Baha Mar Projects 4% Drop in Occupancy Year-on-Year
Baha Mar expects to finish the year with occupancy down four percent year-on-year, the hotel’s President Graeme Davis said yesterday, explaining that the resort is “disappointed” with the decrease when compared to last year.
“We had higher expectations for our budgeting purposes for 2025,” said Davis.
He made the remarks during the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) board of directors and membership meeting.
He also explained that the hotel’s slow season occupancy is currently trending 20 percent lower than last year, with occupancies at 30 percent.
Davis said, though, that the resort expects occupancies to begin climbing again next month and ramp up again into the 70 percent range for the busy Thanksgiving holiday.
“We’ll look at probably mid-70s for December,” he said. “For the total year, we’re looking to be down around four percent year-on-year. We still have significant availability throughout the year, so, you know, the needing of additional inventory on island… we have excess inventory here. And we’re excited about breaking ground on our new project, which will be 341 new keys and suites, as well as 60 residences. We’re still on target to break ground next year in 2026. So, more inventory on the way.”
Davis said that forward bookings for 2026 have been strong.
“We’re looking forward to a bright 2026. Where we’re sort of right now is about four percent up in pace year-on-year… if you’re looking back at 2024 to 2025 and into 2026, we’re up about four percent, which is a positive sign, particularly in some group business that we have in the spring,” he said.
Vice President at Atlantis Paradise Island Jackson Weech told a similar tale of occupancies during the BHTA meeting, explaining that Atlantis’ occupancy to average daily rate (ADR) is down year-on-year compared to what was budgeted by the hotel.
“We’re currently in the slowest period of the year, which certainly continues and will continue through mid-November,” said Weech.
He noted, however, that the hotel’s casino has had a strong performance this year so far, which is expected to continue.
He added that the hotel is using the slow period to carry out maintenance on The Coral tower, which is currently closed.
According to Weech, Atlantis expects a strong fourth quarter, and is encouraged by forward bookings for 2026.
“Certainly it’s our expectation that we’d be able to finish in a rather strong position for 2025,” said Weech.
“Looking forward to 2026, we remain cautiously optimistic. There is a silver lining there, the forward-looking picture in respect to groups continues to be very healthy.”
By Chester Robards
Senior Business Reporter
Nassau Guardian
