Sandals Resorts International will be developing a new Beaches resort on Exuma. Sandals Executive Chairman Adam Stewart said yesterday that the 3.8 average guests per room for a Beaches resort will mean much more airlift and more opportunities for Exuma and Exumians. The new resort will replace the now closed Sandals Emerald Bay property.
“There will be more seats and greater demand. This will lead to more growth,” said Stewart. “Taxis, tour operators, farmers, and fishers will all benefit, resulting in increased consumption. This means more employment opportunities, more foreign direct investment, and higher tax revenues—essentially, more economic activity overall. It’s a win for everyone.”
Stewart emphasized the uniqueness of this initiative, stating, “We’re positioning this as a product that currently doesn’t exist in The Bahamas or within the Sandals portfolio. When we came in 2010, we determined that the Sandals brand was the most effective way to put Exuma on the mainstream map.”
He added, “This was the right choice. Our founder, my father, and I deliberated for years about eventually converting the hotel to Beaches. After the Davis administration took office, we had an initial meeting with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister where we discussed our strategy. Since then, we’ve invested over $100 million in transforming Sandals Royal Bahamian, along with some investment in Fowl Cay. We presented our long-term vision to convert it to Beaches.
Beaches caters to families, while Sandals is an adults-only brand. We believe that enhancing the marina, the Greg Norman golf course, and adding a water park will better serve the Exuma community and align with Sandals Resorts International’s goal of expanding its Beaches offerings.”
Stewart also mentioned that Beaches Emerald Bay will join a series of new Beaches resorts being developed in Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, and another location he has yet to disclose.
Stewart expressed gratitude to the government for their active role in making the Beaches property a reality. “It’s a pleasure to invest in the islands of The Bahamas,” he stated. He added that they aim to put the construction of the new resort out to tender by the end of the year, with plans to open 12 to 15 months after construction begins.
