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Malfunctioning AC unit in control tower causes flight delays, Perpall says
A malfunctioning air-conditioning system forced air traffic controllers to leave their posts at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) yesterday morning, resulting in significant flight delays, according to Air Traffic Controllers Union President Roscoe Perpall.
"During the thunderstorm around mid-morning hours on Sunday two of those units at the air traffic facility were struck by lightening," Perpall told The Nassau Guardian.
"The electrical board of one unit was struck and I believe the other unit's compressor was struck and destroyed. This morning (Monday) the temporary units that were placed in the tower also failed and steps had to be taken to sustain the [operation] to the best of our ability."
As major repairs were made, Perpall said aviation supervisors called in an emergency crew of controllers to work in a 10-minute rotation inside the air traffic control tower -- an enclosed glass facility -- to sustain some level of operation at the airport.
He explained that the emergency crew attempted to bear the extreme heat in order to land as many aircraft as possible that were already airborne, but in order to preserve the health and safety of the staff all flights that were due to depart were kept on the ground for about two hours as of 11 a.m.
"Sometime around 1 p.m. operations were restored because engineers from the airport and [officials] from the Ministry of Works were able to put some portable units in place and other work was done to restore some air conditioning in the tower," Perpall said.
"Immediately the control staff returned and operations returned to normal."
Perpall commended the emergency crew for its commitment to working in the hazardous conditions, noting that working in the enclosed control tower even for a short period "is like being locked in a car during the heat of the day".
The problem with the air conditioning system at the tower has existed for some time, Perpall added.
SkyBahamas CEO Captain Randy Butler said an extensive plan needs to be put in place to deal with the challenges.
The former civil aviation inspector said it was unclear if the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) would oversee the maintenance of the control tower as it does not fall under its responsibility.
"I think that may still be an issue and they need to get a maintenance contract put in place to pay attention to these things like the air conditioning system, general maintenance, etc. at the Department of Civil Aviation... but definitely there are some challenges that they are having all around," Butler said.
There was no statement on this matter sent to The Nassau Guardian by any airport official up to press time.
Towers project taps 'strong demand' in Cable Beach
A well-known realtor and advocate for commerce in the Cable Beach area says the $40 million Towers Shopping Centre will have a "strong demand" due to its proximity to Baha Mar.
Mario Carey, the president of Mario Carey Realty, said the retail village should be just one step in the commercial development around the $3.5 billion mega resort.
The top realtor is a strong advocate for a rezoning of Cable Beach along West Bay Street. Long stretches of the area, he explained, are still off-limits to businesses. He said that The Towers will be successful, but more could be done to give Bahamians entrepreneurial opportunities.
"I think it will have a very strong demand. Its only challenge will be proximity. Maybe they will have a shuttle service," Carey said yesterday. "My zoning idea was on the main road, where the energy is more direct and closer."
As exclusively revealed by Guardian Business on Monday, The Towers Shopping Centre, completely separate from Baha Mar, will break ground in three months along Baha Mar Boulevard, stretching down towards John F. Kennedy Drive.
Charles Christie, chief developer and president of C.A. Christie Real Estate, said the first phase involves 64,000 square feet. He is also planning restaurants, a movie theater, a small supermarket and office space.
"It is being market driven," Carey added. "The demand for things will only increase out west. The new shopping center at Old Fort has been a success. And there is huge demand for office space."
The realtor told Guardian Business that the government needs to allow commercial activity all the way from Arawak Cay to the Caves development.
Looking at the capital as a whole he noted that nearly every major thoroughfare has evolved and includes commercial activity along the main strip. He said Cable Beach is undergoing a similar "transition and evolution" in terms of real estate growth.
At the moment, he said there is too much "inconsistency" in regards to residential and commercial zoning along West Bay Street. By rezoning, he believes a wide cross-section of Bahamians will truly see the benefit of Baha Mar.
"What is in the best interest of Bahamians?" he asked. "The idea is to create as any entrepreneurial opportunities as possible. That is the balance and history has shown it has happened on every major thoroughfare here. Right across from the prime minister's house you have a restaurant. Why is commerce in pocket areas?"
For Christie's part, The Towers is poised to indeed be a concentrated commercial force on the doorstep of Baha Mar.
The development is aiming for around 55 tenants, and while the exact employment opportunities are unknown, it should easily create dozens if not hundreds of jobs.
