Sands: Booking Projections Look Great Again After US Election

The US presidential election put a damper on tourism numbers leading up to Thanksgiving, but the election is now behind the tourism sector and the booking pace is picking up again, President of the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Robert “Sandy” Sands told Guardian Business yesterday.

Sands said the booking window is short, with hotels “picking up rooms two to three days before arrival dates, if there is capacity”.

“I would say Christmas is beginning to pick up too. We should have a fairly strong Christmas and New Year’s as usual.”:16

Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), in a release, said that the Lynden Pindling International Airport is prepping for a “busy Thanksgiving weekend.”

“Stakeholders at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) are preparing to kick off a busy holiday travel season, starting with Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 28. In 2023, the airport surpassed all expectations, welcoming more than 45,000 guests during the Thanksgiving weekend alone. This achievement was part of a record-breaking year, with a total of 4.01 million guests processed in FY2024.

NAD officials noted that while this year’s travel projections are expected to remain strong, numbers may trail last year’s peak performance slightly.”

“Our record-setting numbers last year affirmed the resilience of the tourism sector and the appeal of The Bahamas as a travel destination. We anticipate a strong performance across all sectors, with the strongest coming from our key source markets in the United States,” said Vernice Walkine, president and CEO of NAD.

“As an airport community, we are ready to welcome guests and Bahamians returning home for the holidays. Our stakeholders have worked diligently to ensure seamless operations and exceptional service for what we anticipate will be another busy holiday period.”

The release continued: “Since early November, NAD has collaborated with key airport partners including Bahamas Immigration, Bahamas Customs, the Airport Authority, US wCustoms & Border Protection, Air Traffic Services, airline operators, airport police, and the Road Traffic Department, to finalize plans to manage the anticipated travel surge. Efforts have focused on reducing wait times, optimizing staffing in critical processing areas, and ensuring operational readiness for increased flight arrivals and departures, particularly during peak hours.

By: Youri Kemp
The Nassau Guardian