The Paradise Island Harbour Resort will undergo major changes in 2014 including renovations, upgrades, an increase in employment and even a name change.
Since taking over operations at the all-inclusive, 250-room Paradise Island property in December 2012, the hotel's Managing Director Cameron Burnet said it has been challenging to operate, having to reintroduce visitors to the resort. As a result, Paradise Island Harbour Resort has experienced a fluctuation in occupancy numbers this year. However, he is confident that things will begin to turn around by the middle of next year.
"When we bought the hotel, we didn't buy a business, we just bought an empty building, so in effect we had to start over. It's taking a little bit of time but I think we're moving in the right direction," Burnet told Guardian Business.
"A lot of people still don't know about the hotel so we constantly have to reintroduce it to people, but Bahamians are coming to the hotel, having a good experience and are returning."
To date, more than $200,000 has been invested in maintenance and minor improvements, which included the completion of three model rooms. However, the hotel
is expected to undergo most of its renovations next summer.
"We are also going to upgrade the lobby and the restaurants. Some of the upgrade work will begin next year. But by the end of next year, everything should be finished," according to the hotel executive.
"We haven't made a huge number of changes yet. A lot of the work has really been touch-up maintenance, but we're just in the process of completing three model rooms in the hotel."
"In the model rooms, we have changed the floor tiles, completely redone the bathroom, the plumbing and air conditioning. So the plan is to extend those same improvements to the rest of the rooms."
Paradise Island Harbour Resort currently has between 70-100 employees, but that number is also expected to increase next year.
Meanwhile, Burnet revealed the resort's intention to explore various markets other than North America in an effort to "drum up" more business.
"We have been working in markets that traditionally have not come to the hotel like Russia and Columbia. So we have been going to Europe and South America in additional to the traditional American and Canadian markets as well. Right now, we are getting a lot of Canadian and American guests," he said.
"For us, occupancies have varied. During the spring break/grad week season, we did quite well. It really fell quite low around August and September. But it's been coming back since then. October was better. November and December will be better. And we will be very busy with spring break/grad week beginning in March. But there has been a tremendous up and down in occupancy from very low to very high."
Warwick International Hotels, a global hotel chain with more than 50 luxury venues on its portfolio, acquired the aging resort last year for nearly $7 million.

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