Tourism in Nassau Paradise Island is, in a phrase, booming. Whether or not it’s world-class massive resorts like Atlantis Paradise Island and Baha Mar, boutique motels similar to Graycliff or family-friendly choices just like the Margaritaville Seashore Resort and Consolation Suites Paradise Island (together with the reimagined British Colonial downtown), it’s an entire, multi-faceted vacation spot that’s cemented its place as a tourism powerhouse within the wider area.
This yr has been a banner one for Nassau Paradise Island, with vacationers arriving in droves and the numbers effectively forward of what was already a robust 2023.
However we needed to be taught extra. That meant catching up with Pleasure Jibrilu, CEO of the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board, who revealed what’s new in Nassau Paradise Island, talked in regards to the vacation spot’s deep cultural providing and, in a wide-ranging interview, informed Caribbean Journal what’s subsequent.
Right here’s what Jibrilu needed to say.
It looks like issues are simply getting higher in Nassau Paradise Island proper now.
Evidently method to me, it simply looks like it retains getting higher and higher. We’re having an amazing yr. We speak about numbers loads in The Bahamas usually, and there’s a distinction between stopover guests and cruise passengers. So with the opening of the brand new cruise port (which debuted final yr), that has clearly brought about exponential development. However however the resort sector on Nassau and Paradise Island, they’re seeing such nice occupancies and common each day charges that they’re having an outstanding yr. And so their fingers crossed that this continues and everybody, how do I say, we’re cautiously optimistic that it’s one other good yr for us.
What has been driving Nassau Paradise Island’s success?
I believe we got here out of the gate early, we had been prepared post-pandemic, and our companions, our resort companions, have continued to evolve and to make the experiences of their properties new and thrilling. Significantly with Nassau and Paradise Island, if we simply take a look at Baha Mar, I imply they’ve expanded fully into the artwork house. And I don’t know every other resort anyplace that may boast of devoted artwork house like The Echo Artwork Gallery, at 11,000 sq. ft. The Present is about 8,000 sq. ft and all of the experiences centered round artwork, the infusion of Bahamian artwork, native artwork all through their property. And that’s being so effectively acquired by guests who wish to journey for trip — however need one thing else as effectively.
We just lately had our Worldwide Journey Companions convention a couple of weeks in the past, and our visitors from Europe and the UK, that is what caught them probably the most. They only mentioned, we had no appreciation or understanding for a way a lot artwork there was on Nassau Paradise Island. And this was simply such a beautiful expertise for them.
And it’s been throughout the vacation spot.
The British Colonial for instance, they’ve performed a rare job. Folks go there they usually’re so amazed that this historic resort has been reopened, on the respect that’s being paid to its historical past while updating it and bringing it into the twenty first century. And folks completely are having fun with that have. So we proceed to evolve. I believe we proceed to develop all of the issues to do and see. So along with the resort providing, it’s the worth added, it’s the upgrades to the Queen’s Staircase (extra right here on the challenge) putting that of the center of locations that folks have to go and go to once they’re right here. And we’ll proceed to do extra of this to make Nassau Paradise Island is the place the place folks say, “oh, I used to be there 5 years in the past. What’s new to see? After which come again and are completely amazed.”
You talked about the Queen’s Staircase. It’s a part of what we’ve seen as a dramatic renaissance in downtown Nassau particularly: it’s a spot with historical past, with tradition, with walkability. Are you able to speak about that?
We do know that the opening of the Nassau Cruise port has been a catalyst, and it was meant, it was hoped that that will certainly chart a course for the renaissance and the reemergence of downtown. I believe what is sweet about our cruise port is the truth that all of the choices accessible in that house, in together with the leisure that takes place there each weekend is all native to The Bahamas and Nassau and Paradise Island. So the retail choices are all native, and I don’t anyplace else on the planet the place that holds and definitely not within the Caribbean. And add to that, the native meals that’s accessible there, and as I discussed, the leisure on the weekend. And so I believe with folks seeing that you’re completely proper once you speak in regards to the walkability then, so that you stroll via there, it’s a straightforward stroll then to British colonial to Margaritaville.
And Margaritaville has tons to supply folks, as does British colonial. After which it’s the pure stroll to Junkanoo Seashore or Arawak Key or the Fish Fry. And so that is what was at all times meant. I believe we’re simply seeing the start of the plans, the proposed plans for the redevelopment. I do know that there’s extra even within the pipeline, and I look ahead to with the ability to announce these initiatives to you, however we really will see for the rebirth of that complete space. And once you speak in regards to the walkability from simply the cruise Port to Margaritaville to the British Colonial, it’s a ten minute stroll on one aspect to the Hillside Home Artwork Gallery going as much as Authorities Home and all that Graycliff has performed with the revitalization of the place their property is. However then simply on the opposite aspect of the cruise port, it’s just some minutes stroll to our Nationwide Museum of The Bahamas, and that’s solely three minutes away from the Queen’s Staircase. That’s simply been an outstanding success within the sense that it’s this serene oasis within the midst of the center of downtown, and it’s so walkable to get to.