Christie views The Towers as similar to Marina Village on Paradise Island.
Atlantis Beach Tower to remain open during fall
For the first time in years, Atlantis will not be closing its Beach Tower this fall -- instead, the resort is adopting a Las Vegas style promotion of $99 room nights to boost occupancy and, hopefully, staff work days.
In a statement sent to Guardian Business yesterday, resort officials called an "experiment campaign" the promotion that has been marketed internationally in recent weeks.
"We are now of the view that accepting that Fall will be a low occupancy period is a self fulfilling prophecy, and hence we have embarked on an experimental channeled promotional campaign aimed at increasing occupancy through better value," said Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Ed Fields in the statement released yesterday. "Hence we went out with a lead rate of $99 for Beach Tower Terrace rooms for a limited time period and a short booking window.
"While we will not be engaged in any additional hiring, we anticipate that over 220 of our employees could go from working 1 or 2 days during that period to hopefully a full work week."
He said the move is expected to have a spillover effect on the work schedules of other employees in restaurants, entertainment venues and guest amenities. The nightclub Aura will be open the standard four days, instead of the traditional Friday and Saturday nights in the fall.
If successful, resort executives are looking to make this the future model for operation. With prices under $100 for the new budget conscious traveler, the strategy may actually go a long way in increasing occupancy during slow times and may even start a culture of repeat visitors to the property during the off season.
Fields said the move - one of its biggest sales and rate discounts ever - was one made by Las Vegas properties in the past ten years during summer months, during their low-occupancy season. Indeed, the recession has made the resorts on the popular strip even more competitive in terms of rates and amenities -- something Bahamas properties have only recently moved to embrace.
It's a very crucial move for the resort, coming as the popular Companion Fly-Free program draws to an end. Slight increases to visitor air arrivals may be gravely affected by the promotion's end, analyst have said. It means hotels will have to take responsibility themselves for attracting the necessary numbers to remain operational.
Atlantis is already reporting good results from the promotion that also includes reduced rates for all the towers like the Cove, with nights slashed to $299 from a $600 average.
"As a result of this approach," Fields added, "we have seen markedly increased bookings during the period of the offer over the same period last year."
The rates will run for travel between August 21 - October 31.
For many years, he noted that Atlantis has closed the Beach Tower during the Fall season between late August and early November. "In 2010, we kept less than 20 percent of the Beach Tower room inventory open," Fields said. "We are very optimistic that this experiment for the Fall season will succeed.
"Certainly if we don't try, we'll never know."
Taxis/non-guests barred from Atlantis Royal Towers
A proposed policy change that would limit taxi access to the Atlantis' Royal Towers has some cab drivers concerned they will lose income.
As of this week Friday, only private vehicles and taxis carrying hotel guests or those who purchased hotel tour packages will be allowed to pull up to the Royal Towers entrance on weekends.
Sandals opens 17M Balmoral Tower in Nassau
Sandals Resorts is thrilled to announce the reopening of the newly-renamed Balmoral Tower at Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island.
After undergoing recent renovations, the Balmoral Tower now features a lighter, contemporary look and even more luxury. This $17 million upgrade helps maintain Sandals Resorts' high end 'Luxury Included' standard, in which guests are provided with the highest-quality amenities, and steps are taken to ensuring they have the best possible experience.
Patrick Drake, general manager at Sandals Royal Bahamian, said, " I am extremely proud to be opening on time and with such a stunning resort. The splendor of the original Manor Building has been preserved and with the new renovation it has evolved in to an even more regal offering for our guests. The feedback so far from our guests has been phenomenal, we have many returning guests who were excited to see the developments and have been 'wowed' by the new look.
"Over the next few weeks we will complete the first and second floors as well as the renovation of our third on-property spa. The rooms and suites in Balmoral Tower now boast travertine-style, oversized rectangle tiling instead of carpet, mahogany entertainment units with a 42-inch plasma television, a bar area and refrigerator, neutral draperies with open-weave sheers, and gorgeous large-scale area rugs featuring teal, charcoal and amber accents."
