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Food and beverage industry professionals from throughout The Bahamas will be given a rare opportunity to learn from leading industry experts during a series of training sessions scheduled between June 7th and 9th at the Culinary and Hospitality Management Institute.
 
The line-up of workshop presenters includes Chef John Ashton whose work has been featured around the world and who has appeared with celebrities and on shows including the Today Show, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, with Martha Stewart and others.
 
He’ll be joined by noted Master Butcher Ralph Avila, award-winning bartender Raakesh Madoo, Chef Augusto Schreiner from the Art of Cooking School and a host of other industry notables.
 

…Continue readingStellar Slate Set for F&B Training

The Downtown Nassau Partnership Board of Directors congratulates Vaughn Roberts on his recent decision to assume a senior management position with the  Baha Mar project.  The Board has expressed appreciation for his staff leadership during the past two years.
 
Roberts was hired by the DNP to fulfill its two-year public/private sector mandate for developing improvement plans for the town’s revitalization and recommending a management structure to support and sustain the ongoing revitalization efforts.

With much of this foundational work completed, he will continue to play an active role in the work of the DNP where he will serve as a volunteer helping to guide the implementation of key aspects of the revitalization.  Very shortly the DNP will announce the appointment of a new manager to guide the organization’s day-to-day operations.
…Continue readingDNP Congratulates Roberts On Baha Mar Position

Group travel is seeing a global rebound, with advanced bookings to The Bahamas now climbing to pre-recession levels, according to the Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA).

Group travel accounts for a little more than a quarter of the stopover business in The Bahamas, according to BHA president Stuart Bowe. It suffered during the recession, but Bowe told Guardian Business yesterday that advanced bookings for the balance of the year and into the next are heading in the right direction.

“Advanced bookings for groups are up considerably and now approaching pre-recession levels. Group business, predominately comprised of business-related groups, represents just over 25 percent of our business,” Bowe said.  “Advanced bookings thru 2012 are promising.”

The group travel business impacts on a hotel’s operations in a meaningful way that goes beyond the percentage of occupancy it accounts for.  In a November Guardian Business report, George Markantonis, president and managing director of Kerzner International Bahamas, explained the importance of these travellers to a resort’s operations.

…Continue readingGroup Bookings Increasing

Tourism Minister Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace is getting support for the idea of one regional airspace in a major way, with Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) President Josef Forstmayr arguing it needs to be a priority for all CARICOM countries.

It just would make flying to and around the region more affordable for all, he said.

“Once you have approval to land in one CARICOM?land, that is of the highest standard, we should be able to get the same [approval] very simple, very straightforward in another,” Forstmayr told journalists during the recent 15th annual Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference (CHTIC), held in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  “So the processes get a little simpler.
…Continue readingCHA Touts Benefits of Single Regional Airspace

The latest rankings on the popular consumer website TripAdvisor show five Bahamas Hotel Association member resorts holding the number one position in overall guest satisfaction on their islands.  BHA President Stuart Bowe commends these hotels for achieving high guest satisfaction ratings.
 
Those BHA member hotels which have recently received top ratings by guests for hotels on their island are:  Small Hope Bay Lodge on Andros; Cape Eleuthera Resort and Yacht Club; Sunrise Resort and Marina; Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort in Nassau; Sunrise Beach Club and Villas on Paradise Island; and Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort on Long Island.
 
…Continue readingBHA Commends Members Achieving #1 Ranking

With deep regret, today we learned of the passing of Jackson Burnside, an incredible Bahamian whose imprint on The Bahamas, our people, and our industry has been and will continue to be immeasurable.

Jackson has been one of the key proponents and motivators for many years behind the revitalization of historic downtown Nassau, working with the Ministry of Tourism, the Government of The Bahamas, the Nassau Tourism Development Board, the Downtown Nassau Partnership, BHA and others towards a number of landmark improvement initiatives which are now coming together.  In 1999 he authored the Historic Nassau Study, a document which captured the richness of the city and challenged us all to imagine what it could be, not just for tourists, but as well for each of us who live in The Bahamas.

Today, the movement has gathered a momentum of its own, and the spirit and guiding hand of Jackson will continue to influence this major initiative.

His architecture signature can be seen in the likes of Marina Village at Atlantis, where the essence of Bahamian design is showcased.  He’s been the voice of Junkanoo, challenging the nation to recognize the power of this national celebration in building character, community and drawing upon the incredible creativity, teamwork and artistry of the Bahamian people.

…Continue readingWe Are Deeply Saddened…

Occupancy levels for Nassau and Paradise Island’s 14 major hotels showed a major improvement in March, with an average 80.1 per cent rate, after February and January’s business levels “failed to meet projections” set by the industry.
…Continue readingHotels See Occupancy Increase In March Over 2010

Stern words, and a warning to keep their egos in check, was the first sage advice given to the eight-member team that will represent The Bahamas at the Taste of the Caribbean competition in approximately seven weeks.

“The only thing that I expect and that the Bahamas Hotel Association expects is that you do your best and that you work as a team,” said Frank Comito, executive vice president of the Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA).”

He told hot food chefs Richmond Fowler, Shanique Bodie, Mychal Harris, Charon McKenzie and Jamal Small; Pastry Chef Charlicia Green; Junior Chef Kevyn Pratt and Bartender Hugh Jones that the gelling of the team was probably the most important aspect of the Taste of the Caribbean competition they are preparing, for which takes place June 22-26 at the Hyatt Regency in Miami.
…Continue readingTaking A Taste Of The Bahamas To Miami