One of many different issues that appears to have been driving development of Nassau Paradise Island has been the enlargement of airlift, whether or not it’s new markets like Los Angeles or the enlargement of present markets. Are you able to speak about that and maybe another markets you’re taking a look at?
This has really been an thrilling time for the vacation spot because it pertains to development and airlift development. Clearly opening up the West Coast has been a sport changer for us, and whereas we had been wanting ahead to perhaps one or two flights per week, we’re simply thrilled when each Alaska Airways and JetBlue got here into {the marketplace}. Now, it have to be mentioned, the JetBlue, they’re repositioning their plane. So from September of this yr, they’re going to maneuver their LA flight for the second, and we’ll search for subsequent yr. However Alaska will proceed to fly. And I believe it simply permits us the chance to proceed to develop that market and to simply attain out to the West Coast particularly, to speak about how accessible The Bahamas is for them. And Nassau and Paradise Island particularly, simply that 5 hour flight, which has taken so many individuals on the West Coast unexpectedly, definitely the East coast, we’ve performed phenomenally effectively.
What about markets past the US?
We’re simply so comfortable that it’s now two to a few years in, however we’ve expanded airlift from the UK in order that we’ve got each day flights. Prior to now, we had three flights per week. So that enables for excellent development and nice alternative, not simply from the UK, however from continental USA. And naturally, we should acknowledge Latin and South America in 2023. We had exponential development from Latin America. In reality, they grew extra put up pandemic than every other area. Brazil grew exponentially. And so we’re watching that carefully. We’re in discussions with airways. We see nice alternatives for Latin America.
What would you say are your largest priorities proper now?
We do see the necessity for stock development. That can facilitate development for stopover guests within the trade throughout the board. In order that’s on the wishlist, however only for sustained airlift, airlift from our key markets, even our focused markets that we’re rising. South America is the chance. So we’re aggressively pursuing that at the moment, Europe as effectively, to proceed to give attention to that. As a result of in the event you take a look at the sample of vacationers, for instance, US faculty holidays versus the UK. So in the event you can lengthen the summer season interval by capitalizing on the totally different markets, that will be a win-win, our resort companions been phenomenal companions and that they proceed to carry new and thrilling experiences to their property. The Barbie phenomenon is a big one. And what does Atlantis do?
They’ve a Barbie takeover and Barbie cabanas. I imply, what an unimaginable activation and partnership with Mattel to have Barbie come to Atlantas. And so these are the issues that can drive folks. So we wish to proceed to innovate and be inventive. And so our wishlist, our hope is that our companions proceed to do activations like this. We on the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion board working additionally in tandem with our companions to carry on some occasions that can make Nassau and Paradise Island a draw. And so these are thrilling instances for us.
Subsequent yr Nassau will probably be internet hosting the Routes Americas aviation convention. What does that imply for the vacation spot?
I’m simply so happy to say that when Roots America’s 2025 went on sale for Sales space House, we had been the quickest promoting vacation spot of their historical past. So inside a matter of a few days, I believe they’d offered 99% of the ground house and had been wanting so as to add, they usually mentioned they’ve by no means had that response. So individuals are excited. Our airline companions and vacation spot companions are excited to return to The Bahamas.
What else has been a spotlight this yr?
One of many nice issues that we’ve been in a position to do via linked tv, we really had an advert operating throughout the Paris Olympics, Nassau Paradise Island tv advert on NBC. So we all know that that put loads of eyes. The is hope that any individual feels impressed to say, “oh my goodness, the colours of that water, it’s so stunning. It’s a spot that I’d prefer to discover.” We’ve seen great development. In reality, I’ve to say that I can share the stats: from a social media standpoint, Nassau and Paradise Island outperformed everybody else within the area in Might and June. Unbelievable, exceptional visits to our web site. And that’s throughout social media, TikTok, Instagram, all of the media that’s accounted for.
What would you say is your outlook for the remainder of this yr and past?
“We’re optimistic that 2024 will even be a extremely good yr for tourism for Nassau and Paradise Island particularly. And we’re ahead wanting bookings for fall into winter are heading in the right direction. We’re trending upwards. And so we actually genuinely are praying that we will experience out the summer season months and go into winter, have a robust winter, after which 2025 proceed to construct on that momentum. We’re persevering with to evolve in order that Nassau and Paradise Island turns into a spot that folks say, “I wish to go to expertise the expertise.” So that it’ll drive the guests, not only for our resorts, however for the vacation spot as effectively.
