Nassau, Bahamas - The Downtown Nassau Partnership (DNP) announced today it will sponsor its first annual Holiday Window and Storefront Decorating Contest with winners in three geographical areas ? and high hopes that the competition will inspire retailers and others to dress up for the holidays.

?Over the next month, Nassau will welcome two new cruise ships, including the first ship in the mega Genesis class, the Oasis of the Seas that makes Nassau its first foreign port of call December 11, and we want to pull out all the stops showing thousands of passengers our historic city dressed up for the holidays with originality, authenticity, thousands of lights, decorations and a festive spirit,? said Vaughn Roberts.

?By launching the first Downtown Nassau Partnership Window and Storefront Decorating Competition and offering recognition to the winners with media coverage and extensive publicity in our newsletter, we hope to encourage everyone to participate. We really want to see and feel the spirit this season. We also hope that everyone who owns property downtown will take advantage of this opportunity to spruce up whether fully decorating or not, but ensuring that their buildings have a fresh coat of paint and a look about them that says ?Welcome to The Bahamas.??

Registration for the contest opens today and continues until December 7 when all decorations have to be in place. Windows and storefronts will be judged separately according to location with three individual awards for shops and windows on Bay Street between Navy Lion Road and East Street, off Bay Street bounded by Woodes Rodgers Walk and Shirley Street and the up and coming arts district that is becoming known as East of East Street.

?We hope that by offering separate categories, the competition will be fair and small side street stores will seize the opportunity without worrying about competing with larger luxury retailers. A distinguished panel of judges will award points based on originality, creativity, authenticity, festivity and use of lights,? said Roberts, who has led the renaissance of the historic city since being appointed earlier this year to the newly-formed public-private sector board charged with the revitalization of the heart of Nassau.

Director General of Tourism Vernice Walkine and Nassau Tourism Development Board Chairman Charles Klonaris co-chair the DNP which is guided by an 11-member board of leading corporate citizens and high-ranking public officials.