Stewart: Reopening of Sandals resorts based on demand

While Sandals Resorts International has pegged February 1, 2021 for the reopening of Sandals Royal Bahamian, the Caribbean hotel chain’s Deputy Chairman Adam Stewart contended the date could change based on demand, which he said has been increasing.

Stewart, who was a guest at The Counsellors Limited’s Exuma Business Outlook yesterday, also revealed that the reason resorts in The Bahamas are slated to open much later than Sandals’ other properties is that the reopening direction of the countries where those properties are domiciled was clear, while The Bahamas continues with on and off lockdowns and curfews.

“The reason we have been able to open other hotels first is not for a lack of love for our beautiful relationship with The Bahamas, it was just clearer earlier in the other countries,” Stewart said.

“With each one of those lockdowns, the fact is that every action has an equal reaction. It’s created confusion in the marketplace and other countries like the Dominican Republic and Mexico have decided just to open their borders and they’ve gotten ahead. 

“Right now we’re looking at reopening based on the demand that we’re seeing right now.”

Stewart suggested that demand has been slow for properties on Exuma and New Providence, but like the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, he said he believes the U.S. presidential elections are partly to blame for a slowdown in demand.

He added that there are also those who continue to be nervous about travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The U.S. election is hindering and getting in the way of tourism at large. It’s a very normal thing, but this year is a little more chaotic than traditional years,” Stewart said.

“There are people out there who are fearful of travel. They are becoming less and less, but they exist. There are others who want to get on with life, they want to put on their masks, observe the protocols and get going.

“All of that builds up to a place where the date that we have now is February 1st, but I would say to you, don’t hold on to it, because it moves week to week as demand starts to build. We have seen increased demand in the last couple of weeks.

“I’m hoping that we’re going to see an accelerated demand after next week’s election. The Bahamas is the shortest distance to go of any Caribbean destination and I think that’s going to favor well for us.”

Stewart empathized with resorts owners’ hesitation to announce opening dates or to open too soon, explaining that The Bahamas is a high cost destination where you have to be sure that you will at least break even, especially with banks being nervous about lending in the midst of an uncertain tourism economy.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/stewart-reopening-of-sandals-resorts-based-on-demand/