Bahamas Is Heating Up - New Bahamas Developments & Global Brands
As the islands bathe in the hot summer sun, development activity continues to heat up in The Bahamas.
In May, the government signed a new heads of agreement to establish a small, 115-room Four Seasons resort on the stunningly beautiful Eleuthera, a 110-mile island east of the capital Nassau settled in 1648 by Puritan pilgrims.
The high-end project is stated to cost $100 million and once complete it will offer 115 rooms, 40 private residences, an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones II golf course, as well as spa facilities, restaurants, a commercial shopping centre and a multitude of ways that guests can have a good time.
The new resort will be developed by Cotton Bay Holdings, whose principal is Colombia's richest man - Luis Carlos Sarmiento - and Mine Holdings.
The announcement of the project comes hot on the heels of the revelation that another Eleuthera property, The Cove, an ultra-luxurious beachfront resort brought to prominence by developed Sidney Torres IV, secured a buyer in the form of the Enchantment Group, a U.S. hospitality management company focused on resort destinations.
The Enchantment Group has plans to potentially build new waterfront accommodation and a spa on the 40-acre property, into which Torres poured over $30 million after his acquisition in 2012.
Eleuthera isn't the only place getting in on the development action. Further North, the government has announced that negotiations are underway to develop a Six Star Six Senses-operated boutique resort in East Grand Bahama, at Deep Water Cay.
Six Star Six Senses is a global brand, currently operating resorts in China, Thailand, Vietnam, the Maldives, Oman and Portugal, and spas in almost two dozen countries. The Bahamas resort would be the company's second foray into the Caribbean market, following its establishment of a presence in the Dominican Republic.
Six Star Six Senses describes itself as, "a creator of award-winning and exceptional guest experiences in places of incredible natural beauty." The project would be an expansion of what currently exists at Deep Water Cay - a fishing-focused resort and residential community.
Back in Nassau, the Baha Mar mega-resort has hit a stumbling block, with a dispute between the Chinese contractors and the developer, Sarkis Izmirlian leading to further delays over opening. The developer has emphasised his commitment to a successful launch of the project, which will bring thousands of new hotel rooms and three new world class brands to Bahamian shores - Grand Hyatt, Rosewood and SLS.
Prime Minister Perry Christie said the government is committed to assisting where possible in bringing a resolution to the matter.
"The Government will at all times continue to optimize its value as a mediator between the parties so as to ensure that the interests of Bahamian workers and indeed the interests of the nation as a whole are accorded primacy at all times,” he said.