Atlantis is nearly sold from December 27 through to the new year, according to top management, and the resort is coming off a very successful weekend that featured the first Crown Invitational.

The spike in occupancy after Christmas is consistent with a lucrative casino crowd that has remained unphased by the global economic downtown.

"We are sold out for the 27th onwards, with only a few rooms left in the Beach Tower," George Markantonis, the president and managing director of Kerzner International (Bahamas), told Guardian Business.  "Most of the casino customers that are invited are very high-level players."

Representing a "peak week" of business, he added that the resort continues to purchase tickets for many of these clients to drive the high-net-worth traffic.

The scene will be in stark contrast to this past weekend, when the destination hosted the first Atlantis Crown Invitational. Consistent with its focus on attracting a broad range of tourists, Markantonis reported an occupancy last weekend in the mid-70s.

"For a first time event, it was very successful.  Those numbers are quite good for that type of weekend in December," he added.  "There was good participation and participants were asking about it for next year.  So I think it has a potential for growth."

The Kerzner chief called the event a "niche market" to help elevate a traditionally quieter time. Atlantis is currently coming off a lucrative weekend in November when it hosted another sporting event, Battle 4 Atlantis, which sparked a 40
percent occupancy rise compared to the same period last year.

Kevan Dean, a director at Atlantis and volunteer with The Bahamas' gymnastics program, told Guardian Business the appeal of last weekend's competition is the participation of families.

"From what I saw, the real appeal from a tourism standpoint is families," he said. "This is an event that has a future.  Families turn this event into an opportunity to have a holiday and I think it's right on par with the direction of sports tourism."

The competition, according to Dean, featured more than 400 gymnasts from 16 different U.S. states.  Bahamian teams and a squad from Trinidad and Tobago also competed in the weekend event.

Between coaches, judges and families that accompanied the gymnasts, it proved to be a much-needed boost during a low period.  Dean agreed with Markantonis that the reaction from those that attended was positive and indicated an anticipation for next year.

He felt the invitational could be expanded to include more teams, and given the calibre of the athletes, scouts from U.S. colleges may also wish to attend.

"it can be a test bid for university gymnasts," he said. "The calibre that was here was phenomenal and I think it has the potential to grow."

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