Category: Hotel News

Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe says that he is determined to attract the prestigious culinary competition “Taste of the Caribbean” to the Bahamas. The 2014 competition, which opened in front of thousands of food lovers in Miami over the weekend, features the Bahamas team and finishes today.
…Continue readingBahamas May Host Taste Test

A panel of industry leaders claimed that The Bahamas is “desperate” for bright, driven young professionals, while highlighting opportunities within underdeveloped sectors.

“The country has the right to expect more from you,” stated businessman Franklyn Wilson of young Bahamians, while encouraging them to take advantage of entrepreneurship and overlapping opportunities within the tourism, services, and agriculture industries.

…Continue readingPanel: Country ‘Desperate’ For Driven Professionals

Key tourism stakeholders have been meeting with professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) to help define what the prime minister has described as a plan to “overhaul” how this country promotes and develops its tourism product, in light of “changing dynamics” in the industry.

…Continue readingStakeholders Plan To ‘Overhaul’ Tourism Model

The chief of Atlantis, the country’s largest private sector employer, said it the resort is now ready to “do what needs to be done” to implement value-added tax (VAT), adding that the company is “thankful” that the government has decided to delay the tax until 2015.
…Continue readingAtlantis ‘Ready To Do What Needs To Be Done’ On VAT

Effective Date January 1, 2015
·         Lower Rate Welcome and Extends to Lowering of Room Tax
·         BHTA Following Up on Outstanding Issues Impacting Competitiveness
·         Draft Legislation to be Released in Coming Weeks

Prime Minister Christie announced yesterday in his annual budget communication that Government will introduce Value Added Tax at 7.5%, down from the 15% originally proposed.  The 10 percent hotel room tax, which will convert to a VAT, will be reduced to 7.5% as well.  The legislation will come into effect on January 1, 2015.  The draft legislation will be shared with BHTA members for feedback.

…Continue readingPrime Minister Announces 7.5% VAT Rate

Ten years’ worth of data released for the first time this month by The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association shows that the extent to which visitors have found their vacation experiences in The Bahamas to have exceeded their expectations fell slightly in the mid-2000s, only to rise after 2009.
…Continue readingTen Years Of Data Shows Rising Visitor Satisfaction

Thousands of Bahamians came out to the inaugural International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Relays on Saturday and Sunday at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. The event was well organized and a pleasure to watch from the crowded stands.
…Continue readingA Successful Sporting Event For The Bahamas