Drake continued: "The renovated bathrooms include contemporary, stained mahogany his and her vanities with Carrera marble tops, backlit mirrors and showers that feature white beveled subway tiles with blue, cream and amber glass accent tiles. The most exciting feature is sure to be the large balconies that were added to 35 of the ocean view rooms. An additional 11 ground-floor rooms have now become walk-out rooms, providing direct access onto the newly-finished white concrete pool deck, which incorporates local fauna and conch shells. Beachfront fire pits and an expanded lounge area complete the Balmoral Tower's new look. The renovations have created an excitement in the market place amongst trade and guests and we are positive that we will continue with the strong start we have had to 2012", Drake noted.
Atlantis Beach Tower To Close September and October
Kerzner will move to close its 423-room Beach Tower hotel for September through to the end of October, sparking work schedules cuts for employees and suggesting the destination's titan is no more immune to economic slowdown than those lower on the totem pole.
Fire at Princess Towers, Grand Bahama Island (PHOTOS)
Princess Towers, at one time one of the largest resort complexes in Grand Bahama, was the scene of a fire on Thursday, September 23, 2010.
Shortly after 1pm the fire department was alerted to the unfortunate
incident and they quickly attempted to reach the cause of the billowing
black smoke on the 7th floor of the derelict building. There were no
flames seen from outside of the ten story structure.
The Princess Towers was part of the Royal Oasis development under
Harcourt Developments of Dublin which lasted only a few years and due to
the recession the project was put on hold leaving scores of Bahamians
out of work...
Damage to BTC towers causing service problems
While only 20 percent of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company's (BTC) cellular customers went offline due to damage from Hurricane Irene, damaged and powerless cellular towers are now causing intermittent dropped calls and dead zones across The Bahamas, vice president of sales and marketing Marlon Johnson said yesterday.
Speaking to reporters in BTC's executive boardroom at the company's JFK Drive headquarters, Johnson said more than 90 percent of landline customers remained with service throughout the hurricane.
He said the islands where BTC's infrastructure received the most damage were Acklins, Crooked Island, Mayaguana, Cat Island, Long Island, Eleuthera and Abaco. "As of today most of the service is operational," he said. "Where we do have issues is particularly in Eleuthera."
Johnson said in Eleuthera overhead fiber optic lines were severed as utility poles snapped in the high winds of Irene, causing widespread outages.
In New Providence, he said three cellular towers sustained damage due to the hurricane. As a result, mobile phone users have been experiencing dropped calls and failed calls.
"What we find happening is we have been on battery power and generator power and commercial power fluctuations have thrown some exchanges offline, so people have experience dropped calls, call fails and the like," Johnson said.
"That is just related to us getting our plant functioning optimally (again).
"There will be some call fluctuations, there will be some issues with slow delivery of texts and you will get some degradation on your BBM (Blackberry Messenger) but by and large the plant is in tact."
In doing its part in the restoration efforts, BTC announced Tuesday that it would donate almost $2 million (most of it in free air time) to bring relief to storm victims as they put their lives back together following the hurricane.
Johnson said pre-paid mobile phone customers on the hardest hit Family Islands were given a $30 credit, free inter-island long distance beginning today and ending September 15 and a 25 percent discount on their phone bills for the month. Damage to BTC towers causing service problems"They are going to have to do a lot of calling as they coordinate their own relief and the like and so we are pleased to announce that," he said.
He added that pre-paid cellular customers on all other islands received a $5 credit to their phones and all post paid customers will receive 100 free minutes beginning today and ending on September 8.
"We understand we just had a very traumatic event in the country and we want people to be able to reach out and touch people and stay connected," Johnson said.
BTC also made a $250,000 cash donation to national restoration efforts.
Johnson said Irene will not slow down the introduction of a 4G cellular network in The Bahamas, slated to be introduced in New Providence and Grand Bahama before December.
BTC Tower 'Destroyed' During Repair Exercise
A BTC tower in Bullocks Harbour, Berry Islands collapsed during a repair exercise being carried out by an external contractor, the company said.
Fire at Princess Towers, Grand Bahama Island
Freeport, Bahamas -
Princess Towers
which was at one time
one of the largest resort complexes in Grand Bahama, was the scene of a
fire on Thursday, September 23, 2010.
Shortly after 1pm the fire department was alerted to the unfortunate
incident and they quickly attempted to reach the cause of the billowing
black smoke on the 7th floor of the derelict building. There were no
flames seen from outside of the ten story structure.
The Princess Towers was part of the Royal Oasis development under
Harcourt Developments of Dublin which lasted only a few years and due to
the recession the project was put on hold leaving scores of Bahamians
out of work...
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