Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) President and CEO Vernice Walkine told Guardian Business that she hopes to get government approval for a 100-room hotel at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) within the first quarter of this year, with the hotel introduced before the end of 2015.
The disclosure came as she was detailing the company's strategic five-year plan to turn LPIA into a true hub for Latin America and the Caribbean. The plan includes a new jet bridge at the airport, in addition to approval for the small hotel.
The initial hotel proposal - made in 2012 - was for a $25 million, four-star resort, coupled with an office and conference center.
Walkine told Guardian Business the acquisition of an additional jet bridge was among NAD's top priorities for 2015. It would expand LPIA's aircraft handling capacity. In addition to the expected increase in traffic following Baha Mar's projected opening on March 27, Walkine argued that the addition was needed to grow LPIA's passenger throughput beyond 2015.
She estimated that a 100-room hotel would adequately meet the airport's needs.
"It is our view that you cannot be a world-class airport and not have something as basic as a small hotel for people who are in transit," she said, arguing that the hotel is a necessary step in shaping LPIA into a true hub airport.
Noting the progress LPIA had made in its regional airport ranking since the international terminal overhaul was completed, Walkine said that it remains NAD's goal to turn LPIA into the top airport in the region and the top airport in its size category.
"We believe that because of our geography we're perfectly positioned to serve as a hub airport for the rest of the Caribbean. Our costs are lower than some of the South Florida airports, Miami in particular," said Walkine.
LPIA ranks among the top three airports serving two to five million annual passengers according to the latest quarterly Airport Service
Quality (ASQ) survey conducted by Airports Council International (ACI).
The airport's key objectives for 2015 and beyond are to further invest in NAD's staff; provide a safe, secure and efficient environment; build capacity to meet growth potential; deliver an extraordinary customer experience; maintain a fiscally responsible and profitable operation and enhance stakeholder relationships.
Looking ahead, Walkine stressed that fiscal responsibility is integral to the airport's long-term success, as NAD continues to work closely with the Ministry of Tourism, the Nassau Paradise Island Promotional Board and regional carriers in developing airlift strategy to maximize LPIA's throughput.
"Because we get no government subsidies we have to service this debt through our ongoing operations. The degree to which we can contain our costs, while we generate the kind of revenue that is required for us to service the debt and maintain our ongoing operations, is the sort of thing that keeps me up at night.
"We continue to focus on the things that will draw passengers in, give them time to spend money within the facility and have a great experience as they arrive or depart," she said.
As for near-future additions, NAD remains on track to improve the efficiency of preclearance operations at LPIA through automated passport control (APC) kiosks, which allow the airport to process more passengers in a shorter amount of time without having to expand the preclearance space. NAD expects to launch the kiosks in early February 2015.

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