The chairman of Sandals Resorts International is considering a 75-room expansion to his Exuma property, noting there is "ample capacity" for growth.
Gordon 'Butch' Stewart said Sandals Emerald Bay has undergone an extensive "Sandalization" program to bring the resort up to Sandals' standards. That included the addition of a new pool, restaurants and weddings locations, in addition to "totally reviving" the Greg Norman championship golf course.
"We've since added more luxurious rooms and suites and restaurants and there is ample capacity for further expansion," he told Guardian Business. "Ideally, we'd love to add another 75 rooms and suites and are looking into the
possibility of that in the future."
Stewart noted, however, that the expansion is not fully confirmed at this stage.
The tentative approach is understandable considering the chain's recent challenges in Exuma.
Like many destinations on the Family Islands, maintaining consistent airlift and keeping operating costs down are key factors to achieving profitability. Sandals recently expressed concern over the resort's continued sustainability on Exuma, prompting a strong sign of support from the Bahamian government.
David Johnson, the director general at the Ministry of Tourism, revealed yesterday at Caribbean Marketplace that "realizing the potential and profitability in the long run requires more capacity", calling Sandals Emerald Bay "relatively small" for the brand.
First on the agenda, however, is boosting the resort's occupancy by up to 20 percent.
"We have talked about the expansion," he said. "That is the next phase. But first, they need to get healthy."
Johnson noted that Sandals has heavily subsidized planes coming into Exuma to ensure profits. The resort was funding airlift in an "imbalanced way", he added, and it was indeed an unsustainable situation. The government has since chipped in and taken on some of that burden, as well as helping them with other operating costs, according to Johnson.
Four Seasons, a premier international brand, closed down in Exuma back in 2009. Sandals scooped up the property the next year and pumped tens of millions into its revitalization.
The resort is the number one employer on the island and serves as the heart of Exuma's economy.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian