Baha Mar optimistic on bookings as SLS, Rosewood reopen

Baha Mar reopened its SLS and Rosewood resorts yesterday, with high hopes for an uptick in guest bookings heading into the Spring Break and Easter holiday seasons.

The reopening of the two properties comes as the long-awaited revival of the tourism industry slowly picks up in The Bahamas.

Though bookings have been slow for Baha Mar since it reopened the Grand Hyatt in December, Vice President of SLS Baha Mar Axel Gasser said there has been an increase in demand in recent weeks, which he expects will pick up during the spring months.

“What we’ve seen in the last couple of weeks is a good increase in bookings. Spring Break is coming up, March is traditionally a very good month, but we’ve also seen a decline in COVID-19 cases in our feeder markets,” he said in an interview with The Nassau Guardian.

“The US has become a bit more strategic with their vaccine rollouts, so we remain optimistic that in the next few weeks our demand will increase as well.”

Speaking to the reopening of the two world-renowned properties, Baha Mar President Graeme Davis said, “We are thrilled to welcome back SLS and Rosewood Baha Mar and celebrate the complete reopening of our resort destination.

“Each of our iconic world-class resorts brings rich personality, cherished experiences and dedicated service that together create the unforgettable atmosphere our Baha Mar guests seek out in The Bahamas. We look forward to continuing to lead The Caribbean in safe and responsible travel, as one integrated resort destination.”

Baha Mar has implemented robust COVID-19 testing protocols since it reopened in December, having already conducted 42,000 COVID-19 rapid antigen and PCR tests.

And with the opening of the SLS and Rosewood resorts, Baha Mar is also inviting Bahamian residents to take advantage of complimentary testing for those wanting to dine at its restaurants.

“Actually we offer complimentary COVID tests for the local community when they come and dine with us. So now in this phase we’re opening the local favorites, which are the Monkey Bar and Sky Bar. They will be open – Sky Bar on the weekends and Monkey Bar seven days a week. We’ve got some amazing programming, we’ve got simply old school night on Friday, Sips and Sounds on Saturday – which basically brings all of our bites and cocktails from all of our locations whether it’s the Middle East, Asia, Italy, Paris, it’s a really fun event,” he said.

“We are also working together with The Current which is our local art studio as well, we’re working on an art night which will happen monthly in the Sky Bar as well. So a lot of these events are targeted for our global travelers but as well for the local community.”

Baha Mar has also introduced two “staycation” packages at the SLS for locals – the Stay & Play option at $219 a night and the Time for Two option at $299.

“Of course we’re still dealing with the curfew and we want people to enjoy SLS. So we’ve created two amazing local packages – one is just the bare minimum, the Stay and Play package, which starts at $219 per night and it just includes the room. But then we have a second package which I personally think should be everybody’s favorite, it’s called A Time for Two,” Gasser said.

“It’s a package that gives you breakfast in bed, a bottle of champagne, the late check out on Sundays so you can really enjoy SLS during the day, and it has some additional experiences such as a cabana.”

Six hundred additional employees returned to the resort yesterday.

The post Baha Mar optimistic on bookings as SLS, Rosewood reopen appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/baha-mar-optimistic-on-bookings-as-sls-rosewood-reopen/