NASSAU, Bahamas — A $250m investment that will bring one of the world’s top luxury resort brands to Grand Bahama was yesterday hailed as “the catalyst” that will drive the island’s “phoenix from the ashes” rebirth, The Tribune reported on Friday, November 4, in an article written by Business Editor Neil Hartnell.
Rupert Hayward, grandson of former Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) co-chair, Sir Jack Hayward, told Tribune Business that the multi-party deal to develop a Six Senses resort at the 30-acre Barbary Beach site previously owned by Marriott will “raise many, many eyebrows around the world and put Grand Bahama on the map” for high-end tourism.
He voiced confidence that the agreement featuring Weller Development, which is spearheading the largest US urban regeneration in Baltimore, and Pegasus Capital Advisors, the private equity group focused on investing in sustainable projects, will “change the narrative on Grand Bahama” and restore its reputation as a location that attracts high-quality investments by both foreigners and Bahamians.
Mr Hayward, whose Blue Action Lab is functioning as the project’s local partner and adviser, told this newspaper that while “I don’t have the figures in front of me” the Six Senses development will create “hundreds of direct and indirect jobs” – as well as construction posts – with completion and opening targeted for 2026.
Hinting that the Six Senses resort is just the first step in Weller’s plans for Grand Bahama, he added: “This is the start of bigger plans.” While Mr Hayward would not be drawn further, other than to indicate more details will be released imminently, Tribune Business reported in March 2021 that Weller’s ambitions could extend to a project similar to the 235-acre Port Covington redevelopment of Baltimore’s waterfront.
Confirming that the Six Senses project has received the Government’s blessing, via National Economic Council (NEC) and Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA) approvals, Mr Hayward said the resort brand’s arrival will also place Bahamians “at the forefront” of sustainable development via education and training.
And the resort’s development should also be a “catalyst” for the revival of airlift to Grand Bahama, given that Six Senses will stimulate visitor demand, while creating further impetus to swiftly redevelop the island’s main airport which still remains in poor condition more than three years after Hurricane Dorian.
Noting Weller’s track record in developing high-end hotels, such as the award-winning Sagamore Pendry in Baltimore, Mr Hayward said of the project: “Finally we’ve got there. It’s got the right team and the right brand. It’s really the relaunch for Grand Bahama and the catalyst for change. They [Weller] understand how to execute and change the narrative. They’ve really changed the narrative around Baltimore.”
See complete article in The Tribune at http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/04/phoenix-ashes-gbs-250m-resort-spark/
