The construction of Mahogany Hill, a high-end boutique hotel set for western New Providence, is nearly 25 percent complete and is "on schedule", with around 100 people expected to be employed at the site by early 2014.
Since breaking ground on the $30 million development in August, its Project Manager Lauren Holowesko said work on Mahogany Hill is "progressing quite well".
"We have all of the plumbing in. So at the beginning of the year, we will probably be capping off the second floor of the guest room buildings and will be progressing quite nicely with the main hotel structure. We have the lower ground floor foundations and walls completed and we're looking to start on the lobby level probably in February of next year," Holowesko said.
"We're still looking at a final handover from the construction company at the beginning of December. So at the moment, we're on the second floor of the east and west guest rooms. And those are progressing quite well.
"We have between 80-100 people on-site at the moment and that will progress into the new year and the coming months as we need more craftsman and plumbers.
"We're at about 78 now and that will increase to about 100 in early 2014 as we begin to do more finish work."
To date, approximately $6 million has been poured into the project.
Holowesko said most of the site will be finalized by August 2014 and the interior finishes should "hopefully" be completed by December.
"We're ordering all of the plumbing fixtures and floor finishes," she said to Guardian Business.
The 33-room boutique hotel will include a spa, pool, a small theater and a restaurant, and is an expansion of the popular Mahogany House restaurant, located in Lyford Cay.
Once the hotel is open, a 40-plus staff complement will be hired.
Holowesko sees Mahogany Hill as a great investment, bringing a great sense of community for all of the nearby developments.
"I think it's going to be a great platform. We see the surrounding communities having access to this place, whether it's going out to buy a movie ticket or coming to the Movement Studio, which will have classes that you can sign up for online. We see it as a great local center where if you wanted to have a quick coffee and a meeting, it's the perfect place to go," she said.
"We're really excited for the ambiance that it will create for this area because it's growing so quickly and generating a buzz. I think it will create a great sense of community for all of the developments in the area."
Both Prime Minister Perry Christie and Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe, who were on hand for the brief groundbreaking ceremony, applauded Holowesko's efforts not only for being one of few Bahamians that have invested heavily in the country's hotel industry in recent years, but the fact that it has provided new tourism offering for guests visiting Bahamian shores.
"Much like his restaurant, the hotel will be a fine example to other Bahamians of what can happen when you invest in your country. You can provide much-needed jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for fellow Bahamians," Christie said.
"It adds to the diversity of the tourism product. The truth is, this is going to be very significant not only because of its size but where it is located and the fact that it is a part of the environment," Wilchcombe echoed.
"It's a unique concept that I believe will catch on. I think the property is going to be significant to the growth and development of the tourism industry. Plus, it adds rooms because we do have a problem with inventory. To be able to offer this inventory, a high-end boutique hotel, is very significant."

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