas, leading flotillas of private boats to various Bahamian destinations throughout the summer.

Richard Treco, marketing manager in the Bahamas Tourist Office in Plantation, Florida, said Florida has a very large population of boat owners. However, the vast majority of them have never ventured into the Intercoastal Waterway – a 3,000 mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States.

Since, the open waters between Florida and The Bahamas can be intimidating to inexperienced boaters, the Ministry of Tourism initiated its flotillas, known as boating flings, to assist boaters in the journey. The flings leave from various Florida marinas for scheduled visits to Bahamian islands, Mr. Treco said.

“We came up with this concept to show people how to do it, to navigate the hazards like coming into the channel and things of that nature. We found that as we were taking people over, the word started to spread and (more) people started to come,” he said. “They come for the first time and then all of the sudden they start bringing their friends with their boats. Now it has mushroomed. So most of the boaters you see going to Bimini and Grand Bahama and the Abaco, they came with us one time before and it is just a good way to show them how to do it.”

At their peak, Mr. Treco noted, the Ministry of Tourism conducted nine boating flings per year. However, economic circumstances caused the number to be slightly reduced.

“Because of the economy, with the fuel prices being up and down, we only run six right now,” he said. “We start them off in June, from June 6 to the end of July. We run four to Bimini. We run two to Grand Bahama and then we always do a 10-day trip in which we go island hopping. So we also extend them down to the more southern islands of The Bahamas.

Mr. Treco said the flings have won devoted boaters for The Bahamas. Some boaters take part in the trips every year while others use information from the Ministyr of Toruism to make frequent trips to The Bahamas.

The Ministry of Tourism provides Florida marinas with boating charts and GPS coordinates that make it easy for boaters to make their way to the Bahamian destination of their choice.

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Bimini joins People to People renaissance

People to People continued its resurgence throughout The Bahamas as it was re-launched this month in Bimini.

In response to a Ministry of Tourism invitation, several Bimini residents volunteered as ambassadors for the People to People program on the island. The volunteers were trained for the program in a special workshop that prepared them for hosting guests from around the world.

Renee Robins of the Bimini Tourist Office said the workshop brought new life to People to People in Bimini.

“It started in Bimini in 1992 and after a while, it started to die down,” she said. “So now we are revamping it and re-launching it here in Bimini. Now we have a select group of Biminites that we can chose from when we have our diverse visitors come.”

Ms. Robins said a diverse group responded to the Ministry’s call for ambassadors. She said they are able to greet a variety of visitors who may vary in age, ethnicity and interests.

Hugh Rolle was one Bimini resident who offered to be a host to guests on the island. He was certain the new People to People program would benefit visitors greatly.

“I believe this coming to Bimini is going to give us an opportunity to be a part of a real tourist experience, giving them a real Bahamian experience with the people,” he said.

Mr. Rolle was eager to introduce guests to popular Bimini attractions and the culture of Bimini.

“Bimini is the gateway to The Bahamas, which means that before you go anywhere, you have to go through us,” he said. “We have the Fountain of Youth here, and if you want to live a long and healthy and young-looking life, you need to get some of that water.”

The group received instructions on how to host guests at home or at public places. People to People instructor Leslie Pinder presented on The Art of Entertaining and Table Setting and Décor.

“Keep simple,” Ms. Pinder told the new volunteers. “Be creative, stay within a personal budget.”

Ms. Pinder, who is a 10-year veteran of the program, was also able to offer advice from experience as a People to People host. She said she has seen how People to People makes a guest’s visit extraordinary.

“Once they are able to experience the People to People experience, they leave here with a better appreciation of Bahamian people and our country,” she said. “This program offers a little bit more than what they would get at a resort or hotel facility. It goes beyond that, creating that unique experience, which is of course long lasting.”

People to People organizers are planning additional programs for other Bahamian islands, including the southern islands.

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Tourism Minister foresees revolution in industry

Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe called for a tourism revolution on Thursday, July 19 as he gave a charge to new graduates of the Ministry of Tourism’s BahamaHost training program.

Minister Wilchcombe was speaking at his first BahamaHost graduation since returning as Minister of Tourism this year. He told graduates that the revolution has already begun with his Ministry, which will soon make announcements about some of its new initiatives.

“I am very happy to tell all of you that in a couple of weeks, we are going to be making some very big announcements, some big announcements that will reshape tourism, that will change some of the things that will cause new business to come to our country, that will be a whole new day because we have taken some revolutionary steps, and we will cause some things to happen that no other country in the region is doing right now,” Minister Wilchcombe said to applause. “Because we got to work immediately after elections to cause these things to happen.”

Minister Wilchcombe called on all Bahamians to join in the fight for a better tourism product and a better nation. He said all residents must take on a role for positive change.

“All of us in this country have to begin to take internal looks at who we are, appreciate that it starts with me, appreciate that we could change this nation, that we can reduce some of the problems and that we could cause things to happen,” he said.

Minister Wilchcombe presided over the graduation ceremony for 625 participants. The graduation, which added to a total of more than 35,000 BahamaHost graduates over more than three decades, was held at the Church of God Auditorium, Joe Farrington Road.

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Masons prepare for Bahamas conference

The Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe met with members of the Ancient and Accepted Order of Scottish Rite Masons of The Americas its territories and Dependencies recently as the group prepares for a large-scale conference.

The organization plans to host its annual conference in The Bahamas next year. Minister Wilchcombe is pictured with representatives of the international organization and the local group, the Commonwealth Mason and Order of Eastern Stars. (Photo: Derek Smith/BIS)

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A TASTE OF THE BAHAMAS AT MEGA INTERNATIONAL AVIATION EVENT

The Islands Of The Bahamas will launch a major promotion during the upcoming AirVenture Show, in Oshkosh, WI, that will feature the country’s culture, advise on the ease of flying to The Bahamas and identify the 700-island archipelagic nation as the ideal destination for general aviation pilots.

The promotion, a reception and dinner, will feature the music of the country’s world famous Royal Bahamas Police Force Pop Band. The band, a fully regaled British military-styled marching band, will perform cultural island songs. Bahamian cultural dancers will perform to the music of the band and Bahamian chefs will take over the kitchen at the Holiday Inn, Appleton, WI, to provide a Bahamian gourmet meal.

The Bahamas Minister of Tourism, Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, will lead the delegation from The Bahamas and bring greetings to the aviation executives and VIPs expected to attend.

After many years of taking part in EAA AirVenture, The Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism’s General Manager for Aviation, Greg Rolle, will begin his historic role at EAA as the first non-U.S. chairman of the International Federal Partnership – a group of Federal agents from the U.S., Bahamas and Canada that share a booth annually at AirVenture.

Mr. Rolle is a veteran Ministry of Tourism employee, who has been with the organization for 25 years. He has served in various capacities, including Director of Sports Tourism. A licensed private pilot, Mr. Rolle returned to the leadership position of Tourism’s Aviation Department in 2008. Under his leadership, The Bahamas has stepped up its marketing initiatives against the lucrative aviation market. Signature programs include Bahamas Preferred (FBO) Gateways, Bahamas Flying Ambassadors and Bahamas Day. The inventive aviation strategies have thrust The Islands of The Bahamas into the spotlight of the international aviation arena.

AirVenture is the largest aviation show in the world attracting top government officials, corporate leaders and hundreds of thousands of general aviation enthusiasts. It embraces the entire spectrum of aviation and features some 20,000 aircraft on its fields, and well beyond 800,000 aviation enthusiasts that attend the show annually. The aviation event includes daily air shows, aerobatics and pyrotechnics Fly-In Theater, forums, workshops, and demonstrations.

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