Davis: More than 15k Baha Mar COVID tests since reopening

Baha Mar has conducted more than 15,000 rapid antigen tests since reopening to guests last month, the resort’s President Graeme Davis told Guardian Business yesterday, adding that the property’s occupancy is trending as forecast.

Davis said Baha Mar continues to work diligently to restore its level of business. He explained that the property has successfully established a new normal with testing and health and safety protocols.

“The surge of coronavirus cases in key US feeder markets, in addition to decreased airlift along with local and international travel restrictions, certainly pose challenges in attracting visitors to the destination,” said Davis.

“However, we are on track with our occupancy forecasts, which predicted a slow start to the year and thus we have scaled our operations and staffing accordingly. Our reopening on December 17th was a first and necessary step towards the financial stability of our 1,800 associates who returned to the resort in phase one.”

Davis said the Baha Mar employees who remain furloughed will receive another month of ex-gratia payments and full medical benefits.

“We understand the challenges that COVID-19 has brought onto many of our employees and their families and we are closely monitoring global developments to determine when to reopen our additional hotels SLS and Rosewood in a sustainable way,” he said.

Th resort opened in a bubble last month, but also allowed non-registered guests to patronize the property’s restaurants.

Davis explained that a partnership with Doctors Hospital allowed for the strategic testing of guests on arrival and the weekly testing of staff and vendors, which resulted in more than 15,000 tests being rendered.

“The health and safety of our guests, associates and the community continue to be Baha Mar’s highest priority,” said Davis. 

“We are proud of the experiences we were able to provide since reopening during these most extraordinary times. From spectacular dining to a wide range of recreational activities and amenities, we are establishing the new normal at the resort and continue to provide outstanding service and memorable moments for all of our guests.”

Davis recently told travel industry website Travel Weekly that Baha Mar’s revenue is not likely to reach pre-pandemic levels for another year, adding that the mega resort will reach 50 percent occupancy by the third quarter of 2021.

He told the website that Baha Mar is likely to begin 2021 with occupancy numbers in the teens, before building up to higher occupancies later in the first three months and then even more by the end of the first half of the year.

The post Davis: More than 15k Baha Mar COVID tests since reopening appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/davis-more-than-15k-baha-mar-covid-tests-since-reopening/